TKO merges WWE & UFC live events teams

The post-merger departmental changes continue for TKO as the company has combined the WWE and UFC live events teams.

Announced via a press release Thursday, the newly-named live events strategy team “will drive revenue growth strategies across key areas, including live event development and scheduling, tourism incentive programs, ticketing, and fan experiences. This new structure aligns with TKO’s efforts to leverage the power and expertise of both UFC and WWE to maximize event revenue potential and pursue growth opportunities and cost synergies.”

A major effort for both entities is to drive site fees to host shows, even extending to weekly TV like Raw and SmackDown events.

Longtime UFC executive Peter Dropick will head up the group. He will work with TKO leadership as well as Dana White, Nick Khan and Paul Levesque to help bolster the efforts.

Both companies have been on fire at the box office for some time. The release noted that in Q1 alone, WWE “set 54 individual market records for both gross and paid tickets across all event types, including 17 consecutive sellouts for televised events.”