UFC Freedom 250 contruction starts at White House South Lawn
Source: USA Today
May 25, 2026, 2:43 p.m. ET
Construction has begun at the White House ahead of UFC Freedom 250, according to photos circulating on social media. The most famous address in the United States, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is beginning to look a lot like a fight venue.
With the June 14 fight less than three weeks away, crews have begun work on the temporary arena that will host the UFC Freedom 250, a fight card that is as much a celebration as it is a sporting event. The promotion released renderings last week showing the planned setup, including "the claw," a massive lighting and cover structure that was built in Europe and shipped to the United States specifically for the occasion. Dana White's stated vision is to keep the White House visible as the backdrop for every fight.
The venue will seat roughly 5,000 people, a mix of military members and guests invited by the UFC and the White House. No tickets are going on sale. Another 100,000 fans can watch on screens set up at the nearby Ellipse.
White says UFC and it's parent company TKO Group Holdings are picking up the tab. TKO president Mark Shapiro acknowledged on a financial call that the cost is a "moving target" expected to exceed $60 million. The promotion does not expect to turn a profit, but is counting on roughly $30 million in corporate sponsorships to offset expected losses. While the UFC is covering the restoration of the South Lawn after the event, it is not covering the cost for security, which will be significant. That will be coordinated between the Secret Service and local law enforcement at the tax payers' expense.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2026/05/25/ufc-freedom-250-construction-underway-white-house-south-lawn/90252117007/
Waste. Fraud. Abuse.
pfitz59
(12,963 posts)More desecration of 'the people's house'.
sop
(19,410 posts)redesign the South Lawn to suit his (bad) taste.
Walleye
(45,565 posts)displacedvermoter
(5,025 posts)I guess they must know that in his younger years Abe was a pretty good wrestler!
Right...
artemisia1
(1,910 posts)magicarpet
(19,452 posts).... entertainment will be simultaneously offered at the former Jacqueline Kennedy Rose Garden. Please be careful not to slip and fall on the puddles of animal blood.
All you can drink moonshine bars will be setup at the North & South White House porticos. Puke buckets and barfbags will be available upon need or request.
RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(2,280 posts)In other words, MAGAs.
AverageOldGuy
(4,207 posts). . . plan the UFC arena so it's permanent and can be used for:
-- female mud wrestling?
-- truck pulls?
-- Klan rallies with re-usable crosses for burning?
Nothing like a multi-use installation -- right??
Walleye
(45,565 posts)AverageOldGuy
(4,207 posts)Lots of us good ol' boys out here who just live for some mud wrasslin' !!!!!!
/s
Walleye
(45,565 posts)AverageOldGuy
(4,207 posts). . . I see other Patriots beat me to it.
I like the idea about cockfighting and dog fights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And regular prayer meetings with speaking in tongues and laying on of hands and healing!!!
Walleye
(45,565 posts)Walleye
(45,565 posts)Bayard
(30,375 posts)J_William_Ryan
(3,596 posts)Entertainment for Trump Cult members.
Thugs and criminals the poorly educated and willfully ignorant; Beavis and Butt-Head go to Washington.
LudwigPastorius
(15,042 posts)President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho presided over the event.
flvegan
(66,554 posts)flvegan
(66,554 posts)5,000 elite "guests" of Dana White and the White House (a/k/a rich trash and "influencers"
surrounding a cage where people will beat the shit out of each other for money, glory and fame in front of the White House. I expect fireworks and monster trucks as well. All brought to you by DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Hard Rock Bet and bet365. I can only hope they let Trump give the opening address so he can ramble on for an hour about his various grievances while simultaneously nodding off and shitting himself. Then he'll steal one of the title belts because he "deserves it for beating up Iran" or something.
I like the part where the taxpayer is paying for all the security and God knows what else (the grift is VERY strong with all parties here).
JohnnyRingo
(21,011 posts)This is all trash and no trailer.
TurboDem
(372 posts)lonely bird
(3,047 posts)Every country respects us and were the hottest country in the world.