ONE Championship could run a monthly Friday Fights events out of Bangkok’s Impact Arena next year, according to boss Chatri Sityodtong.
The Bangkok Post reported recently that Asia-based martial arts promotion ONE would next year move its four quarterly “tentpole” Friday Fights cards out of their usual home at Lumpinee Stadium, into the more expansive confines of the 12,000-seat Impact Arena.
Speaking before last weekend’s blockbuster ONE Friday Fights 81 card – which will seemingly the final tentpole to take place at the 3,500-seat Lumpinee – Chatri confirmed the move and explained the reasoning behind it.
“We have booked Impact Arena for next year based on sponsors and advertisers who wanted more space to envelop their brand, both in the arena and obviously on broadcast,” Chatri told media members during a virtual press conference.
“That was a major driver. We heard from a lot of agencies and brands. But also to be honest, the Friday fights tentpoles have sold out so quickly. We are very confident we can sell out Impact Arena once a quarter now, just based on the demand we see.
“The initial reason started as the brands and agencies wanted a grander stage, the typical ONE Championship stage. And then on top of it, we were selling out the tentpoles.
“I think it’s a great way to showcase Friday Fights as a differentiated product every quarter on a live broadcast to 195 countries in Asia prime time. Thats how we’re thinking.”
Chatri suggested the number of Friday Fights cards at Impact Arena could even increase beyond the four quarterly shows.
“Nothing is rock solid or set in stone,” he added.
“It’s a moving target. It may be four or six shows. It may be monthly shows out of Impact. We’re not sure yet.
“We have plans for a minimum of four events there, but I’d say that’s a flexible number still.”
The first ONE Friday Fights tentpole event at Impact Arena will be held on January 24.
It will coincide with the filming of scenes for “The Beast In Me”, a film starring Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and feauturing ONE Championship prominently.