Construction on a temporary UFC arena at the White House will start next week, accommodating 5,000 spectators with an additional 100,000 watching from the White House Ellipse. The event is scheduled for June and is free to attend.
Key points
Construction on the UFC arena will start next week
Arena will hold 5,000 spectators
Additional 100,000 spectators will watch from the White House Ellipse
Event is scheduled for June
Attendance is free
Mentioned in this story
Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipDonald TrumpWhite House
"The arena, they're going to start building it over the next week," Trump told reporters on May 1, describing an approximately 5,000-seat arena that will hold the octagon-shaped fighting cage. He said an additional 100,000 spectators will be further away at the White House Ellipse, where they can watch on screens.
"It's all free. It's going to be great," Trump said.
Teddy Roosevelt built a tennis court in 1902 near what is now called the West Wing, in the shadow of the office building that housed the State, War and Navy departments, according to the White House Historical Association.
The latter event allowed the children of military families, first responders and educators to lace on skates for a whirl. The National Hockey League and its players offered lessons.
The White House hosted T-ball games on the south lawn starting in 2001, when George W. Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers, became president.
Q&A
When will construction on the UFC arena at the White House begin?
Construction is set to begin next week, according to President Trump.
How many spectators can the UFC arena at the White House accommodate?
The arena will hold approximately 5,000 spectators, with an additional 100,000 able to watch from the White House Ellipse.
What type of event will be held at the UFC arena in June?
The arena will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
Is there a cost to attend the UFC event at the White House?
Attendance to the event is free for all spectators.
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The field included a pitcherÕs mound, dugout and bleachers, with a menu of hotdogs and hamburgers.
Barack Obama, who arrived in 2009, adapted the tennis court to double for use for basketball, where he would play against aides such as his Education secretary, Arne Duncan, and other visitors. The White House had had a smaller basketball court since 1991 but the adapted court allowed a full-court game.
1 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
Teddy Roosevelt built a tennis court in 1902 near what is now called the West Wing, in the shadow of the office building that housed the State, War and Navy departments, according to the White House Historical Association.
1 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
Teddy Roosevelt built a tennis court in 1902 near what is now called the West Wing, in the shadow of the office building that housed the State, War and Navy departments, according to the White House Historical Association.
2 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
The latter event allowed the children of military families, first responders and educators to lace on skates for a whirl. The National Hockey League and its players offered lessons.
3 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
The White House hosted T-ball games on the south lawn starting in 2001, when George W. Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers, became president.
4 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
The field included a pitcherÕs mound, dugout and bleachers, with a menu of hotdogs and hamburgers.
5 / 5
See the White House host tennis, T-ball and more sports through the years
Barack Obama, who arrived in 2009, adapted the tennis court to double for use for basketball, where he would play against aides such as his Education secretary, Arne Duncan, and other visitors. The White House had had a smaller basketball court since 1991 but the adapted court allowed a full-court game.
The seven-fight UFC event, set for June 14, falls on Trump's 80th birthday and will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. The headliner is a fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White, a close friend and ally of Trump, has said he believes it will be the most-watched UFC event ever.
The centerpiece of the arena has been on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where a mockup of a soaring 90-foot tall, open-air structure was assembled ahead of the White House event.
The White House declined to provide additional details about the structure and event.
U.S. President Donald Trump watches a match during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, U.S., April 11, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
U.S. President Donald Trump watches a match during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, U.S., April 11, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Trump, an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.
Yet no other single event will display Trump's norm-busting approach at the White House more than hosting a night of UFC fights in the mansion's backyard.