Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao had their lone pre-fight presser yesterday afternoon at Nokia Theatre in downtown L.A., where, "following red-carpet arrivals that made this look more like a Hollywood awards show than a boxing news conference, the fighters were introduced to more than 700 credentialed media members," according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. That is a "gigantic number for a boxing news conference." There was "plenty of discussion about how big the fight will be." Top Rank Chair Bob Arum said, "This is the biggest fight of its era. It's a great event for boxing. Everybody around the world is interested in this fight -- ambassadors, senators, celebrities" (ESPN.com, 3/11). Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe "announced near the end of the news conference/sales rally that ticket prices would be scaled from $1,500 to $7,500." In L.A., Bill Dwyre notes that could bring a $50M live gate at the 16,000-seat MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, "depending on how many seats are sold at what price." Even if they "sold all the seats at the lower price," it would be $24M (L.A. TIMES, 3/12). Also in L.A., Mark Whicker notes sponsorships "will contribute at least" $20M, and foreign TV rights "might drive the ultimate revenue number somewhere between" $450-500M (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/12).
NO INTRO NEEDED: USA TODAY's Martin Rogers writes this is a fight that "sells itself, without need for the typical hoopla." The fight "probably should have happened years ago, but the wait has merely served to stoke the public appetite" for what Arum "correctly described as the biggest fight of this century, at least to date." Mayweather said, "I can remember when I was young and always thought when Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard fought in the Superfight, I never thought there would be a fight that was bigger than that. And here we are" (USA TODAY, 3/12). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay wrote Mayweather-Pacquiao is the "rare fight that needs no introduction or persuasion." Gay: "Everybody gets it. Everybody is already in." They "don’t need to sell anyone on this." Even celebrities "might have a hard time getting their pretty selves in." TMZ recently reported that a vodka and coconut water company was "offering celebrities ringside seats -- if they’d wear stuff advertising" the company (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote it is "hard to fathom that kind of money being paid out on one night for one sporting event." Combined, their purses "will be more than all but a handful" of MLB team salaries in '15 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/11).
ALL EYES ON MAY: ESPN.com's Brian Campbell wrote to "see the entire sports world focused on a single news conference -- with wall-to-wall live coverage on 'SportsCenter,' to boot -- had to feel good for any boxing fan." The event "was a big deal and it felt that way" (ESPN.com, 3/11). ABC's Jimmy Kimmel said the red carpet event seemed "overly glamorous for guys who wear shorts to work" ("Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC, 3/11). ESPN's Jeremy Schaap said, "We're talking about a $40 million gate. There's never been anything more than a $20 million gate in Las Vegas" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/11). "ET" host Kevin Frazier said, "This is one of the biggest red carpets I've seen ... as big as 'The Hunger Games' or the Grammys." CBS President & CEO Les Moonves said the ticket requests and demand are "unbelievably crazy." Moonves: "I've turned down people who have won Academy Awards" ("ET," 3/11).
