Jacksonville set to host UFC with pandemic protocols in place

Jacksonville, Fla. — The city of Jacksonville will take center stage in the sports world Saturday night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, comes to town.

It marks the first major national sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The three events on May 9, May 13 and May 16 will be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with no fans inside the building.

Here is what Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes had to say about the event:

Action News Jax spoke with city Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes about what’s being done behind the scenes to make the events as safe as possible. Hughes said the arena was deep cleaned and the building would be thoroughly cleaned during the three events.
Hughes said everyone involved in the event and staying at the hotel underwent healthcare screening, including testing for COVID-19, when they arrived. He also said there’s going to be testing for the local staff members who work at the arena. “Anyone in that building for any of the three events will have gone through a series of testing and screening procedures,” Hughes said.”
No fans will be in attendance. Hughes estimates there could be anywhere between 200 and 300 people inside the arena at a given time.
Hughes said the event is a moneymaker for the city, with UFC footing the expenses. Hughes said it also marks a major milestone for the city. “It feels like it’s one minor victory in what’s been a very tough several weeks for the people of our city,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he expects the events to put the river city on the radar for future sporting events. “It helps us build our profile as a sports entertainment center,” Hughes said. In a radio interview with Action Sports Jax, UFC President Dana White said he plans to bring UFC back to Jacksonville when more normalcy returns. “We will definitely be back to Jacksonville with a big fight and get all the people from Jacksonville in the arena,” White said.