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Meltzer: Estimates for McGregor vs. Mayweather PPV buys in North America between 4.6m to 4.8m - "Total gross revenue in the range of $615m to $620m - the biggest event of its kind in sports history"
From the latest issue of Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required):
At this point, the estimate for Mayweather vs. McGregor on PPV is 4.6 million North American buys between PPV and iPPV, so those who bet on the under on the 4.99 million look to be the winners.
It’s not an exact science and it’s been noted that if the same growth as Mayweather-Pacquiao takes place the number could be up to 4.8 million, but with so much a higher percentage of buys being through the Internet (a solid number that won’t grow), the growth from early numbers may not be as significant.
When we look at total revenue the show produced, it should be about $445 million from PPV (Cable providers and satellite providers would get 30 percent of the PPV money but the iPPV money would go to the promotion at a much higher percentage), the live gate was $55 million, the U.K. and Ireland PPV is probably about $28 million, international TV rights were estimated at $35 million, $28 million were estimated in sponsorships, $2.6 million in U.S. movie theaters and $15 million from bars and Restaurant airings. There is also a Las Vegas area closed circuit number that is not yet available but should be in about a week, but going in the estimate for that would have been $7 million.
So all-in-all, the total gross for the event looks to be in the range of $615 to $620 million.
Because a single event like a World Cup final or a Super Bowl is part of a television package, you can’t really give a figure on its value, but for events that you can give a direct money value to, it would be the biggest event of its kind in sports history and I’m thinking probably entertainment history as well.
Regarding unsold tickets for Mayweather vs. McGregor, there were about 1,600 unsold tickets at $3,500, 1,550 unsold tickets at $5,000, 650 unsold tickets at $7,500 and just under 700 unsold tickets at $10,000. So they overestimated what people were willing to pay.
A key part of this that people also don’t take into consideration was that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao had a seven year build and was the natural match to be made between two huge drawing cards and was on a great night. Mayweather vs. McGregor had a few month build, was not on a great night (the boxing people insisted on getting it out there before 9/16 for the unfounded fear that GGG vs. Alvarez going first would lower the ceiling and they had to be first), although honestly I think night is overrated as long as it’s a Saturday
