Mayor campaign promise: keep MMA out of park

Mixed martial arts deserve another day at the park

Motorcycles shouldn’t be allowed in Woodward Park. They are dangerous, attract a criminal element, are a bad influence on our kids and have no place in a public park.

Now wait, Harley riders, before you run me down in the street, hear me out.

Let’s try an experiment and trade one stigmatized noun for another:

Mixed martial arts shouldn’t be allowed in Woodward Park. They’re dangerous, attract a criminal element, are a bad influence on kids and have no place in a public park.

Here’s the difference between motorcycles and mixed martial arts: Most people understand that riding a motorcycle doesn’t make you a bad person.

But for some reason, the people of Fresno and our mayor still won’t accept that having mixed martial arts in Woodward Park isn’t that big of a deal.

This issue pounced into the spotlight again when local MMA promoter Rick Mirigian (the promoter of last summer’s controversial fights) stepped in front of the Fresno City Council recently and asked for another chance. He even offered to pay five times the normal rental fee.

Critics were quick to say this was “extortion” or an attempt to “bribe” the city. I wondered why the city wasn’t saying, “thanks” — considering the budget mess.

Mirigian just had an MMA event at the Fresno Fairgrounds. That revenue could have gone to the city’s parks department, which is already facing deep cuts.

Not only would the city get money from the rental fee, it would collect from concessions and the park’s vehicle entry fee. Seems like a win for the city, right?

Apparently not.

From the beginning, it seems this issue (dare I say, one that’s been blown out of proportion) has been more about the city catering to a small, but vocal, group of offended people.

Keeping MMA out of the park was even one of Mayor Ashley Swearengin’s campaign promises — one that she doesn’t appear to be budging on.

But let’s be real, you can pick any event and find someone whom it offends.

Salsa dancing? Some people might think they dance too close? Stand-up comedy? Ohh, what if they say a curse word?

I say, put your misconceptions aside. Having MMA in the park is a good idea.

It makes money. It fills seats. It’s safe. It’s not illegal. There aren’t kids in the park at night. And if you don’t want to see it, you won’t, unless you buy a ticket.

Most importantly, it could help out during Fresno’s budget crunch.

On this one, Ms. Mayor and MMA haters, it might be time to tap out.

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