Sun Sep 15 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## UFC 306 Breaks Live Gate Record with $22 Million Haul at Las Vegas’ Sphere
**LAS VEGAS, NEVADA** – UFC 306, held at the Sphere in Las Vegas, has shattered the previous UFC live gate record, raking in a staggering $22 million. The event, featuring two title changes, drew a crowd of 16,024 attendees and saw record-breaking merchandise sales.
Despite initial estimations of a $25-27 million gate, UFC President Dana White later revised his expectations to $21 million and ultimately $23 million. The final figure surpassed even his last estimate, exceeding the previous record held by UFC 205 at $17.7 million.
The event showcased two title bouts, with Merab Dvalishvili dethroning Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight championship and Valentina Shevchenko reclaiming the women’s flyweight title from Alexa Grasso.
While ticket prices had dropped considerably since the pre-sale, White emphasized the event’s success, particularly in merchandise sales. He also highlighted the extraordinary production and graphics of the event, stating it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“We’ve assembled the most rock-star team on the planet,” White commented. “The amount of Oscars, Emmys, Grammys that the team we’ve assembled to pull this thing off… What we are going to attempt to pull off will never, ever be replicated.”
The event’s monumental production cost, exceeding $20 million, was facilitated by a partnership with Riyadh Season. White expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, emphasizing that it made UFC 306 “the greatest event in the history of combat sports.”
Despite widespread praise for the production and the event’s overall success, White has confirmed that UFC 306 at the Sphere will remain a one-time event. He cited the enormous cost of the production as the primary factor for this decision.
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