The Mac
06-18-2010, 08:40 AM
As Strikeforce continues its expansion across the U.S., the promotion's CEO, Scott Coker, says a pair of new cities each are likely to host an event in August.
While Coker insisted that nothing yet is set in stone, on Wednesday night the Strikeforce exec confirmed previous reports that both Houston and Phoenix are in the running for late summer events.
But according to Coker, Strikeforce has no intentions of staying within U.S. borders, and international fans can expect to see the company spreading across the globe within the next 12 months.
"We've been offered a couple of international shows," Coker said.
The Strikeforce head said that part of the challenge with international expansion is how to relay the programming back to a U.S. audience. It's the type of problem that recently led the UFC to host an Australian show with a Sunday0morning local start time in order to air the show in the customary Saturday night time slot in the U.S.
"I think part of the challenge is the timing of the show – what time it starts if we went to Macau somewhere or we went to the Middle East somewhere," Coker said. "We've had a couple offers, but where do we do it? What time does it start?"
Coker said Showtime is not interested in airing a tape-delayed event, so international start times must be planned precisely. It's a bit of a strange proclamation considering Showtime tape-delays every Strikeforce event to West Coast-based viewers in the U.S. However, Coker said the order is clear.
"Can we do it live on Showtime? Because that's really important to Showtime, our partners, who by the way are very good to us," Coker said. "If they didn't support mixed martial arts, we wouldn't have the big fights we've been putting together. I'd like to thank Mr. Ken Hershman for the support and Showtime.
"The question really is that we've had opportunities in the past, and we have some opportunities in the future, but a lot of it depends on the time frame of what time the fight would actually start. Showtime does not want to do a tape-delayed show."
As for the company's domestic ventures, Coker confirmed previously reported potential dates of an Aug. 21 Arena Series show, as well as an Aug. 13 Challengers Series event. Coker said the dates appear to be firm, but the venues have not been secured.
"In August, we will have the 21st," Coker said. "Houston is the potential [host city], but it is not locked down, and it is not signed by any means. We're working on it. We will have a fight on that day somewhere in the country.
"We've talked about Phoenix (for Aug. 13). We're trying to find a venue. And again, it's the right venue for a Challengers show."
Coker also said the Aug. 13 likely will feature the promotional debut of hard-hitting female fighter Erin Toughill.
It's an aggressive plan for a company that didn't venture off of the West Coast until June 2009. But with Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee all hosting Strikeforce cards within the past 12 months, Coker said more surprises will come in the next 365 days.
"We'll play it by ear, but I'm sure at some point in the next 12 months, we will be going somewhere (internationally)," Coker said.
While Coker insisted that nothing yet is set in stone, on Wednesday night the Strikeforce exec confirmed previous reports that both Houston and Phoenix are in the running for late summer events.
But according to Coker, Strikeforce has no intentions of staying within U.S. borders, and international fans can expect to see the company spreading across the globe within the next 12 months.
"We've been offered a couple of international shows," Coker said.
The Strikeforce head said that part of the challenge with international expansion is how to relay the programming back to a U.S. audience. It's the type of problem that recently led the UFC to host an Australian show with a Sunday0morning local start time in order to air the show in the customary Saturday night time slot in the U.S.
"I think part of the challenge is the timing of the show – what time it starts if we went to Macau somewhere or we went to the Middle East somewhere," Coker said. "We've had a couple offers, but where do we do it? What time does it start?"
Coker said Showtime is not interested in airing a tape-delayed event, so international start times must be planned precisely. It's a bit of a strange proclamation considering Showtime tape-delays every Strikeforce event to West Coast-based viewers in the U.S. However, Coker said the order is clear.
"Can we do it live on Showtime? Because that's really important to Showtime, our partners, who by the way are very good to us," Coker said. "If they didn't support mixed martial arts, we wouldn't have the big fights we've been putting together. I'd like to thank Mr. Ken Hershman for the support and Showtime.
"The question really is that we've had opportunities in the past, and we have some opportunities in the future, but a lot of it depends on the time frame of what time the fight would actually start. Showtime does not want to do a tape-delayed show."
As for the company's domestic ventures, Coker confirmed previously reported potential dates of an Aug. 21 Arena Series show, as well as an Aug. 13 Challengers Series event. Coker said the dates appear to be firm, but the venues have not been secured.
"In August, we will have the 21st," Coker said. "Houston is the potential [host city], but it is not locked down, and it is not signed by any means. We're working on it. We will have a fight on that day somewhere in the country.
"We've talked about Phoenix (for Aug. 13). We're trying to find a venue. And again, it's the right venue for a Challengers show."
Coker also said the Aug. 13 likely will feature the promotional debut of hard-hitting female fighter Erin Toughill.
It's an aggressive plan for a company that didn't venture off of the West Coast until June 2009. But with Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee all hosting Strikeforce cards within the past 12 months, Coker said more surprises will come in the next 365 days.
"We'll play it by ear, but I'm sure at some point in the next 12 months, we will be going somewhere (internationally)," Coker said.