UFC Becomes First American Sports Organisation To Have Full Capacity Crowds At Live Events

Dana White has announced that fans will be allowed to attend UFC 261 in Jacksonville.

But this time, it's not just a handful of lucky carefully-selected supporters who will be in attendance.

No, for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a full crowd will be allowed to attend a live sporting event in the United States.

And it seems only fitting that the UFC - a company that has done so much to keep its fighters active but dafe during the pandemic - is the first organisation to do so.

PA

UFC president White took to social media to announce that UFC 261 will take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.

"I have been waiting a year for this day to tell you 'We are back,'" White said in a promo video on Twitter.

"UFC 261 on April 24 will be in Jacksonville Florida with a full house of fans. Full capacity at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

UFC / Zuffa

"And you know I'm bringing an incredible card. We have three title fights. The welterweight championship between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal, the women's flyweight championship between the Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade and the fight everyone's been waiting for which is the women's strawweight championship between Weili Zhang and Rose Namajunas.

"This is a stacked card in front of 15,000 fans.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are back. I just want to say thank you Jacksonville, I love you guys and we will see you soon."

A bunch of teams from various codes have already allowed spectators to attend games.

Some MLB and NFL franchises have verbally agreed to let supporters partially fill stadiums, but the UFC will be the first to officially do it at full capacity.

Outside of America, it's an entirely different story.

Here in Australia, the NRL, AFL and A-League has permitted live crowds during games for some time now.

Game 3 of the 2020 State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane was one of the first ever events to allow a full capacity crowd since the outbreak of coronavirus - and it was a massive success.

Since then, Australia and New Zealand have somewhat lead the way when it comes to allowing fans to attend sporting events.

But across the pond in the United States, it's the UFC who will become the first sporting organisation to fill arenas with sport-hungry fanatics.

Topics: Jorge Masvidal, UFC News, Coronavirus, UFC, Australia, MMA, Dana White, Kamaru Usman, Covid-19

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry