Kevin Marshall's America
The bill to legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York State and allow it to operate under the jurisdiction of the New York State Athletic Commission was passed last week by the State Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Committee and yesterday made it through the Assembly Codes Committee. It is currently in the Ways & Means Committee, which (I believe) is the last stop before it comes up to vote.
As an MMA fan, I’m excited for us to be so close to realizing MMA in New York State. I’ve posted the bill itself to my Mixed Marshall Arts blog. Go check it out.
The unfortunate aspect is that it’s unlikely we’ll see anything other than an occasional UFC show in Madison Square Garden and maybe a few grass roots promotions. The bill taxes a whopping 8.5% of the live event gate in addition to 3% of any and all broadcasting or pay-per-view revenue. The bill retains the long held tax of 3% on boxing gates and broadcasts, respectively.
A bit unfair, but I’ll take it.
UPDATE: Upon reading the bill, the discrepancy is bigger than I thought. While for boxing the 3% tax on the gate is not allowed to exceed $50,000, the 8.5% tax on the gate for MMA is uncapped. Click here for more.
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3 Responses to MMA in New York State Closer to Legalization (plus link to full text of the bill)
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It is about time. Given New York State’s success and interest in wrestling, MMA will be a logical success in the area. Thanks to people like Joe Demeo who has made combat sports popular in Albany, fans will flock when MMA comes to town.
Uncapped while boxing is not allowed to exceed a measly $50,000. Good grief.
But I guess as Kevin wrote, I’ll take it.
It’s sad it’s taking as long as it is for a perfectly legit sport to become legalized.
It’s funny how all the negative associations to MMA (such as human cock fighting, etc) seem to miraculously disappear in the name of money.