ANAHEIM, CA and NEW YORK, NY, February 15, 2024 – OCVIBE, a first-of-its-kind immersive sports and entertainment district centered around the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, today announced a first-of-its-kind, five-year live event partnership with the UFC and WWE, two of the most iconic sports and entertainment brands in the world.
Starting this year, the UFC and WWE will each host at least three events at the Honda Center through 2028. Fans traveling to Anaheim over the next five years will see a variety of events ranging from the must-see championship to from UFC on pay-per-view to riveting Fight Nights, spectacular WWE arena shows, including electrifying live television programs such as Raw And Smack down.
Additionally, UFC and WWE will join the premier lineup of marquee events at OCVIBE, providing fans with thrilling, non-stop action, featuring explosive clashes with the world’s best mixed martial artists at UFC, as well as the incredible athleticism and epic storytelling of the greatest-ever Superstars of life in WWE. OCVIBE and UFC will also collaborate to host additional activities, such as viewing parties, where the neighborhood’s immersive technology innovations and wide selection of eclectic dining and nightlife options currently in development will create fan experiences of UFC far superior to other sports and entertainment destinations across the country.
“Hosting UFC and WWE in the iconic Honda Center allows us to bring some of the most electric live experiences to Orange County residents,” said Bill Foltz, CEO of OCVIBE. “The infectious enthusiasm of these events will only become more powerful as we reinvent the downtown Orange County experience at OCVIBE, creating a magnetic destination for entertainment, sports and culture .”
The partnership comes to life this President’s Day weekend, as the Honda Center hosts CFU 298: VOLKANOVSKI against TOPURIA on Sat. February 17followed by WWE Monday Night Raw on February 19. Honda Center will become the first venue to host back-to-back UFC and WWE events as part of a dedicated sports and entertainment offering since the merger of UFC and WWE under TKO Group Holdings in 2023 .
“For nearly 20 years, the Honda Center has been one of the UFC’s most beloved venues,” said Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, UFC Event Development and Operations. “The Samueli family and the Honda Center team have been amazing hosts and helped us deliver some of the most memorable UFC events of all time. Now, the creation of OCVIBE will take the fan experience to the next level with all the innovative ways they can activate around UFC and WWE events in one destination.
The UFC has a long-standing relationship with the Honda Center and the city of Anaheim dating back to April 2006, when the Honda Center hosted its first UFC event, UFC 59. Since then, many of the biggest names in UFC history have competed at the Honda Center, including Daniel Cormier, Matt Huges, Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar, Chuck Liddell, Stipe Miocic, BJ Penn, Ronda Rousey and Cain Velasquez. The UFC also holds the record for the highest-grossing event ever held at the Honda Center, with CFU 270: NGANNOU AGAINST. GANEwho recorded a door of $5.29 million and drew a sold-out crowd 17,387 in January 2022. This Saturday CFU 298: VOLKANOVSKI against TOPURIA will mark the tenth UFC event hosted by the Honda Center, the largest event in the United States outside of Las Vegas.
Over the past 30 years, the Honda Center has proudly hosted more than 60 WWE events. Monday Night Raw this February 19 will be the 64th WWE event at the Honda Center, with many more to follow.
For more information about OCVIBE, please visit ocvibe.com.
For tickets to Honda Center events, including upcoming UFC and WWE shows, please visit hondacenter.com