Dana White Says White House UFC Card Will Dwarf Sphere in Cost
UFC cites bespoke staging on the South Lawn under strict security constraints as the driver of a vastly larger budget.
Overview
- The June 14, 2026 event is planned for the White House South Lawn with roughly 4,500 to 5,000 attendees on site and a large overflow audience expected at The Ellipse.
- Dana White says the production will cost far more than the roughly $20 million spent on UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere, calling the new logistics “insane.”
- A custom rig is being built to keep camera views clear of standard lighting and screens so broadcasts feature the White House and the Washington Monument.
- UFC production chief Craig Borsari has detailed renderings of the lawn, with plans to track the sun’s position every 30 minutes and monitor weather weeks in advance.
- White highlighted terrain and Secret Service requirements as key constraints, and reporting notes an estimated $700,000 to replace grass after the event.