Overview
- Construction crews began assembling the 90-foot lighting arch and temporary seating on the South Lawn this week to create a roughly 4,000–5,000 seat arena called “The Claw.”
- The event is scheduled for June 14, which is Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, and will feature headline fights including Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane.
- TKO/UFC expect staging and restoration costs to exceed about $60 million and say they will cover those expenses, but the Secret Service and local police will coordinate and pay for security operations.
- On‑lawn access is tightly controlled, with tickets allocated to the president, UFC and TKO executives and predominantly to military members, while large free-viewing areas and screens are planned for the Ellipse.
- Organizers plan National Mall promotional events and a Paramount+ distribution, and the plan has drawn criticism over timing, taxpayer security burdens and opaque high‑price sponsorship packages.