UFC
UFC NEWS: Dana White says live experience coming to a "whole other level" with stadium show at UFC 129 in Toronto
Feb 8, 2011 - 8:40:29 PM UFC NEWS: Dana White says live experience coming to a "whole other level" with stadium show at UFC 129 in Toronto

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC has, to date, shied away from doing big stadium shows for fear of ruining the live experience that fans have come to love in their arena shows. However, all of that will change on April 30 when the organization comes to Toronto's Rogers Centre with UFC 129.

The UFC is configuring the 60,000+-seat-venue for 42,000 fans, and are planning new and unique ways of presenting the live experience for the event.

"Nobody was more worried about that [issue] than me, believe me," White said at a press conference in Toronto on Tuesday. "I've said for years that I don't know about doing stadiums. What I think has helped the UFC get as big as it has is the live-event experience. And the last guy on earth that wants to ruin that for anybody is me."

"I never want the fans to not only turn off their television and say, 'That sucked,' I don't want the fans to walk away who bought tickets to have a bad experience either. I'm actually pumped for the experience we're planning for you guys here in Toronto."

White promised a new experience for fans, and assured everyone in attendance of what was in store.

"We're going to do things in this arena that we've never done in any arena, ever before," White said. "People worrying the experience isn't going to be the same, [well] it's not. It's going to be better. We're taking it to a whole other level, and I'm really excited about it."

For fans buying tickets to the event, the organization will be teaming with the Rogers Centre to present a 3D presentation for ticket buyers of where their seats will be in the venue and what their view will be from their seats.

"[UFC Director of Canadian Operations] Tom [Wright] actually came up with this idea, which is awesome," White said. “We are so confident in the experience we’re gonna give you, we created this 3D rendition, where you can actually go inside and sit in your seat, when you buy that seat, and you can see what your view is from your seat."

Penick's Analysis: The 3D image of the venue and the layout will be a cool thing for fans, and it will help them avoid worrying about whether or not the tickets they're buying will be obstructed or make for a bad experience. This event is going to be huge in more ways than one, and this is just going to be a really cool and unique thing for the tens of thousands in attendance in April.