griff
08-15-2007, 09:49 AM
HUGE demand for tickets for Ricky Hatton's December showdown with Floyd Mayweather may force a rethink on the venue.
Since the welterweight fight was announced last month, it has been widely reported that it will be held at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
But a host of offers from other arenas, including a strong bid from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, have given US outfit Golden Boy Promotions food for thought.
And with the Hatton family's own Punch Promotions company talking of unprecedented demand for tickets, there is a fear that the 17,000-capacity Garden Arena at the MGM Grand may not be big enough.
It is being estimated that as many as 10,000 British fight fans will make the trek to cheer Hatton on, beating the record exodus to watch an individual British sportsman, set by the Hitman's June clash with Jose Luis Castillo, which attracted more than 9,000 Brits.
That could result in a postal ballot for tickets, if demand outstrips supply, and Punch Promotions has already set up a booking system which will give priority to fans who have travelled to previous Hatton fights in the States.
Problem
Hatton's camp say they are as much in the dark as the public regarding the venue, but an announcement is expected in the next few days.
Ricky's dad and adviser Ray Hatton said: "The problem is that the British fans have frightened them.
"We told the American promoters ahead of the Castillo fight that they could expect between 6,000 and 8,000 British fans, and they just had little smiles on their faces, not believing it. When nearly 10,000 turned up, they were a bit shocked, to say the least.
"I would say Vegas is still the favourite, but the Staples Center holds more than 20,000. We have told them the Americans that we want at least 10,000 tickets because it has been pandemonium at our ticket office, even though we don't yet know ticket arrangements."
Demand is expected to grow when Hatton flies to the States on September 14 for a publicity tour along with five-weight world champion Mayweather, taking in New York, Mayweather's home state of Michigan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The two fighters will travel to the UK for "public press conferences" in London and Manchester, at which Hatton, Mayweather and promoter Oscar de la Hoya, himself a boxing legend, will appear. Punch Promotions events co-ordinator Michael Meadowcroft believes that up to 5,000 British fans may already have booked flights and accommodation in Vegas, a five-hour drive away from LA, if the Staples Centre's bid is successful.
He stresses that websites offering tickets are acting unscrupulously as no venue or ticketing has yet been announced.
Since the welterweight fight was announced last month, it has been widely reported that it will be held at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
But a host of offers from other arenas, including a strong bid from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, have given US outfit Golden Boy Promotions food for thought.
And with the Hatton family's own Punch Promotions company talking of unprecedented demand for tickets, there is a fear that the 17,000-capacity Garden Arena at the MGM Grand may not be big enough.
It is being estimated that as many as 10,000 British fight fans will make the trek to cheer Hatton on, beating the record exodus to watch an individual British sportsman, set by the Hitman's June clash with Jose Luis Castillo, which attracted more than 9,000 Brits.
That could result in a postal ballot for tickets, if demand outstrips supply, and Punch Promotions has already set up a booking system which will give priority to fans who have travelled to previous Hatton fights in the States.
Problem
Hatton's camp say they are as much in the dark as the public regarding the venue, but an announcement is expected in the next few days.
Ricky's dad and adviser Ray Hatton said: "The problem is that the British fans have frightened them.
"We told the American promoters ahead of the Castillo fight that they could expect between 6,000 and 8,000 British fans, and they just had little smiles on their faces, not believing it. When nearly 10,000 turned up, they were a bit shocked, to say the least.
"I would say Vegas is still the favourite, but the Staples Center holds more than 20,000. We have told them the Americans that we want at least 10,000 tickets because it has been pandemonium at our ticket office, even though we don't yet know ticket arrangements."
Demand is expected to grow when Hatton flies to the States on September 14 for a publicity tour along with five-weight world champion Mayweather, taking in New York, Mayweather's home state of Michigan, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The two fighters will travel to the UK for "public press conferences" in London and Manchester, at which Hatton, Mayweather and promoter Oscar de la Hoya, himself a boxing legend, will appear. Punch Promotions events co-ordinator Michael Meadowcroft believes that up to 5,000 British fans may already have booked flights and accommodation in Vegas, a five-hour drive away from LA, if the Staples Centre's bid is successful.
He stresses that websites offering tickets are acting unscrupulously as no venue or ticketing has yet been announced.