Conventional wisdom in Las Vegas held that big fights drove big business. But who ever heard of a marquee boxing match being offered as a loss leader. That’s how MGM Mirage is promoting “The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones.” I’m not up to date on the sweet science, so these guys could be a couple of tomato cans for all I know. But it’s interesting to see the company offering comped fight tickets to justify room rates that would otherwise be deemed exorbitant. Is the match driving business — to other hotels? Is it a dud at the box office, leaving MGM with a lot of overpriced room inventory that has to be moved? If the bout were luring customers, per the old-school model, would MGM be having to paper the house in this fashion?
-
Recent Posts
- You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games
- Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina
- Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions
- MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings
- On and off the radio
- MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- MGM paralyzed; DraftKings debacle; Mount Airy wins
- Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers
Categories
@Stiffs_Georges
Error: Invalid or expired token.-
Archives
Recent Comments
- Alice Eskandari on Durango Station, slightly downsized
- David McKee on You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- American Gaming Guru on You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- Ray Lebowski on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- David McKee on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- Ray Lebowski on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- David McKee on MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- Paul Shanahan on MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- ACGambler on MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings
- Bob on Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers
Views
- Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles - 56,267 views
- You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou - 56,170 views
- If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games - 54,608 views
- Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina - 55,544 views
- Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions - 55,523 views
- Profit vs. investment on the Strip - 1,055,329 views
- Lame nag; Frissora overpaid? - 578,433 views
- The evils of bingo; Wynn’s Aqueduct exit - 90,456 views
- That casino smell - 63,582 views
- Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers - 58,055 views
- MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi - 57,635 views
- MGM paralyzed; DraftKings debacle; Mount Airy wins - 57,063 views
- MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings - 56,687 views
Blogroll
Admin.
I actually can’t see why anyone in their right mind would pay to watch a boxing match; where I grew up, if I had wanted to see a couple of huge guys beat each other to a pulp, all I would have had to do is walk into any bar and throw a $5 bill on the floor.
Let’s assume that there is some subtlety about thugs hitting each other–sorry, “boxing”–that has escaped me. That said, don’t most professional bouts last only a few minutes, quite often, only a few seconds? Wouldn’t I feel cheated if I’d paid $1500 for a ringside seat, only to see one of the fighters knocked out in the first round? Even if I DID get sprayed with some of his blood or something?
Now, give ’em swords or something, and we’re in pay-per-view land. And imagine the betting handle!
Unlike the good ol’ days of Ali or even Tyson I’d be amazed if even 5% of Americans had any idea of who Hopkins or Jones are. Of course, among the few who follow boxing I’m sure many are high rollers. Still, I’m not surprised that watching the NCAA on TV is a much, much bigger draw than just about any boxing match these days.
Years ago this would have been a huge fight. Now, they will be lucky to get the place half full. Think John McEnroe vs Jimmy Connors in a tennis match. Might still be entertaining if you enjoy the sport, but the competitors are a shadow of their former selves.
Yes, I even wound up with an offer for this fight, which means it’s filtered down pretty far. My guess is that they had very low sales or takers for the event. Just not marquee enough especially with UFC now and still a few ‘big’ fights.
Although as a loss leader probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for lower hyped fights, you bring in a new audience that gets a bit of the high roller treatment, and lays sportsbook bets on the fight in addition to their regular gambling.