You gotta give it to MGM Grand International for recognizing the potential gold mine that is the Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao and cornering the market to make sure that no other Vegas property can make a buck out of it.
Here’s the deal: MGM Grand will be hosting the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. It’s a fight that’s widely expected to generate a ridiculous $74 million just from ticket sales for the fight. That’s already three-and-a-half times more than the existing record set during Mayweather’s fight with Canelo Alvarez back in September 2013.
You would think that MGM Grand would already be jumping through hoops of fire because of the financial windfall it stands to gain from the fight. You’d be wrong, though, because MGM isn’t stopping there. According to TMZ, the hotel and casino operator is also brandishing that exclusivity deal to keep other hotels and establishments from showing the fight on pay-per-view.
Basically, if you’re staying at a non-MGM property on the night of the fight, you’re not going to be able to watch the fight in Las Vegas. Not in any bar, hotel room, or casino, unless of course you’re staying in any one of MGM’s 14 properties in Sin City.
It’s a smart move to corner the local market, although if you ask me, it’s still possible that MGM and other Vegas hotels can come up with a deal to lift the potential fight blackout. But if no agreements are made, then you better prepare yourselves to fight for space in any one of MGM’s properties around town.
Meanwhile, the fight the world wants to see has already stirred up conversations among legendary boxers on who they think is going to win the fight. Mike Tyson says Manny Pacquiao. Roy Jones Jr. says Floyd Mayweather. Evander Holyfield says Pacquiao. Shane Mosley says Mayweather.
But now, Muhammad Ali has picked a side, and according to his daughter, Rasheda Ali, the man widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time is siding with the fighting congressman from the Philippines.
Ali’s vote of confidence for Pacquiao isn’t likely to help the Filipino in the boxing ring, but knowing that he’s got The Greatest on his side might motivate PacMan to make the legend proud.
