Trump’s UFC cage was built to frame the White House

The stage for UFC fights on the White House lawn on Sunday, June 14, was designed with the primary objective of providing unobstructed views of the White House. ESPN reported that the U.S. government selected a design known as "The Claw," created by the Belgium-based event-staging company Stageco. This structure, originally debuted at the 2017 Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands, features two criss-crossing arches. For its use on the South Lawn, the tent was modified, increased by 20 feet in height and 50 feet in width, to encompass the octagonal fighting ring. Its design ensures that attendees can see the White House and the Washington Monument from various seating positions, while also supporting the weight of lighting and sound equipment. Stageco transported the stage components from Europe, and the live events production company Tait, which is collaborating with the UFC for the Freedom 250 event, conducted a test assembly in Pennsylvania. The stage was then transported to the White House in four sections. Protective matting was installed on the South Lawn to preserve the grass before the stage construction began. The South Lawn site is one of three locations prepared by the UFC for the fights; press conferences are scheduled at the Lincoln Memorial, and weigh-ins will occur on the Ellipse, a departure from the UFC's typical practice of consolidating these activities in one venue.