With years of built-up opposition to securing passage in Albany of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), there was a need – upon a change in the Assembly leadership – for an aggressive and targeted campaign to influence and educate members of the legislature of its benefits to New York’s economy.

New York was the only state left in the country to maintain a ban on mixed martial arts (MMA). For eight years, legislation was introduced to legalize the sport, but the bills never passed out of the NYS Assembly’s Tourism Committee.

J Strategies assembled an extensive coalition of gym owners, elected officials, sports arenas, and economic development groups and activated them via social media, op-eds, letters to the editors, rallies, protests, and press conferences. We also built a social media following of more that 25,000 people, secured 50,000 signatures on an online petition, and planned and executed a statewide media tour.