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Mayweather vs. McGregor: The stunning numbers

August 12, 2017

The worlds of boxing and MMA will unite on August 26 when Floyd Mayweather takes on Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. While the event has amassed $60million in ticket sales, the extortionate prices are putting many fans off.

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Boxen Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour - London
Image: Getty Images/M. Lewis

It was supposed to be the hottest ticket in town, but promoters for the Mayweather versus McGregor fight are struggling to fill the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Thousands of seats remain unsold for the bout between undefeated American boxer Mayweather and McGregor, the brash mixed martial arts (MMA) star.

The fight was expected to generate record revenues, and while they have hit the milestone of $60millon in ticket sales, the extortionate ticket prices have drawn criticism and put many people off attending the Nevada showdown.

"This isn't a damn Rolling Stones concert. They're the only thing that sells out in seconds, Leonard Ellebre, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told reporters at the American's media workout on Thursday.

"Right now we have over $60million in ticket sales - what part of that remotely looks like ticket sales are slow?" Ellebre said. "We're talking about tickets that go from $500 to $10,000. That's an expensive ticket."

Even the pay-per-view figures are eye-watering, with fans expected to fork out $99.95 to watch the fight at home, while American theaters are charging fans $40 to watch the fight on the big screen.

One seller on the Vivid Seats website has listed a pair of ringside seats for the contest at $164,043 each, but spokesman for ticket reselling website StubHub, Cameron Papp, says that prices in secondary markets are likely to come down closer to the event.

"You're going to set your price pretty high early as a seller to see what you can get, but once you get closer to the event, sellers are looking to unload those tickets," Papp explained. With fans hard-pressed to afford tickets, other venues in Las Vegas are jumping on the bandwagon, with the RiRa Irish pub, a popular bar among McGregor supporters, selling tickets for $150 just to watch the pay-per-view broadcast on TV.

 

Mayweather vs. McGregor: The figures

Boxen Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour - New York
Ticket sales have topped $60million so far, $12million short of Mayweather's 2015 bout with Manny Pacquaio. Image: Getty Images/M. Lawrie

40 – Mayweather's age

29 – McGregor's age

$60million - ticket sales so far

$99.95 – Pay-per-view fee

$3,500 - Cheapest original seat on Ticketmaster

$300 - Booking fee on Ticketmaster

$10,000 - Ringside seat

$15,000 - Platinum seat

$164,043 – Highest-priced ticket for sale on VividSeats.com

$7,000 - Average ticket price on StubHub

$40 - Theater viewing

$880,000 - Bet placed by fan on Mayweather

$72million – Ticket sales for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, May 2015

4.6 million – Pay-per-view viewing figures for Mayweather vs. Pacquaio

$17million - UFC box office record for McGregor vs. Alvarez, November 2016

Mayweather boxing record: 49 wins (26 by TKO), 0 defeats

McGregor MMA record: 21 wins, 3 defeats