Cotto-Margarito ticket sales slow

[Mitchell Kane]

From T.K. Steward:

Cotto vs. Margarito Tickets Not as Hot as Vegas Temps

An inside source at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas confirmed today what many within the industry quietly suspected - the tickets for the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito welterweight title fight on July 26th are somewhat cooler than the summer temps on the Strip.

The mercury today on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and East Tropicana Avenue where the MGM Grand is located, rose to a sizzling 104 degrees, but ticket sales for the big fight have been lukewarm.

Rooms at the MGM Grand are sold out for the weekend of the fight but tickets for "The Battle" are still available.

"It's like this," said the source. "This is our off-season here in Vegas, and to be honest with you, a lot of people avoid Las Vegas in the summertime because of the heat. If you're not used to it, the sun can really do a number on you. Besides that, with the economy the way it is, this place is a ghost town."

Tickets for the fight are priced in five denominations - $700, $500, $300, $200 and $100 for an average ticket price of $360.

Cotto vs. Margarito is a match-up of epic proportions that has left hardcore fans salivating, but the fight hasn't really caught on with the casual boxing observer or the mainstream sports fan.

As of Tuesday afternoon, tickets were still available for $700 ringside seats as well as the $300 and $200 chairs. Only the $500 and $100 tickets were sold out.

"Another thing that people have said about this one is that Cotto is not a known attraction here," said the source. "He's an East coast guy who hasn't fought out here since 2004. Margarito has fought here but he doesn't have a big following. Maybe some of his fans will come over from L.A., but I would've thought they would have bought their tickets by now if they planned on showing up."

"With the fight only 11 days away it's tough to say what the exact numbers will be, but when a fight is a hot ticket in Vegas it's usually hot from the get-go and with it only being a week-and-a-half away I can't see any way that's it a sell-out," he said. "We could end up papering the place on fight night."

The undefeated Cotto, 32-0 (26)KO's is the odds on favorite to retain his WBA welterweight title on the 26th, and as of Tuesday afternoon the MGM Sportsbook had him listed as a -270 favorite to turn back the challenge of Margarito, 36-5 (26)KO's, 1NC who was a +220 underdog.

[Xplosive]

It shoulda been at the Garden.

[Mitchell Kane]

It shoulda been at the Garden.

In terms of ticket sales, it'd be better than July in Vegas.

If there's more media covering the fight maybe it helps the ppv sales though.

[REEDsART]

It shoulda been at the Garden.

Exactly...Cotto, a Bonafied STAR N New York, is an UNPROVEN Commodity N Vegas...At the Same Time, Margarita has PROVEN to B a Virtual NONENTITY to Mexican Fans, N Terms of Consistent Ticket Sales...So this News ISN'T the Least Bit Surprising...But Having Said that, Ticket Sales for Corrales-Castillo I were "Slow" as Well, yet the Fight Itself was EPIC...REED Expects July 26th to B a Similar Scenario...REED

[Xplosive]

Was Trinidad-Vargas sold out? Cause I dont remember the crowd being THAT packed for that fight. Cotto-Margarito as a matchup reminds me alot of Trinidad-Vargas as it is. Only Tito was more popular than Cotto, and Vargas was MUCH more popular than Phony. Hopefully it turns out to be as good a fight, but I think it'll play out in a similar fashion..... with the Rican battering the Mexican.

[Hex-One]

Was Trinidad-Vargas sold out? Cause I dont remember the crowd being THAT packed for that fight. Cotto-Margarito as a matchup reminds me alot of Trinidad-Vargas as it is. Only Tito was more popular than Cotto, and Vargas was MUCH more popular than Phony. Hopefully it turns out to be as good a fight, but I think it'll play out in a similar fashion..... with the Rican battering the Mexican. I was thinking the same thing today. No the crowd was not that packed for the Tito/Vargas fight.

[Mitchell Kane]

Was Trinidad-Vargas sold out? Cause I dont remember the crowd being THAT packed for that fight. Cotto-Margarito as a matchup reminds me alot of Trinidad-Vargas as it is. Only Tito was more popular than Cotto, and Vargas was MUCH more popular than Phony. Hopefully it turns out to be as good a fight, but I think it'll play out in a similar fashion..... with the Rican battering the Mexican.

I think it was about 9,000+.

[Jake]

I think it was about 9,000+.
I forget the attendance, but it sold something like 525,000 PPV's, which I don't think Cotto-Margarito will match. In fact, I'd be surprised/impressed if it will crack 400,000.

[Mitchell Kane]

I forget the attendance, but it sold something like 525,000 PPV's, which I don't think Cotto-Margarito will match. In fact, I'd be surprised/impressed if it will crack 400,000.

It probably won't.

The other thing is the ticket prices were discounted for this fight.

They top out at $700.

[joony]

they've had two sharing bills at the boardwalk hall. why not do it there where it was built up?

not sure about cotto's credibility to draw the crowd in vegas.

[Mitchell Kane]

they've had two sharing bills at the boardwalk hall. why not do it there where it was built up?

not sure about cotto's credibility to draw the crowd in vegas.

Arum said part of it was that the West Coast media wouldn't travel to the East Coast, whereas some of the EC media would travel to Vegas.

[steve_dave]

Too bad. I wanted to be part of a big, loud crowd.

The heat is going to fuck me up too, isn't it?

[Arben]

I forget the attendance, but it sold something like 525,000 PPV's, which I don't think Cotto-Margarito will match. In fact, I'd be surprised/impressed if it will crack 400,000.
I'd be shocked if it came close to 400,000.

[Mitchell Kane]

Too bad. I wanted to be part of a big, loud crowd.

The heat is going to fuck me up too, isn't it?

It's possible.

Are you staying where the fight is?

Are your plain flights early or late in the day?

[steve_dave]

It's possible.

Are you staying where the fight is?

Are your plain flights early or late in the day?

I'm staying in a hotel across the street. It's really close.

I get in around 8pm, not sure when I leave.

[REEDsART]

Too bad. I wanted to be part of a big, loud crowd.

The heat is going to fuck me up too, isn't it?

YES, it Will...REED Lives N Texas, which is 1 of the HOTTER Places to Live N the Summer, but it was NO Comparison to Vegas, the 1 Time REED Went...A "Hot" Dallas Summer Day is about 100 Degrees...A "Hot" Vegas Day is OVER 110 Degrees...If U're Not Careful, U Could MELT N Vegas...

[REEDsART]

I'm staying in a hotel across the street. It's really close.

I get in around 8pm, not sure when I leave.

Tropicana???

[Mitchell Kane]

YES, it Will...REED Lives N Texas, which is 1 of the HOTTER Places to Live N the Summer, but it was NO Comparison to Vegas, the 1 Time REED Went...A "Hot" Dallas Summer Day is about 100 Degrees...A "Hot" Vegas Day is OVER 110 Degrees...If U're Not Careful, U Could MELT N Vegas...

Vegas will probably have some misters out along the sidewalk.

[steve_dave]

Tropicana???

Nah, it's called Excalliber. It was cheap. :lol:

[steve_dave]

YES, it Will...REED Lives N Texas, which is 1 of the HOTTER Places to Live N the Summer, but it was NO Comparison to Vegas, the 1 Time REED Went...A "Hot" Dallas Summer Day is about 100 Degrees...A "Hot" Vegas Day is OVER 110 Degrees...If U're Not Careful, U Could MELT N Vegas...

Damn, I LOVE heat, but I have never been through that extreme. I just want to make sure I don't have any sun sickness when I'm trying to enjoy the main event.

[REEDsART]

Nah, it's called Excalliber. It was cheap. :lol:

REED Stayed @ the Tropicana which is CONNECTED to the MGM Grand by the Walkway Thing Over the Street...It's OVERPRICED as Hell...N Reality, the Tropicana is NATHAN More than a Multi-Tiered Motel 6, but the Eye Candy was WELL Worth it...

[steve_dave]

REED Stayed @ the Tropicana which is CONNECTED to the MGM Grand by the Walkway Thing Over the Street...It's OVERPRICED as Hell...N Reality, the Tropicana is NATHAN More than a Multi-Tiered Motel 6, but the Eye Candy was WELL Worth it...

I can't wait to get there. My first ever major fight.

[REEDsART]

I can't wait to get there. My first ever major fight.
U'll have a BLAST, Dog...

Vegas is a TRUE Boxing City N Every Sense of the Word...If REED Could RE-Start his Life, he'd have Been BORN N Vegas...


REED:hammert:

[steve_dave]

U'll have a BLAST, Dog...

Vegas is a TRUE Boxing City N Every Sense of the Word...If REED Could RE-Start his Life, he'd have Been BORN N Vegas...


REED:hammert:

The best fighter I have ever seen live is probably Albert Onolunose. He did go on to fight on ESPN. :bears:

Needless to say, this has been a long time coming. I can FINALLY afford to go on trips.

[Rubio MHS]

I think this is the real reason Mayweather didn't fight either of them. Neither man is anywhere near as big a draw as De la Hoya or Hatton, and what's worse, they're not much bigger draws than Judah and Baldomir.

[Neil]

it should be in vegas not nyc. because they know it isnt a big fight if im not there.

the heat will be unbearable if you are walking around anywhere at anytime of the day.

[skeedaddle]

You go to where i live and maybe florida is similar, you get a high humidity heat where 85F feels like 130F.

[mikE]

they've had two sharing bills at the boardwalk hall. why not do it there where it was built up?

not sure about cotto's credibility to draw the crowd in vegas.

this makes sense, and I agree, but Las Vegas is where you want to end up and you have to make the jump sooner or later.

[mikE]

I think this is the real reason Mayweather didn't fight either of them. Neither man is anywhere near as big a draw as De la Hoya or Hatton, and what's worse, they're not much bigger draws than Judah and Baldomir.

Just like Mayweather got synergy from hatton and dlh, Cotto would have brought floyd a huge frickin payday. He'd probably be making twice what Cotto would get. Whether that is 10M to 5M or 20M to 10, I don't know, but i suspect it would be no less.

[Rubio MHS]

A few idiots think that, but numbers don't lie. Mayweather-Cotto: Huge. Mayweather-Margarito: Huge. Cotto-Margarito: Nuthin'.

[panchyprsss]

The best fighter I have ever seen live is probably Albert Onolunose. He did go on to fight on ESPN. :bears:

Needless to say, this has been a long time coming. I can FINALLY afford to go on trips.
Really? Wow. The only live card I have EVER seen live was the tripleheader championship bout with Cory Spinks vs Rodney Jones, Julio Diaz vs Jesus Chavez and Thomasz Adamek losing miserably his belt to Chad Dawson. I had a blast. The seats were cheap $38, but since the Kissimmee arena is so small, I felt like ringside!:lol: And best of all: the arena is only five minutes from my house!:hammert:

[Ron King 702]

For me, nothing will ever match the atmosphere for Morales-Pacquaio 1 at MGM. Hamed-Barrera is close, but Im talking in terms of decibel level.

That fight was so loud, my ears were ringing for a full day.

For all the fights Ive been to the Pacman-Morales fights are 1, 2 ,and 3 in terms of noise.

A friend told me that DLH-Vargas was the loudest over Manny-Morales 1.