UEFA has confirmed that it received over 275,000 applications for the three games involving the Republic of Ireland at the Euro 2016 finals. A total of "just 26,000 tickets" are available to Irish supporters. With demand "hugely outstripping supply," the FAI has repeated its intention to "endeavour to reward the most loyal supporters" and various other members of the "football family" when it begins the process of how to allocate tickets (IRISH TIMES, 1/20). ... Although it still has not been decided whether Mexico City will host an NFL game, "two sites are preparing to receive approval from an NFL committee that has traveled from N.Y. to evaluate both facilities." Estadio Azteca, where a regular season game was held in '05, and Estadio Olímpico Universitario have bid to host the game. NFL Mexico Dir General Arturo Olivé said, "Estadio Azteca and Ciudad Universitaria have been some of the options that we have put on the table in N.Y. I believe that the advances we have made with these two stadiums have been very good; we have had multiple visits from experts on various topics" (LA AFICIÓN, 1/21). ... UFC Gym on Thursday announced the opening of its first location in Ontario, Canada on Saturday. Mississauga, Ontario Mayor Bonnie Crombie will be on-hand to kick off the opening ceremonies. This gym features a 24-foot Octagon, strength training and cardio machines, battle ropes, agility ladders, bag room, Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio and other functional training equipment for dynamic workouts (UFC Gym).
