Dana White has confirmed that the UFC’s upcoming event at the White House will cost even more than its $20 million Las Vegas Sphere show — making it the most expensive production in the company’s history.
UFC president Dana White detailed the plan during an interview with TNT Sports, describing the South Lawn card as a “massive undertaking” that will test every department of the organisation’s production and logistics team.
White explained that hosting a live event at the White House poses challenges the UFC has never faced before. Security restrictions, limited space and the need for a fully custom build have all contributed to what he calls the company’s biggest logistical test to date.
Dana White says the White House event is UFC’s biggest production test
In his interview, Dana White confirmed that preparations for the South Lawn setup have been underway for several months.
He said that while UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere set new standards for cost and scale, the White House card will comfortably surpass those figures.
The production will feature bespoke lighting rigs and stage designs created specifically for the venue. White explained that the goal is to showcase the White House and the Washington Monument as the only backdrops, without the use of large screens or advertising visuals.
“What the Sphere cost is like chump change that you throw on your ashtray compared to what this is gonna cost,” White said. “There’s a laundry list of challenges… I’ve been to the White House a million times, and I get a lot of leeway there. Everybody knows I’m not there to hurt anybody.”
UFC aims for a once-in-a-lifetime showcase
Dana White said the visual design is focused entirely on the setting, with no distractions or commercial signage. He wants the event to frame two historic symbols — the White House and the Washington Monument — while maintaining the scale and atmosphere of a world title fight.
“The only thing I wanna see is the White House,” White said. “And then when the fight goes the other way: the Washington Monument. Those are the only two things I wanna see.”
UFC head of production Craig Borsari is overseeing the technical build for the event. White said Borsari’s team has developed 3D renderings of the South Lawn, including sunlight tracking and weather mapping, to ensure the broadcast remains visually consistent throughout the event.
White called the White House event the biggest challenge his company has ever faced. With the Las Vegas Sphere show already costing over $20 million, the June showcase is expected to redefine what a combat sports production can achieve.
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