WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — UFC fighters will have a news conference on Friday at the Lincoln Memorial.
It’s causing a rift between the administration and locals as well as tourists. Many are growing frustrated over the fencing blocking the monument and pathways along the National Mall.
“It’s awful. It detracts from the beauty of the monuments. And it’s obstructive,” said Trudy Rumbaugh from Vermont.
Crews building large video screens and testing the sound system was not what Sherry Corsiglia wanted to see after she buried her husband at Arlington National Cemetery earlier Tuesday.
“I brought my sister, who’s never been to D.C., and I live in Seattle. She’s from Minnesota. It’s kind of–the music and the noise and not being able to see a lot of the top sites is disappointing,” Corsiglia said.
Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit is trying to stop the private, for-profit UFC fight.
The lawsuit said that sporting events are not allowed on the south lawn and that special events are not allowed at the Lincoln Memorial, except for Lincoln’s annual birthday ceremony.
“We only have a few days here. And, you know, I was hoping maybe we have a smoother ride,” said Malcolm Davis from North Carolina. “All the construction back there, all the construction here, all the traffic. Really kind of like sours your experience a bit.”
The setup for the Great American State Fair is also blocking a large swath of the mall, making it difficult for many to get around.
“I’m glad that you’re doing something for the 250 or something like that. But it’s like, you know, make sure we can have a convenient experience at the same time,” Davis said.
Friday’s press conference is free and open to the public at 8:15 p.m. Saturday’s fan fest and weigh-in are ticketed events at the Ellipse. Sunday is fight night at the White House, with seven fights happening.
