PRIDE GP Opener in Nagoya Now Officially Nixed
PRIDE Fighting Championships parent company Dream Stage
Entertainment -- at least for the time being -- released a
statement Friday confirming that the July 16 Lightweight Grand Prix
opener scheduled for Nippon Gaishi Hall, formerly Nagoya Rainbow
Hall, was officially canceled.
The statement also revealed refunds would be available for fans that purchased tickets to the event, and asked fans to remain patient in the interim while new management assumes control of PRIDE operations.
Earlier this week, the Nagoya Education and Sports Promotion Agency removed the card from the scheduled calendar of events for the Nippon Gaishi Hall, giving rise to suspicions that the event was on the rocks. While representatives of the Nippon Gaishi Hall venue stated the event was removed from the site not because of an official cancellation, but because they were uncertain as to whether or not the event will take place, it was heavily speculated that the event would be canceled.
This is the second snag in the scheduling of the 2007 Lightweight Grand Prix opening round. Originally scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena on May 20, the Lightweight GP was first postponed in mid-April as discussions between DSE and upstart company PRIDE FC Worldwide Holdings LLC, which is owned and operated by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, intensified in an effort to resolve the particulars of the PRIDE asset transaction.
While it was expected that the transaction would be complete and new management would assume control on May 1, negotiations have lingered throughout the month, pushing PRIDE's event scheduling to the backburner.
Sherdog.com reported Thursday that the terms of the PRIDE asset acquisition have been finalized. This may lend credence to the prevailing thought that the first event under the new ownership of PRIDE will take place this August in Tokyo.
The statement also revealed refunds would be available for fans that purchased tickets to the event, and asked fans to remain patient in the interim while new management assumes control of PRIDE operations.
Earlier this week, the Nagoya Education and Sports Promotion Agency removed the card from the scheduled calendar of events for the Nippon Gaishi Hall, giving rise to suspicions that the event was on the rocks. While representatives of the Nippon Gaishi Hall venue stated the event was removed from the site not because of an official cancellation, but because they were uncertain as to whether or not the event will take place, it was heavily speculated that the event would be canceled.
This is the second snag in the scheduling of the 2007 Lightweight Grand Prix opening round. Originally scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena on May 20, the Lightweight GP was first postponed in mid-April as discussions between DSE and upstart company PRIDE FC Worldwide Holdings LLC, which is owned and operated by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, intensified in an effort to resolve the particulars of the PRIDE asset transaction.
While it was expected that the transaction would be complete and new management would assume control on May 1, negotiations have lingered throughout the month, pushing PRIDE's event scheduling to the backburner.
Sherdog.com reported Thursday that the terms of the PRIDE asset acquisition have been finalized. This may lend credence to the prevailing thought that the first event under the new ownership of PRIDE will take place this August in Tokyo.
