Sponsorship packages that include ringside seats for the UFC White House event in June have “been selling” for $1M “or more,” according to a source cited by Allen, Nicholas, Dixon, Gomez & Smith of NBCNEWS.com. President Trump is “handpicking most” of the 4,000-plus spectators who are “lucky enough, cunning enough or rich enough” to score a seat on the South Lawn for the UFC’s White House event. Technically, “all of the tickets are free,” and the UFC is “footing the bill” for the event. One report put the sponsorship package figure at $1.5M. White House Communications Dir Steven Cheung said that Trump is “splitting up his lion’s share of the tickets among members of the military, VIPs -- a set expected to include friends of the president, members of Congress and even foreign dignitaries -- and administration staff.” Sources said that Trump will “curate the crowd.” Additional sources mentioned that donors who want to give large sponsorships to the event are “getting credit with the Trump administration.” Sponsoring the event “puts donors in line for tickets and in the good graces of the president,” and a Republican lobbyist said that it is “working.” The lobbyist added, “They are raising a s--- ton of money and have used it as another unofficial vehicle for corporate donors to give and gain favor with Trump” (NBCNEWS.com, 5/11).
Report: $1M sponsorship packages leading to UFC White House access
