The Ultimate Fighting Championship has released its latest rendering of the octagonal cage that officials are building at the White House for a fight scheduled on President Trump’s 80th birthday.
It depicts a star-spangled arch over the cage on the White House South Lawn along with seating for thousands.
Construction for the fight on June 14, which is one of several major events planned around the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, is already underway at the White House. Mr. Trump is also planning a temporary IndyCar street circuit racing past landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol that will take place in August.
Last week, Mr. Trump said the tickets for the U.F.C. event were in high demand.
“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” he said. “It’s a one of a kind U.F.C.”
Mr. Trump said the temporary arena would hold more than 4,000 people. He said the White House Ellipse grounds would host a U.F.C. Freedom 250 Fan Fest, where 75,000 to 100,000 people could watch the fights for free.
Weigh-ins will take place at Lincoln Memorial, officials have said.
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, the U.F.C.’s president, Dana White, said Mr. Trump brought up the idea of hosting a fight on the White House lawn. He said the two men were watching an event when Mr. Trump leaned over to him and said, “We should do a fight at the White House.”
”And he’s like, ‘I think it would be great to have an event for America’s 250th,’” Mr. White recalled. “And so literally, that was a Saturday. On Monday, the White House started calling, saying, ‘Let’s start getting the logistics.’”
Mr. White said he had 200 tickets to the event to give out; Mr. Trump would give out 1,000 tickets; Ari Emanuel, the chief executive of TKO Group Holdings, which owns the U.F.C., had 200 tickets; and the rest would be awarded to members of the U.S. military.
Mr. Trump’s friendship with Mr. White has benefited both men. Before he ran for elected office, Mr. Trump allowed the U.F.C. to hold fights at his properties at a time when the fledgling sport was rebuffed by many public figures, and derided as “human cockfighting” by Senator John McCain.
In return, Mr. White has spoken in favor of Mr. Trump at the Republican National Convention, and was reportedly instrumental in convincing the influential podcaster and U.F.C. commentator Joe Rogan to endorse Mr. Trump. The president often receives a hero’s welcome when attending mixed martial events.
Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, said the U.F.C. event would be “one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.
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