Scottsdale commission approves $30,000 matching grant for United Fight League event at WestWorld

The Scottsdale Tourism & Events Commission voted to recommend a $30,000 matching grant to United Fight League (UFL) for UFL 6, a mixed martial arts event scheduled for May 2 at WestWorld, after hearing a public presentation from UFL organizers.

Harrison Rogers, identified in the meeting as CEO and founder of United Fight League, told commissioners the event would feature a Scottsdale team vs. an Orange County team, include celebrity fighters and influencers, be streamed on Rumble and broadcast on Vice TV, and that organizers expect substantial national and international impressions. Rogers said the UFL’s stated event budget and projected revenue were both $400,000 on the application and that the promotion plans to treat Scottsdale as one franchise in a regular-season, multi-event league format.

Steve Giggle, a Tourism and Events staff member, explained the matching-event advertising fund requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the applicant. He noted staff did not include a recommendation in the packet and was seeking commission feedback on whether the event aligns with Scottsdale’s brand and tourism objectives.

During public comment and the commission discussion, commissioners asked about expected hotel room nights, marketing plans and the event format. Rogers said organizers estimated at least 200 hotel room nights for fight week and described influencer and partnership plans, including relationships with local hotels and streamed promotional content. He also said Rumble would host the free live stream and that Vice TV distribution was secured to reach cable households.

A commissioner moved to approve the requested $30,000 amount with a condition that UFL track hotel usage and inbound revenues for reporting back to the commission; another commissioner seconded. The recorded voice vote in the meeting was collected as “Aye” from commissioners present and the motion carried. Staff noted the match requirement remains in effect and that final contract terms and monitoring will follow normal procedures.

Commissioners also used the agenda discussion to review potential program changes staff flagged for future evaluation: the consecutive-day requirement for event development funding, a list of event types currently ineligible for certain grants (including expos and some sporting events), the question of whether influencer costs should be eligible, and whether to remove seasonality criteria. Staff said these items will be refined and returned in a red-line version for commission review before any recommendation to city council.