Brazil's Esporte is reporting that noise ordinances may preclude the UFC doing a stadium show in Sao Paulo, Brazili this summer. The promotion is hoping to feature a middleweight title rematch between champion Anderson Silva and his nemesis Chael Sonnen this summer and had talked about doing the show from a Sao Paulo stadium.
"We still do not have a decision on the UFC, but for me and to the Mayor (Gilberto Kassab), we'd like for it to happen in the Pacaembu (stadium). However, we have a legislation (in the city), and we have to respect a limit in the scheduling due to the noise. Because of this, it's getting harder to hold events in São Paulo. Even in the Morumbi (stadium), there would be difficulties and I feel that, if this doesn't work out, the UFC will have to look (for another city to host its event)," said Bebetto Haddad, the Secretary of Sports in Sao Paulo.
Haddad was trying his best to get the smaller Pacaembu Stadium (40k + spectators) to hold the UFC event instead of the bigger Morumbi stadium (75k+ spectators), claiming that the UFC wouldn't need to pay the rent of 2 million Reais and would also bring in a special team to set up and dismantle the octagon after the event, claiming it would not damage the field.
A non-profit organization called Viva Pacaembu, would be thrilled to bring the UFC to the stadium, but claims it needs to happen at the appropriate time slot:
What is obvious is that this (event is going to show fights), but the type of show that accompanies this type of event brings in loud music, and this can't happen. I believe they'll have the common sense in finding another place (to hold the UFC) - said the president of the Viva Pacaembu, Iênidis Benfati.
The law prohibits major noise from 10PM to 8AM, the UFC is scheduled to end around 2AM in June.
Translations by Bloody Elbow's own Orcus.
0 recs | 31 comments
They should hold it in the Maracana stadium,
that place can hold 100,000+ spectators. I can just imagine a sea of people baying for the blood of Sonnen!
@KatanaClothing - January 31, 2012
Maracana is closed for repairs/remodeling for the 2014 World Cup.
edtSD - January 31, 2012
can't they just pay a fine or something?
The Hamburger Pimp - January 31, 2012 via mobile
This is just a ruse for someone to get paid.
Cocytus - January 31, 2012
Yeah, this sounds like negotiating tactics at work.
Maybe not, but hard to believe they can’t get a one-time exemption when they’re going to bring a ton of revenue to the city. I don’t get why this would be so much noisier than football in the first place. Is it just that the fights take place at night rather than during the day?
Kwisatz Haderach - January 31, 2012
Of course, I could've just finished reading the article:)
Kwisatz Haderach - January 31, 2012
They held big concerts (U2, Peal Jam, Metallica, Paul Maccartney) in both of the stadiums mentioned.
I think the problem it´s the equation noise + event time. The concerts usually ends around midnight. The UFC ending at 2AM might be to late for an exemption
edtSD - January 31, 2012
Ah, thanks. Well maybe they can just end the card by midnight.
Kwisatz Haderach - January 31, 2012
that would hurt PPV sales in the US though
Orcus - January 31, 2012
Probably.
You don’t think a one-time exemption would be likely? The UFC generally generates a lot of revenue for a city holding an event, plus I’m under the impression Anderson Silva is now worshipped as a God in Brazil:)
Kwisatz Haderach - January 31, 2012
yeah I doubt it
as a business, the UFC gains a lot more from PPVs sales than from gate sales, so from their perspective it’s probably not a good idea to change the time, and I don’t think there are exemptions when it comes to business :p
Orcus - January 31, 2012
...
Could always air the fights on a delay
Armleglegarm Head - January 31, 2012 via mobile
true
Orcus - January 31, 2012
Just so
ESPN can ruin it and air the results on their sports ticker like they did for a UK show once? Haha
manuhl - January 31, 2012
yes yes
that’s why they’re exempting the UFC of paying rent right? well, obviously they just want to get paid!
Orcus - January 31, 2012
I was being half facetious
but there is a big difference between paying the city/stadium for rent vs paying a particular official to grease the wheels.
Cocytus - January 31, 2012
I'm just not a big fan of conspiracies
but whatever…
Orcus - January 31, 2012
Don't know about that
I’m from Sao Paulo, and this association succesfully prevented any concerts/late night LOUD events from happening in Pacaembu since 2006. I don’t think that money is everything in this matter.
dlima - January 31, 2012
Look at that housing development to the left of the stadium.
How’d you like to live there and have a UFC event with Chael Sonnen going on from 2- 5 AM?
It’s the time, not the location.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
Damn no edit
It gets out at 2 AM. Much less of a problem.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
That’s what you get for living next to a stadium.
sexysassytravismmafan - January 31, 2012
bingo. They’ll probably be up watching the fights on TV anyways. This may be an obstacle but I doubt it actually threatens the event taking place.
alxn - January 31, 2012
Maybe they should just make everyone promise to be quiet as they enter the arena
Have them swear on a soccer ball wrapped in a Pele jersey.
menckenstein - January 31, 2012
Sao Paulo's loss
PeopleWatching - January 31, 2012
Not to sound incredibly ignorant but
this is Brazil we’re talking about, right?
The country of week-long, all-night crazy carnivals, football fanatics and samba enthusiasts.
Is Sao Paolo different from the rest of Brazil in that regard?
D Squared - January 31, 2012
your talking about football..were talking about mma
i understand the point your trying to make but at this point in time its apples to oranges
gxc - January 31, 2012
Move the show time
and tape-delay the PPV a couple of hours. Sure, some people (mostly hardcores who DFW doesn’t care about anyway) will bitch, but most people won’t even know the difference.
OmoPlata - January 31, 2012
im sorry omaplata
but if this event was tape delayed, every hardcore would join together and take out their rage on baby pandas in asia. or something like that.
Aaron Desmoulin - January 31, 2012
all the hardcores** worded that wrong.
Aaron Desmoulin - January 31, 2012
i hope this stadium is not the next madison square garden
in the sense that MMA cant get in.
PeopleWatching - January 31, 2012
Do it in Porto Alegre @ Olimpico Stadium.
Gremio - February 1, 2012
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