Big3, Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor officials try to solve scheduling conflict
The Big3’s inaugural season is scheduled to conclude at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Aug. 26, the same date and location as the megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.
While this could be viewed as a conflict, Big3 co-founder Ice Cube sees it as an opportunity for his upstart 3-on-3 pro basketball league.
“We would love to work with them in any way they’d like to work with us to make it an extraordinary day,” Ice Cube told reporters on a conference call on Thursday. “A cross-promotion makes sense. Why not?”
Big3 CEO Amy Trask added that the fight's promoters “have indicated to us that they are every bit as thrilled to work with us . . . as we are with them.”
Ice Cube said even though the Big3 has an existing contract in place with T-Mobile Arena -- which is co-owned by MGM Resorts International and the Anschutz Entertainment Group -- he’d be “up for moving” the title game across the street to the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“We are really just trying to work out what’s best for both parties,” Big3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz said. “It’s not a big deal because we have two amazing arenas.”
The logistics involved in converting T-Mobile Arena from basketball to one of the most anticipated boxing matches in years haven’t been worked out. The only event listed on the arena’s official event schedule for Aug. 26 is the Big3 title game.
Messages left with T-Mobile Arena were not immediately returned on Thursday.
The Big3’s championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time. The start of the undercard ahead of Mayweather-McGregor has yet to be announced.
More: Floyd Mayweather's father says son will 'whoop' Conor McGregor
More: Manny Pacquiao trainer: You can't be a fighter and a senator