MGM are set to impose a blackout on May 2 so that only their properties will screen Floyd Mayweather’s super-fight against Manny Pacquiao from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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MGM has 14 properties in Vegas and TMZ Sports is reporting that they will not allow any other hotel, bar, restaurant or casino to show the fight.
This will undoubtedly be bad news for thousands of fans heading to Vegas for fight night but staying in other hotels, but from a business perspective, MGM are certainly going to maximise their profits from the biggest fight in the history of boxing.
A rival hotel source was quoted as saying: “We aren’t able to air the fight, that’s true. And our guests won’t be able to have it in-room either. It’s a contract the MGM has. Unfortunately, it blacks out non-MGM properties,” TMZ reports.
As a result, aside from the lucky fans who are able to land a ticket by shelling out up to $10,000, those travelling to get a sense of the atmosphere will need to secure a spot in the right hotel or risk missing out on seeing the fight.
Mayweather vs Pacquiao is expected to generate over $400m in revenue with gate receipts, domestic and foreign TV rights and various other avenues of income.
Although there are three titles on the line in the bout, it has gone almost completely unmentioned given the magnitude of the event and the spectacle that these two fighters are expected to put on.
While Mayweather puts his 47-0 unbeaten record on the line, Pacquiao will be hoping to silence his rival and establish himself as the pound-for-pound king of the sport with trainer Freddie Roach talking up his chances in recent weeks.
The pair met in Los Angeles for the only pre-fight week press conference earlier this month, but the anticipation is certainly growing with just over five weeks remaining until fight night.
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