The stakes have been raised in the ongoing battle to bring mixed martial arts events back to Woodward Park.
Promoter Rick Mirigian has upped his offer to the city. All told -- with rental fee, vehicle entry fees and ticketing fees -- the city could make as much as $20,000 for one fight. The mayor, meanwhile, is steadfast behind her campaign promise to keep MMA out of the park. She maintains that the park is "not an appropriate venue."
In my column last Friday, I said, considering the city's budget mess, allowing MMA back into the park makes sense. As expected, one caller said I sounded as if I'd "sell my soul" for a buck. Overall, though, the reaction was pretty fairly split.
I'm not here to try to convince you one way or another, so I'll hush with my opinions and rebuttals. I'd rather see what people have to say. If the price is right, should MMA be allowed in Woodward Park?
Even though I am not a MMA fan, as long as they don't schedule the fight the same night as Shakespeare in the Park then I'm fine with it.
Since the mayor has stated that the park is not an appropriate venue, has she suggested a place that is?
Money talks, and it would not completely revitalize the City of Fresno's coffers, but it's still a nice chunk of change. I applaud the Mayor for staying true to her promise.
Well, I don't think its a bad thing either. I wouldn't mind going. I just didn't like the conflict with Shakespeare in the Park.
But I do know one thing! The Patrick Contreras Band will be headlining the Woodward Park Ampitheater Saturday September 19th. maybe we'll outsell the MMA?
You better hope nobody finds the violin offensive.
As long as that violin isn't playing the devil's music, then he should be okay, haha.
Damn! You are one hell of a quick study Patrick! PROMOTIONS PROMOTIONS PROMOTIONS!!!!!!!
i want to know what city policy the mayor is using to deny the event? unless the city council has changed it's policies, this is, and has been, an appropriate event for the ampitheater (based on regulations).
and i'm for it.
As far as I know, there's no policy. It seems like she's just saying no.
This is from a Bee story that ran in February:
"An attempt by the city council last November to block the fights failed. But earlier this month, soon after Swearengin took office, city officials told Mirigian to cancel his plans to hold two more fights at the amphitheater.
'Based on recent discussions, it has been determined that mixed martial arts events at the Woodward Park Amphitheater is not something that we will be authorizing in the foreseeable future,' wrote assistant city manager Bruce Rudd."
what is this guys obsession with woodward park. take it else where. im a fan of mma, but there are other venue options here in fresno. the city does not want mma at woodward park end of story
It shouldn't be a question of money. If the city says no MMA Fights in the park, then that should be that. Now, you could argue (and quite rightly) that the city is stupid for not allowing the fights in the first place, and your points in the article Mike were all valid.
Does anyone know why Mirigian is fighting so hard for this? Is this the best MMA venue in town? Is it just to make a point to the city?
I think MMA should be allowed in the park, it's a free country and better planning could alleviate most of the problems. But I can't get behind the way Rick is going about this.
It totally seems like he is trying to buy political favors and if I'm not mistaken that's illegal. The money may not be going to any one politician, but you can totally see what he is trying to do.
Hopefully the Mayor and the City Council see it the same way.
If that fascist of a mayor was paying attention to the city's problems, she would see it's NOT cagefighting in the park that's causing damage, it's the fireworks on city ordinance, look what happened to the area by the San Joaquin River. When during 2 RUMBLE IN THE PARK events, no violent activity takes place. It's all in the mayor's stupid head, she claims she wants to be a family mayor, she can start by getting rid of the pedophiles that run rampant at the park, and ban fireworks in the Fresno city limits. Stop chasing ghosts Mayor Swearingin and deal with real issues that affect our city. Cagefighting at Woodward Park should be the least of ur problems.
The fights should be allowed. As long as the promoters get the proper permits and the city makes a profit, it is fine. Why do poeple care about this so greatly? If you do not like it, don't go. An argument could be made that the country concerts in the park brings a bad element to the park as you have music about cheatin' drinkin and so forth. These arguments against the fights do not make sense. If there is adequate security, let the fights go on.
Raising the "ante" is tacky. This whole "money talks" attitude is despicable. Those arguing in favor of this because "we need the money" should remember your opinion the next time a shady developer deal gets forced through the city.
Because of the embarrassing action by Mr. Mirigian, the issue at hand is no longer should/should not MMA events be held in the park, but whether waving enough cash will cause people to change their position.
I am not an Swearengen fan at all, but if she caves because the "money's right" I'll lose what remaining shred of respect I have for her.
I agree with you that throwing money at the problem is not the best fix. It's a case of two wrongs don't make a right.
For me, though the issue at hand is still whether events that certain people find "offensive" can just be disregarded at the will of the Mayor.
yes. that's the other despicable thing about this whole issue. instead of debating the lack of merit of the mayor's position, and potentially hammering out an acceptable compromise, now its become a tacky and embarrassing no-win situation
I really think the issue should be less about money and more about scheduling as others have mentioned.
The original arguments against MMA in the park were one, that it conflicted with Shakespeare in the Park, two, that it violated the spirit of the original intent of the park, and three, that it would expose children to something they shouldn't be exposed to.
What it comes down to is that one and three can be reasonably avoided. It's the ideological mindset of the mayor and others that people like Mirigian will have to overcome if he wants it to be in the park. That will take eloquent debate, not flashing the Benjamins.
Excluding an event not prohibited in the park's charter and/or policies isn't fair.
However, my problem is with the multiple event scheduling. I was on/back stage when last summer's MMA got out. There were not one, but several attempts by a few of the MMA crowd to consciously disrupt the play. Tactics included yelling profanity, revving up car/motorcycle engines, and harassing/threatening some of the audience members.
I don't think that behavior is representative of any audience, including the MMA audience, but the fact is that having two events competing to be heard is flat out a bad idea.
Mirigian is a hell of a promoter, so I hope he sees his way to running TV commercials soon that scream "MAYOR SWEARENGIN ANTI-BUSINESS, ANTI-FRESNO"
I dunno my take on this. I think businesses should be allowed to thrive as long as they're legal, permitted, and don't conflict with other business ventures.
Mirigian knows enough, I'm guessing, to avoid Shakespeare from now on, so what's the big deal? He's paying the off-duty and on-duty cops, he's paying for potential damage, I'm sure he's fully insuring the city and the property.
It's legal, it doesn't hurt anybody (except the willing fighters), and it entertains the masses.
Having said that pro stuff, the Mayor might be holding out city property for 'community service' projects. The concerts in the park are community service, Shakespeare of course is, weddings and receptions are...but MMA is purely for-profit. Is that the difference here?
Where's Jerry Duncan weighing in with his opinion?
He's right here.
It's sad if Fresno's integrity is worth only $20,000....
... sad... but it's also what I've come to expect from this town, so I wouldn't be surprised.
Still, why doesn't Rick give that money to do this thing at Selland?
the promoter says that the woodward venue offers the best viewing potential. 360 degree seating, no blocked sight lines, good seating.
to do it at selland may not be as good of seating - stadium seating farther away from ring, etc.
also, we don't know what it costs to rent out facilities like selland or chuckchansi park. i tried to research the selland prices, but was unable to locate it.
The Selland prices are through the roof!!!!
When SCRG tried to rent it out for a night it was unbelievable. We settled for the slightly cheaper Valdez Hall which was incredibly expensive also.
SMG who owns Selland is raping Fresno. Hence the reason why it attracts so few shows.
Ok so I don't think i'm hitting any new buttons but I dot understand the resistance. Mma us not a barbaric display of no holds barred violence. It is a sporting event. No doubt a very tough one but a sport all the same. I had the pleasure of getting a deep behind the scenes experience with the last event watching the athletic commision doing their thing with medical exams, weigh INS and much more. The organization was amazing. This isn't just throwing a couple guys in a ring and letting them beat the tar out of each other. This is a matter of opinion and taste. What if the mayor decided roller derby was offensive? Then would she shut that down? Hopefully this can be settled. I have to agree with others about the money it's going to cloud the issues!
Have it on Fulton Mall. Fits in to the Kern St. Sports theme and brings people downtown.
FIGHT ON FULTON or MAUL ON THE MALL
Would we be having this discussion if this event was done at Roeding?
Not being mentioned?
-a recent write up on the last MMA bout that was down at the fairgrounds a couple of weeks ago, (if that.)
--Noted by the reporter?
-how one of the combatants had a significant headwound, and bled so much?
That he was (in the end) covered in blood.
The victor was (who was going to hang up his (unwashed) blood soaked trunks as a trophy.
How the mat was soaked with blood,
and how even people in the first few rows were spattered.
-From a health perspective?
this is not just stupid but really dangerous.
-But the crowd loved it,
and the victor stated '..when I saw that blood I just wanted to hit him harder.'
(yet: dogfighting is illegal.)
--A post about a (prank?) sign where a girl sells her body for 25bucks and two cheeseburgers outside a meat market (...that was a ton of yuks)
-when, in reality?
There's a lot of people in Fresno selling themselves in all sorts of ways, -and folks think it's just fine. (Pick whatever language you want.)
-That the town would set a precedent, say something is 'wrong' and then get offered money, (and then more money)
-and folks think we should go with it (because, you know, we need the money?)
-when there are venues where this (bloodsport) is already happening... (oh wait, the upper class is 'fraid to go DOWN there.'
How much of a whore IS this place???
(And no,
-IF this was happening down at Roeding, (or that it happens down at the fairgrounds)
-this conversation would not be taking place,
-just like if/when bodies turn up around Roeding, (which they have)
-it doesn't get talked up (because it's expected)
-But if a body 'showed up,' North of Hearndon? there would be an uproar.
-Meanwhile? I'm getting solicited for a 'dead cousins funeral' in the parking lots of Riverpark by a terrified looking waaaaay too gaunt young woman,
-who looks like she's not eaten decent in two weeks.
(Better choose the images for those 'Fresno' postcards verrrrrrry carefully.)
If there really was that much blood, the ref or doctor should have stopped it. That's on them.
Dog fighting is illegal because dogs cannot consent nor can they tap out.
WT, you're playing on a lot of stereotypes and generalizations that don't hold water on extrapolation.
Comparing a sport to all those other things by way of illustrating an exceptional instance of blood-letting is hardly a convincing argument. People have died bike racing, boxing, mountain-climbing, playing football, and the list of sports goes on. Pointing out the exceptions isn't going to change anything.
"That the town would set a precedent..."
which precedent are you talking about? when the city allowed usage according to their policies or when the mayor set a new precedent by not allowing an event that is allowed under usage policy? or perhaps a new precedent of usage being dictated by highest bidder?
Adam/Ed
ah, boys... where would the art of absurdist debate be without it's dynamic duo.
And yeah, Ed: here's the kicker.
What I think Will happen?
The ante will just go up and up, eventually it will become some sort of 'people's decision,' and (for a price) the match(s) will take place in Woodward Park.
(So we're doing nothng more than raising the controversy and interest level...
Why?
The exclusivity of it,
the fact that it's something that's
'not supposed to happen here,'
The trashing of something considered 'sacred and peaceful,' by some
--thrown up on a web-cam and shown to the highest bidder.
The issue behind this? is as old as time.
-They don't want to hold it 'downtown'
-They don't want to hold it 'on the Mall.'
In the same way that this mentality doesn't want some 'clapped out, will do anything for a (low price) on the hood of a pickup outside of a roadhouse in the dust. (which is what those in the Woodward Park section of town consider areas like 'Roeding' and 'Fairgrounds,' or 'the Mall.'
-They want 'nice, clean, new, untouched, and 'decent.' (not 'sloppy seconds, and a lot of antibiotics.')
They not only want to try to legitmize bloodsport,
-but there is that extra added attraction of the forbidden, too...
And you know what?
They'll probably get it.
But, you know, that's not 'whore' mentality,
-that's 'high-priced-escort-payin'-their-way-thru-med-school-with-sick-younger-sibling-at-home,' mentality.
Because, like, you know.
Fresno NEEDs the MONEY...
(but you know, it's not... you know... whoring.)
PS:
(Just thought I'd put in the reference for the article. I happened to read... some unknown fishwrap, called 'the Bee.'
(Folks can look it up, read and see if this is the sort of thing they want to get off on, er, 'sport' they want to support.)
'Blood, martial arts mix in Fresno
Wilcox defeats Baca in a unanimous decision at 'Disturbing the Peace.'
Published online on Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009
By Bryant-Jon Anteola / The Fresno Bee
eric,
i find your reply to be dismissive and condescending. really, there is nothing absurd about my question. and, it's not like i have some vendetta against you and am just trying to poke holes through your comment. i commented early, have tried to contribute to the dialog on this thread.
mine is a very viable question. you talk about precedent in fresno, i'm asking which one you are talking about. plenty of precedent has been set and broken regarding mma in the park, which do we choose to maintain?
and, i read that article about the recent fight at the fairgrounds when it was published. i saw the comments about how particularly bloody it seemed. i'm also pretty sure that all sanctioned mma or boxing events have to have doctors on hand, and if they don't deem it a problem for the fighter the fight can continue.
...oh Ed, (and Adam) ...I guess a bit of wit is lost in this too... pity.
Look closely:
In a way we're saying the same thing (sort of, though I personally am not in favor of MMA at Woodward and do not recognize it as a healthy and viable sport... (granted, which sports really are? I dunnno.. Frisbee golf?)
None of us are naieve, gentlemen.
This is a ruse.
This is a send-up.
(Maybe) the Mayors 'promise' before the election will hold, and MMA will not happen at Woodward... (maybe some enterprising entrepreneur will secure a temporary venue permit, and have the thing at a ring in the parkinglot up by Tri-Sport, (heck, they have a Starbucks (and) a restaurant or two there... -That would bring it 'nearly there.'
(I'f I've thought of it? (and I deplore the whole thng,) no doubt somebody is already on the line with a lawyer ironing out the details...)
But what I see is what somebody else already said: Throwing money at it just makes it more dispicable.
The Precedent?
It was considered innapropriate for the park, as (that's) not what the park is meant for, (establishing a precedent for the Park.)
-but, (hold on to yourselves)
-You're right..
-Wasn't the (former) mayor going to do some sort of 'tavern on the green' sort of thing in the park?
-Don't things 'change' according to whatever money-winds blow?
And that's the point.
I'm glad that the Bee writer wrote what they did.
(Not because I love or hate the sport) --but because it showed it for what it really is: Two people beating each other sensless, bloodied, inujured, and the crowd wantng more, the one combatant fueled by the sight of his opponents blood, --and then apologizing to the crowd for not being able to provide a longer 'bout.'
I've seen these things, (actually) from the sports beginnings (no desire to go to one live,) but it would seem that everytime you go to a barbers chair, they click on 'the fights,' --which of late? is MMA.
In the end? It's all the same.
(Yes, Adam, grande generalization about to happen, ready:
-People paying money to watch people injure each other and get injured (which is damaging of onesself.)
It's just another form of prostitution.
People being missused and missusing each other, for the sake of entertainment.
Because of the sliding scale of 'quality of life' here in Fresno? There very definitely IS 'acceptable places' to commit these acts, --and places 'not to.'
And very clearly I'm saying the draw of this is the hypocracy.
You have people who'd shat their shorts if they had to go downtown, --yet, bring the very thing they're afraid of from downtown (violence,) up to the park where they can watch it as entertainment?
The Mayor, the Polce Chief, notorious Pastors attend... and folks get something to get all worked up about.
All the world IS a stage gentlemen.
I'd be nice to see some semblance of scruples and standard enforced regarding this 'event'
-but really? We're trying to say that it's improper for people to hospitalize each other on the 'nice' side of town, in a 'park' that used to be... a landfill? (am I correct?)
You act like you're saying something innovative by reducing sport to what it is: competitors vying for victory by overcoming an opponent. Welcome to contact sports. I hope you don't watch or spend money on football, baseball, soccer, hockey, boxing or basketball where all manner of physicality causes injuries. Otherwise, your self-righteousness just got pwned by your hypocrisy.
Wet -
Blood isn't terribly unhealthy in an MMA fight. It's part of the fight. You can win if you can cut your opponent and get the Dr. to stop the fight...it's part of the goal.
And all fighters test negative to disease and undergo mandated physicals throughout the year and then a short Dr. check-up prefight.
Doctors are mandated ringside by state regulations. Referees are mandated to have doctors check cuts between rounds. Referees are trained to stop fights if a fighter cannot defend themself due to blood in the eyes.
You write: "They not only want to try to legitmize bloodsport"
Bloodsport? You mean, like boxing? Gladiators? Football back in the day?
Ain't nobody forcing anyone into the lions den here. I wish I had the guts to train hard enough to fight in a cage (or the guts to get into a cage with another trained fighter). It's fun and a great sport.
"But, you know, that's not 'whore' mentality,
-that's 'high-priced-escort-payin'-their-way-thru-med-school-with-sick-younger-sibling-at-home,' mentality."
I swear, sometimes you go so far off the rails with your arguments they boggle the senses of logic.
One has nothing to do with the other.
And as a promoter of stuff, I would MUCH prefer Woodward Park which has a reputation of being a wonderful place to go for people than Fulton, Roeding (are you kidding??) or even the fairgrounds. Holding it at Woodward Park saves lots of money on marketing, cuz it's a place folks know to be safe, beautiful, with ample parking and nice summer nights.
Getting people to Fulton would take a ton of extra marketing money, just like MsJoey found out when they had to go to Valdez Hall instead of Selland. Luckily Valdez has good parking and is a safe, known quantity, but it's not established like Selland.
GOD I wish you knew what you were talking about sometimes. Sometimes you do, but not this time, not about MMA, bloodsport, or marketing events.
No one acts more a know-it-all than I do, but jeez...
WT,
I got to, "where would the art of absurdist debate be without it's dynamic duo," and I started laughing too hard to finish anything else you wrote.
I have Kettle on the phone, he'd like you to check his cupid.com page because you two are a 100% match.
...at least you saw the humor in it... too bad sponge-bob-grouchy-painter-pants over there didn't think so... I only come out with one good line every 10 months... gonna be a long season...
Don't know who Kettle is,
I'm flattered, but not interested... (sorry, hetero, you understand, I'm sure he's a very nice person, though, and I wish him all the best, cheers.)
Steph... (Steph Mintz, right? (you're a promoter? I thought you did childcare... unkay, good to know.)
I think we're kind of two different worlds here.
Yours is the promoter world, where 'blood isn't terribly unhealthy (during a MMA fight) and making your opponent 'bleed' is a goal.'
I'm from the persepective of humnan health care.
If you have a blood spill (of any sort) you're looking at destruction and injury to a body, and bloodborne pathogens.
Any other setting where bloodlettng like this happens, (except this one) is considered extremely hazardous to all involved.
(And no, sorry, I'm not going to say '...but, but, they have medical professionals (closely) monitoring the events and are being tested.'
----right,
show me a sport where medical rules and conditions aren't 'bent' and 'broken' for the sake of the entertainment at hand.
I'm kind of old fashioned.
I like it when folks keep their blood,
you know, INSIDE their bodies...
(I'm just silly that way.)
I also don't consider it 'sport' anymore when you're deliberately attempting to draw blood, (and) injure an opponent so severely (that) a Dr. has to intervene and say, '...yep, you win.'
Again, these are my (off the rails?) viewpoints, but a sport involves some sort of artistry and mastery of physical something,
--but is not to deliberately injure somebody else.
In fact, the sports I (personally) respect, no matter how pointless 'sport' is, involve officials attempting to make sure that deliberately injurous behavior does not happen.
That we're talking about injuries that have to be monitored because both combatants may not even be able to SEE? -considerng the fragility (and necessity) of the eye and stuff found in and on the head? (brain, etc.)
-that's not a sport.
(Again) this is nothing more than two people reducing their own existance to being entertainment at the expense of injuring others and themselves.
You can pay people to do a lot of things, it doesn't make it right.
Times are hard, and money means a lot... but this money is too expensive,
-and I'm glad somebody had the sense to recognize that.
(Don't worry, Steph, it's all semantics... in ten years or so? it's gonna be '..Should we allow Snuff Theatre in Woodward Park? or keep it at Fashion Fair...')
You see this as a promoter, and a promoter thinks:
'How can I make a buck off of showing something to people.'
The standard is 'butts in seats, good production, crowd pleased, don't break the law.'
-And that's all great.
I'm looking at it from (again)
-Is this really a sport that says anything decent about either
a.) the opponents?,
'This guy can put that guy in need of a physicians care faster than that guy can do it to him.'
(or)
b.)the people going to see it?
'We like to watch people be beaten bloody.'
If this flies (anywhere, especially Woodward) all we're proving?
It's not about ethics,
nor about 'holding to one's word,'
It's Money runs life in Fresno, and with enough of it? You can get anyone to let you do whatever you want.
(Funny, we just buried a guy today who proved that, a couple of times, in fact.)
shakespeare in the park in a joke; 60's take on as you like it... might as well do Romeo+Juliet with guns.. this is fresno; i think the baring of mixed martial arts, a pay preview sport that companies charge $ for on TV in favor of a remake 60's remake of a classic work of art is just another example of those in favor with the policy makers in fresno government getting their way at the expense of the majority of residents who are too busy working to make rent and pay the bills to complain; and if you're going to make such a big deal about art and whatnot why don't you at least be true to the spirit and production of the original play if bringing culture is so important; what is a kid who has no idea about shakespeare going to think seeing a 60's flower child remake; mr fight club is trying to bring revenue and money into the economy whereas the shakespeare club comes off as a territorial self serving elitist group of snobs looking down upon the VAST majority of the local populace enforcing their views of what is proper entertainment upon the rest of the populace our opinions be damned. i elected government officials; not moral police; if two consenting adults want to spar and they can't than what else can't two consenting adults do?
so are other cultures that engage in these sort of fights; japanese pride fights; thai boxing; shoot fighting; kickboxing, olympic tae kwon do; regular boxing all barbarians
we have armed forces here in america; we train soldiers, we train them to kill; are we as civilians just supposed to ignore that aspect of our society and pretend it doesn't exist just because it's easier to sleep at night
compared to what is going on in the world and with the global economy people who get worked up over more organized fights in the park really need to like refocus that anger on more important issues like the riots in xinjiang, the coup in honduras, bombings in the philippines, etc... and that's all in the past 48 hours
but what am i thinking; shakespeare in the park is way more important and worth way more of all of our time than all those problems other people have to deal with; good thing they don't have it as hard as us
rob,
why are you making it a shakespeare vs mma issue? there are many activities that the city is allowing in the ampitheater, please don't just blame the city's opposition to mma on shakespeare and those that like it. they're not all "snobs looking down on the vast majority of" fresnans.
Rob - when did anybody suggest that this was a question of Shakespeare OR MMA? It's entirely possible to have both. The issue keeping MMA from the park is whether or not MMA belongs in the park. You can come down on whatever side of that issue you wish, but suggesting that the "Shakespeare club" has anything to do with the debate and/or decision is simply not factual.
If you don't like MMA, why not just stay home when these events are going on at the park or anywhere else? When the rodeo is going on in Clovis, I don't whine and cry about it- I just don't go anywhere near Clovis Ave. during that weekend. Problem solved.
There's more disturbing and vile stuff going on in those park bathrooms [as we all know] than MMA in an enclosed area of the park.
But alas, Fresno will always find something to complain about.
Wow. How did all of Fresno get dragged into this? I don't remember complaining about MMA. But maybe that's because I'm originally from Clovis, and apparently Clovis people don't whine ...
I'm from Clovis Heather....YOU KNOW I LOOOOVE TO WHINE!
In all CAPS, no less!
Missing the point. And yes I may have generalized but I didn't say every person from A-Z in Fresno feels that way.
Oh well.
I just meant you can't please everyone all the time.
Sorry, Sharyn. One of my pet peeves, and it happens so often on this blog, is when a few people complain about an issue and then someone makes an overly generalized remark about Fresno.
Okay then SOME people in parts of Fresno/Clovis sometimes complain about Fresno/Clovis.
Does that make it better?
This is why I don't even bother to post comments. Can't even post an opinion without detracting from the topic I was talking about.
Sharyn, I agree with you completely. To ALL Fresnans, if you don't like MMA don't go to the freakin' park. If holding an event like that will gain the City of Fresno $20,000, a couple of whiny babies is worth it. Oh, and Heather, people whine everywhere...whether it's about the rodeo, MMA, Big Hat Days or a Bulldog football game. Everyone will always find something to complain about.
...I'm thinking Rob up there is refrencing the situation from last summer?
(when the MMA Fight happened on the same night as a WSF production, and a lot of people were harrassed and felt threatened by the crowd as it left...)
-it was written and commented on extensively here too.
In fact, how the MMA event went down, and how the crowd acted towards the WSF production/audience at that time greatly fueled the arguement and provided the platform that it didn't belong in the park, and was sited as such by (both) mayoral candidates.
I believe Rick is pushing Woodward Park as the primary venue spot because of costs. It probably is cheaper to rent out the park vs Chuckchansi Park, Savemart Center, or Selland Arena. The MMA doesn't generate as much revenue as UFC, so costs, profits, and benefits of for the city are taken into consideration.
I don't see why MMA would change or influence the image of Woodward Park. The City should see this a revenue opportunity and go with it. If the economy was not in a recession, then I could understand the argument from the City of Fresno. But with hard times right now, any dollar amount generated is better than nothing at all.
You call it MMA - I call it cage fighting! It has no place in a city park regardless of the bucks it can bring in! Did you read the description of said cage fighting at the fairgrounds recently? Hold on Mayor Swearingen remain firm on this one.
This is not an appropriate venue for any amount of money.
TheOne - you got it right.
I love how people who have no frame of reference in regards to MMA refer to it as whatever they want. “The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about.”
How come no one complains when Britney Spears and her half-naked show all bumpin-n-grinding comes to the city?
You have said my exact thoughts once again Sharyn. What's funny...it is a sport, a brutal one at that. But, so is boxing. This would obviously be gated off and tickets would be required. So, anyone who doesn't want to witness the brutality, don't buy a freakin' ticket.
I, too, think you sound like you would be willing to sell your soul for money. Woodward Park is simply not the place for the violence of cage fighting. If people like it so much, I would think they would go to wherever it is being presented. And there are other venues that would be happy to give the $20,000 for the city. I hope the mayor stands by her decision.
Once in awhile there would be these cage fighting shows. If you dont like them...Don't go...end of discussion. I dont go, but then I could care less. Its at night, right, so what. There are more things that need to be attended to like people who litter the park, who fish in the park without licenses, who come into the park and don't pay for parking because they park outside and walk, or families who jam into one car and then pay for one car. The city should charge by the person not car.
My feeling is kinda split, frankly.
If it's a public park which I believe it is -- it's funded with tax payer money. I think the tax payers in the City should decide if they want 'their park' to be used for events such as MMA.
What's wrong with this approach?
Andreas -- You represent me. I'm down for MMA so long as laws, rules, ordinances, etc.. are followed and it's not causing an 'undue' burden on the City -- for example, like having to fund more police due to fights -- if it can meet that criteria, I say host them and sooner the better!
I don't understand what the big deal is.... Anyone walking by cannot see or hear anything. We were at the park when they had the salsa event and we did not hear any music or see anthing from where we were at. So let Rick, have his fight events there. Who ever does not agree with the fights being held there should not read about it because you sure as hell cannot see or hear the fights standing on the outside.
Why not???
My understanding is, the parks are for the people. If ticket sales are good, then it must be something the people want. I don't believe it could cause any more harm than the other events held there. It's a bonus if the city makes a nice bit of profit. For the folks that don't enjoy MMA fighting (which happens to be the fastest growing sport in the world), they don't have to buy a ticket.