UFC bantamweight Sean O'Malley, right, from Peoria and former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno speak at a TKO press conference at State Farm Stadium in Glendale Aug. 4.
Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, sixth from left, and council members Lupe Conchas, second from left, Lauren Tolmachoff, third from left, Leandro Baldenegro, fourth from leftm Ray Malar, sixth from right, Dianna Guzman, fifth from right, and Bart Turner, fourth from right, pose with WWE interim women's champion Chelsea Green, center after a Aug. 4 press conference announcing the 2027 WWE Royal Rumble will be at State Farm Stadium. Glendale City Manager Patrick Banger is third from right, and Mayor's Chief of Staff.Adam Santiago, left, also were there. Zuffa Boxng host iMolly Qerim, fifth from left, hosted the event. Melissa Wasson, general manager of State Farm Stadium, second from right, and on the end is Jay Parry, President and CEO of Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, right, also spoke at the event.
TKO Group Holdings, Inc., Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, and Legends Global today announced that seven events, highlighted by the WWE Royal Rumble in 2027, will take place in Glendale at Desert Diamond Arena and State Farm Stadium, marking the first confirmed events under the organizations’ multi-year partnership, which began in May.
NOCHE UFC on Sept. 12 and the PBR World Finals: Championship on May 20-23, 2027 were already announced, but not as central events in this partnership.
“Arizona is a proven destination for major live events, and Glendale gives us two exceptional venues in State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena,” stated Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, Event Development and Operations for TKO in a press release.
The seven-event agreement spans three years and marks TKO’s first-ever agreement with a state-level organization spanning UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing, bringing several of TKO’s most high-profile live sports and entertainment properties.
“Arizona is proud to be the first state to establish this kind of partnership with TKO, reflecting our commitment to innovative collaborations that create lasting economic opportunity," Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said. "We're excited to partner with TKO to deliver lasting benefits for Arizona residents by driving economic growth, creating opportunity and showcasing everything our state has to offer."
The 40th annual Royal Rumble will take place in February 2027, marking the first time the WWE Premium Live Event will be held at State Farm Stadium. This will be Arizona’s third time hosting the Royal Rumble following previous editions in 2019 and 2013.
Royal Rumble will be headlined by the 30-man and 30-woman Royal Rumble matches, with the winners each receiving a championship match opportunity at WrestleMania 43. Ahead of the general ticket on-sale date, announced in the coming months, fans can register to receive an exclusive presale offer by visiting wwe.com/RoyalRumble27
"TKO's globally recognized brands have an extraordinary ability to unite passionate fans from around the world through premier live events and media platforms,” stated Jay Parry, president and CEO of the Arizona Sports and Events Alliance. “Over the next three years, hundreds of thousands of visitors will travel to Arizona for these signature events, creating an incredible opportunity to showcase our communities and reinforce Arizona's reputation as a premier destination for world-class sports and entertainment – and as a vibrant hub for business and innovation.”
Zuffa Boxing, the new promotion led by Dana White and Nick Khan, is also part of TKO’s multi-year partnership with the Alliance. Details about future Zuffa Boxing events in Arizona will be announced at a later date.
“Our job is to ensure every fan who walks through the doors has an experience that matches these world-class events. We’re looking forward to working alongside TKO and the Arizona Sports and Events Alliance to deliver on that promise,” stated Josh Kritzler, President, North American Venues and Content at Legends Global, which operates the host venues.
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