As MMA has been making very little headway in New York, despite a good deal of press blitzing, I thought I'd offer up some thoughts on the issues that I see presenting themselves.
Anyway, here's my two cents on the issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironman @ MMAOpinion
Very little is more important to me, at the moment, than the legalization of mixed martial arts in the state of New York. There are a lot of important fronts in the ongoing battle to extend the legitimacy of MMA, but New York is paramount.
The symbolic gesture of a UFC event in Madison Square Garden aside, being able to access what may be the largest market of young, affluent people in an urban area would make American MMA legitimate, but I also think that cracking New York would bring down the dyke, and allow pro MMA to break out and received credibility in the legislatures in Michigan (another powerful, untapped potential fanbase) and Maryland.
There are very few states where professional MMA has not been legalized and every one of them is important, but because of the nature of union influenced New York politics, the third most populous U.S. state has held out. California and Texas (one and two, population wise) have opened up to MMA, but the media influence in New York adds another dimension and level of importance to the legalization of the sport.
There are a lot of reasons why the battle has been uphill, not the least of which is a struggle with organizing opposition to a puritanical democratic leader in the assembly. I’m not a political expert, but having tracked the political history of mixed martial arts, it seems clear to me that there are certain tactics that work, and there are others that don’t.
I agree. New York is very important, and I've been signing up petitions like crazy for it lol. Hopefully we can get MMA there, I see it as a big tool in the growth of the sport.
I totally agree about the UFC failing to use the internet. If anything, Dana has continually blanket dissed the internet fans. The only forum he's ever shown any love for is the UG, and a few free tickets doesn't really equate to embracing the internet as a market.
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IronMan, when I saw your last name on a couple of the articles you wrote, I always wondered about that, you sly devil.
Ummm... yeah... Joshua Stein. He's a Jew.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HexRei
I totally agree about the UFC failing to use the internet. If anything, Dana has continually blanket dissed the internet fans. The only forum he's ever shown any love for is the UG, and a few free tickets doesn't really equate to embracing the internet as a market.
Hex, I'm with you. This has been a huge failure, especially when you consider that the best coverage of the sport comes through the internet.
Mainstream coverage has failed terribly to offer anything interesting or groundbreaking on the sport, but the UFC wants their audience, so they cater to the TV and print outlets.
The Uphill Battle in New York
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