AEW is literally the next deal up in 2027. The forthcoming quote means a large increase by every common sense metric. TKO can’t kill AEW
From the UFC paramount article :
But if Ellison wanted to showcase his willingness to spend on sports, UFC was basically his only chance.
“As an operator, you can’t wait,” said Shapiro. “You’ve got to be ready to spend. If we’re gone, what’s left?”
When I asked Ellison if the scarcity of sports rights factored into his thinking, he said, “Absolutely.”
“It’s a unicorn asset that comes up once a decade,” he said.


