New Hawaii arena raises prospect of UFC’s first event in the state
UFC chief executive Dana White says a planned 31,000-seat venue could address the infrastructure barrier to staging an event in Hawaii.
The UFC could hold its first event in Hawaii after the planned New Aloha Stadium is completed, although no contest has been announced or scheduled.
UFC chief executive Dana White told The Rich Eisen Show that Hawaii had been one of the organisation’s biggest markets since its launch, but lacked the infrastructure required to host an event. He said the new arena could make one possible.
The venue, being built in Halawa on Oahu, is planned to seat 31,000 people for Hawaii football. Its projected completion date is March 2029, while White referred to the project being finished in 2028 or 2029.
White said a UFC event would attract strong interest, citing Hawaii’s status as the home of former UFC champions Max Holloway and B.J. Penn, as well as former heavyweight Travis Browne. His expectations for demand and staff enthusiasm were not independently verified.
Any event would therefore depend on the arena’s completion and future UFC planning. The project’s timeline remains projected, and the organisation has not confirmed a Hawaii date.
