NYC & Company 810 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019

April 8, 2013 Honorable Senator Dean G. Skelos, Senate Republican Conference Leader Honorable Senator Jeffrey A. Klein, Independent Democrat Conference Leader Honorable Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver

Dear Honorable Senators Skelos and Klein, and Assembly Speaker Silver, I am writing to ask for your support of Assembly Bill 6506, proposed legislation to legalize professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in New York State. As a spectator sport, MMA has grown into an increasingly enticing draw for sporting enthusiasts while generating millions in box office and television receipts annually. Currently, New York is one of only two states to ban professional MMA and as a result is unable to bid to host these popular events. From a New York City tourism perspective, legalization would allow NYC & Company to continue its work expanding the Citys portfolio of sporting attractions, which already includes Wrestlemania 29, the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and Super Bowl XLVIII. With the newly renovated Madison Square Garden and the recently opened Barclays Center, New York City should prove to be a very attractive destination for MMA organizations particularly when you consider our world-renowned dining and shopping options, wide-range of hotel accommodations, and the accessibility of public transportation. As the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, NYC & Company is dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. As we strive to reach the Citys goal of 55 million annual visitors and $70 billion of economic impact by 2015, we must continue to pursue opportunities such as this in order to expand our offerings and reach new audiences to grow tourism. To this end, we hope that you will support our efforts and the potential benefits a legal and regulated MMA industry could have for the whole state. We believe this industry will contribute to our efforts to grow New Yorks tourism share in a highly competitive environment.

Sincerely,

Bryan Grimaldi COO