Officials with Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady in Upstate New York are denying rumblings that the resort parted ways with a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter because of differing political opinions.
Cage Wars is an MMA promoter that brings fighters from around the world to Upstate New York. Since 2018, Cage Wars has held more than 20 events at the Rivers Schenectady Event Center. Those live MMA fights at the casino owned and operated by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming have come to an end. Â Â
Two of Cage Wars’ biggest corporate sponsors are owned by Amsterdam, NY, businessman Anthony Constantino — Sticker Mule and Stimulus. Sticker Mule makes custom stickers, magnets, buttons, labels, and packaging. Stimulus is billed as a “happy social network” that live streams all Cage Wars fights.
Constantino, a Republican, donated to President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and spoke in support of the former casino billionaire at a Cage Wars event last fall. Constantino is now running for Congress to fill New York’s 21st District vacancy after U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R) accepted Trump’s nomination to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations.
Rush Street Owner No Trump Fan
Rush Street is controlled by billionaire Neil Bluhm, a steadfast backer of the Democratic Party. Bluhm gave almost $1 million to Kamala Harris’ campaign and more than $1 million more to other Democrats last year.
The optics suggest that Rush brass no longer wanted a GOP-associated MMA company using its facilities in New York. The UFC, the world’s premier MMA promotion company, is also heavily associated with the Republican Party and Trump. UFC CEO Dana White has been a major contributor to Trump’s campaigns and the incoming president has regularly attended UFC fights to much fanfare.
Rivers Casino denied that its dissolving of its Cage Wars arrangement was anything other than a business decision.
It was solely a business decision as Rivers Casino continuously evolves our event lineup to provide new and exciting opportunities for our guests and the community,” a Rivers statement to The Daily Gazette read.
Cage Wars CEO Timothy Rankins said he was surprised to learn Rivers was cutting ties. But he says the company had also out-grown the Rivers Event Center.
Shows To Continue
Constantino stepped in and found Cage Wars a new home at the historic Glens Falls Cool Insuring Arena. The multi-purpose facility in downtown Glens Falls has a capacity for about 4,800 people. The Rivers Event Center could only handle about 500 fans.
The relocation means a new market, as Glens Falls is roughly 40 miles north of Rivers Schenectady. However, Cage Wars 69 on Feb. 7 will be packed, as Constantino is covering everyone’s tickets in part of his congressional campaign.
No regulated sportsbook in the U.S. takes bets on Cage Wars fights, as it is a pro/amateur MMA league. The fights are also not overseen by the New York State Athletic Commission, a necessity among most state gaming regulations for a sportsbook to include odds on a boxing or MMA fight in New York.
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