• Loading stock data...
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

TKO Stock Is Surging. A WWE, UFC, PBR Combo Event Is Next

Many corporate deals promise synergy, but never actually deliver it. TKO Group Holdings is looking to buck that trend by staging joint events involving its entire sports portfolio. 

David Yeazell-Imagn Images

Even before World Wrestling Entertainment and Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company TKO Group Holdings completes a planned expansion of its sports portfolio, a new event model is taking shape. 

TKO said Wednesday it will bring WWE, UFC, and Professional Bull Riders events to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center over a five-day stretch in late April, initiating a new type of joint touring format for the organizations. The first “TKO Takeover,” as the company is calling it, is an early indicator of the planned integration of the restructured company.

Last fall, TKO and majority owner Endeavor said they would consolidate sports assets held by Endeavor, including On Location, PBR, and IMG, within TKO in a $3.25 billion deal. That effort is expected to close by the end of June, and perhaps within a matter of weeks. The Kansas City effort, however, is the beginning of a planned strategy in which TKO will pitch combined events to various arenas and stadiums, sports commissions, and tourism boards. 

As a result, the cumulative effect in many instances on a particular city could be similar to an all-star game or national-level competition in another major sport. The TKO Takeover will include sales of an all-in-one ticket bundle for the three events. On Location will be involved here, too, as it will sell VIP-level tickets and fan experiences for the weekend.

PBR will begin the Kansas City sequence on April 24, followed by a UFC Fight Night on April 26, and conclude with an installment of WWE’s Raw on April 28. WWE, UFC, and PBR will still stage some other events separately, depending on various schedules and business matters, but the effort beginning in Kansas City is clearly designed to show their combined power.   

“This is a unique opportunity to showcase these three premier properties in one city at the same time for the benefit of fans and visitors to the area,” said TKO EVP of event development and operations Peter Dropick.

TKO will disclose its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings for 2024 after the close of market activity Wednesday. The company’s stock has nearly doubled in value over the last year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Duke Keeps ACC Alive in March Madness

Duke will represent the ACC in the Elite Eight in both tournaments.
TCU Horned Frogs guard Hailey Van Lith (10) celebrates as she heads to the locker room after winning the NCAA Playoff Regional semi-final game against Notre Dame at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama, March 29, 2025.

Hailey Van Lith Is an Early Success Story of Unrestricted Transfer Portal

She becomes first player to reach the Elite Eight with three teams.

NCAA Denies Colorado-Syracuse Spring Football Game

The schools hoped for permission to organize a formal scrimmage.
Matt Weiss

Everything You Need to Know About the Michigan Hacking Scandal

Matt Weiss is accused of hacking athletes’ accounts to access intimate photos.

Featured Today

Columbia, SC - February 16, 2025 - Colonial Life Arena: Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco during a regular season game.

Inside Ryan Ruocco’s Rapid Rise to ESPN’s Top Voice of Women’s Hoops

The top voice became “quickly addicted” to calling the women’s game.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) and the Alabama Crimson Tide bench celebrate during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.
March 29, 2025

How Alabama Became College Basketball’s Newest Juggernaut

The Crimson Tide have found success rivaling their historic football program.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
March 25, 2025

Kendall Coyne Schofield Wants More for the Next Wave of Mom-Athletes

The Walter Cup–winning Frost captain says small changes mean “everything.”
Dec 21, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to pass the ball against USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) in the first half at XL Center.
March 23, 2025

‘More Value to Be Had’: Were Women’s March Madness Media Rights Undersold?

Could the NCAA have gotten millions more in its latest TV deal?

UFL Kicking Off 2025 Season With Labor Fight Still Simmering

The league’s first game is still on, even without a labor deal in place.
March 27, 2025

Adam Silver Says NBA All-Star Game Changes Were ‘A Miss’

The commissioner acknowledged poor reception for this year’s game.
March 28, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Sweet 16 Performance Fuels NBA Tanking Debate

The Duke star shined as the Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
[US, Mexico, & Canada customers only] Jan 23, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers at Accor Arena.
March 27, 2025

Silver: NBA Will ‘Explore’ European League With FIBA

Silver said the board of governors showed “enthusiastic support.”
March 27, 2025

MLB’s Growing Payroll Divide: Rich Teams Soar While Poor Lag Behind

The Dodgers’ 2025 player payroll nearly quintuples the Marlins’ spending.
March 27, 2025

Could This Year’s Opening Day Be MLB’s Last With All-Human Umps?

MLB’s automated ball-strike system was used during spring training games.
March 27, 2025

Why MLB Opening Day Overlaps With Sweet 16—and Likely Will Again

Baseball’s season is getting underway on the same day as March Madness.