Finally the Ontario Liberals have got the sense knocked into them through public pressure and a dose of common sense the UFC is on its way to Ontario. With people jumping for jubilation on hearing the news that mixed martial arts will be heading north of the border. The public should be reminded that Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC party led the way on being the first party to fully support the UFC in Ontario.
As well I would like to think that blogs like this in public pressure had something to do with the government actually for once listening to the people. However in my view this is just another sign that the Liberals are clearing the deck of contentious issues in time for the 2011 election.
McGuinty has repeatedly said that permitting MMA was not a “priority” with him, and the matches are illegal under the criminal code unless officially sanctioned by the province.
quick facts
UFC by the numbers. n Number of Ontario residents at Montreal UFC 83: 6,685 or 42% of total attendance. n What Ontarians spent at Montreal UFC 83: $1.4 million. n Expected attendance for Toronto event: 30,000. n Expected attendance for Hamilton event: 17,500. n Toronto UFC visitor assumptions: 20,900 locals, 3,400 daytrippers and 5,700 overnight visitors. n Projected provincial and federal taxes from Ontario UFC events annually: $4 million.
