EliteXC officials expect May 31 sell-out

Originally posted by Dann Stupp on May 14, 2008 at 10:47 am ET

Although EliteXC's May 31 debut on CBS will ultimately be judged by its TV ratings, a packed house could go a long way toward proving that the organization has some long-term drawing power.

"EliteXC: PRIMETIME," the first of four "Saturday Night Nights" events that will air on CBS during the next year, takes place at the 19,000-capacity Prudential Center in Newark N.J.

During a Tuesday media call, EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw confirmed that ticket sales have been brisk and that he fully expects a sold-out crowd for the event, which is headlined by a heavyweight bout between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and James Thompson.

"We're doing very well, and we have no complaints," Shaw said. "We're going to have a full house when that CBS TV camera rolls at 9 o'clock."

Shaw said that all of the event's $25 tickets had been sold and that just six of the VIP $1,000 tickets were available as of Tuesday. (However, as of Wednesday morning, Ticketmaster had tickets available in all areas.)

The exact number of seats available for the event isn't known, but the organization could set an attendance record with a sold-out crowd. EliteXC's current record was set in June 2007 when the organization teamed up with K-1 HERO'S to promote a "Dynamite!! USA" event that drew 18,340 confirmed spectators at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

It's no coincidence that the preliminary card of the May 31 event is comprised almost entirely of area fighters -- especially those who have a history of being regional draws.

However, even if the event loses money -- and even if future events lose money -- Shaw isn't worried.

"We're not embarrassed about our numbers," Shaw said. "We're losing money. We'll probably lose more money. But that's what start-ups do. There are very few companies that start from day one and make money. It's about staying power. The UFC lost over $35 million before they [got a] push. We know we have the product. We know we have the fighters."

And while he openly admits that the organization is far from catching the UFC, Shaw said the organization has all the pieces in place to be successful.

"We're the only company out there that has a Showtime-type deal and a CBS deal," he said. "Nobody else has that to offer to any athlete, and for the fighters that fight on May 31, the following day when they walk through an airport, everybody will know them. Just like those reality show [cast members] ... they're going to be instantaneous stars. So we're going be here for a long time... We're No. 2 behind the UFC, there's no question, but it's not always a bad place to be."

Other notes

Burger King and Rockstar Energy Drink have signed on as the primary sponsors of EliteXC's May 31 event. Burger King has also been a sponsor of the UFC's reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter."
The announcing team for the first CBS event will be revealed on Monday. A source close to the event tells MMAjunkie.com that veteran NFL and NCAA basketball broadcaster Gus Johnson will serve as play-by-play man.
Shaw sounded bearish on the possibility of EliteXC hosting a pay-per-view event anytime soon, saying "we'll do a pay-per-view when a fight warrants itself for pay-per-view." He said he'd much rather reach the masses via CBS or Showtime.