Megafight weigh-in sells out, too
Frenzy reaches massive scale; closed-circuit seats almost gone
When the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao megafight was announced Feb. 20, Bob Arum was asked if it was possible admission could be charged to attend the weigh-in the day before the fight.
“Are you (expletive) crazy?” Arum replied. “They’re not going to charge people to get into the weigh-in.”
But Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, has come around on the issue. In less than an hour Friday, 12,000 seats were sold at $10 each for fans to watch the fighters step on the scale next Friday, the day before their welterweight unification title showdown at the MGM Grand Garden.
For many fans, the weigh-in is their only chance to be part of the fight. The few tickets made available to the public for the fight inside the 16,700-seat Grand Garden sold out in less than two minutes Thursday. Virtually all of the 50,000 closed-circuit television seats at 10 MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip also were sold Thursday afternoon.
According to an MGM Resorts spokesman, a few CCTV seats remained available at New YorkNew York on Friday afternoon, and the company also was trying to clear more seating at its properties to set up additional viewing areas. MGM Resorts is charging $150 plus a handling fee to watch the fight on closed circuit.
But Friday was a day to hone in on the weigh-in. MGM Resorts’ call center was swamped with requests from out-of-town buyers while local fans headed to the box
Event is chance to test security measures
office and snapped up whatever they could. All seats was reserved, so the first in line — either in person or via phone — will get to sit closest to the weigh-in stage.
The money generated by the weigh-in tickets will be donated to charity, split evenly between the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which is Mayweather’s charity of choice, and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, designated by Pacquiao.
“It’s a win-win situation for all,” Arum said. “The charge of $10 will benefit two great charities. All proceeds will go right to them.”
Security is the primary reason fans will need tickets for the weigh-in. The promoters and the MGM Grand wanted to avoid a situation in which capacity is reached, resulting in hundreds or even thousands of fans angry about being shut out. There have been previous weigh- ins in which capacity was capped and late-arriving fans were shut out, prompting confusion and anger.
While some fans might grumble about having to pay for something they’ve previously attended for free, the Grand Garden still will be packed for the weigh-in.
The weigh-in also gives the MGM Grand a chance to test heightened security measures which will be used on fight night. Fans at the weigh-in will go through screening, have bags and purses checked, and there will be a list of items which are not permitted inside the arena. Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj