UFC reports $30M loss from White House Freedom 250

The UFC's "Freedom 250" event held on the South Lawn of the White House in mid-June resulted in an approximate $30 million loss, its parent company announced on Monday, August 3. The invite-only spectacle, held in celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, featured an audience of roughly 4,300 people, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. No tickets were sold to the general public.

Andrew Schleimer, chief financial officer of TKO Group Holdings, stated that the organization incurred significantly higher than normal costs for the event, which were partially offset by sold-out global partnerships and sponsorships. "As a reminder, we did not sell tickets and, therefore, did not record any live events revenue," Schleimer told investors. "Given the event's profile, which as anticipated, resulted in an approximate $30 million loss, our margins at UFC as well as on a consolidated basis were meaningfully impacted."

Despite the significant one-off loss, TKO Group reported strong overall financial performance for the second quarter of 2026. Revenue for the UFC increased 29% year-over-year to $535.7 million, driven in large part by a new...