UFC Apex Confirmed For Overhaul, Details Revealed Just In Time For $7.7 Billion Paramount Deal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
For years, the UFC Apex has been a polarizing venue. On one hand, it is a state-of-the-art production hub that kept MMA alive during the pandemic. At the same time, the UFC’s usage of the Apex in a post-quarantine world has faced relentless criticism as a downgrade from packed arenas. Fighters note its lack of crowd energy, and fans voice complaints about the venue’s sterile, warehouse-like setting.
Despite hosting over 100 events since 2019, the facility became synonymous with subdued Fight Nights.
Recently, however, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell has confirmed plans to radically expand the Apex, adding 5,000–10,000 seats as part of a multimillion-dollar renovation aimed at elevating it into a premier combat sports destination.
Notably, the renovation includes hospitality upgrades, more seating, and improved amenities. All of these signal attempts by the UFC to address long-standing fan and fighter complaints.
These upcoming plans for the Apex, first reported by Las Vegas Sports Biz, are a bold pivot from a closed-set bubble to a versatile arena capable of hosting marquee events.
The timing of the Apex’s reinvention is critical, as these details were revealed just two days before the UFC announced its shift to Paramount+ under a seven-year $7.7 billion media rights deal, replacing ESPN+ as the home for streaming UFC fights.
Campbell emphasized the facility’s upgraded capacity could accommodate WWE Premium Live Events starting in 2026 under ESPN’s new $1.6 billion deal with TKO, while also serving the UFC’s growing content needs.
The renovation has been long in the making, however, with details remaining under wraps until now.
In an exclusive interview with Fighter’s Only back in Dec. 2024, UFC President and CEO Dana White teased, “We’re doing a $20 million expansion here. We’re gonna invest a lot of money in this place. And we’ve got some pretty big announcements coming up in the next six months. So, it’ll all sort of make sense on what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”
The Apex’s reputation may not fade overnight, and it may take time to convince fans and athletes it’s more than just a corporate compromise. For these frustrated parties, however, the new plans may be a step in the right direction.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
