# Staged Urban Brawls NYC's Fight Clubs By lourdes sanchez bayas | Published 2008-06-01 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/staged-outdoor-brawls-nycs-fight-clubs References: [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2008/05/30/fight-club-in-union-square-new-york-city/) Apparently, pseudo fight clubs have sprung up in New York City and one of their meeting places is in Union Square Park. It is not unusual to see big crowds of people of all ages hanging out in the park. I myself sit there often to read or to simply watch the multi-ethnic crowd engaged in all sorts of activities from skating to break dancing to political gatherings. One thing I have never seen is staged fights. "A number of shirtless, scraped-up men paced the perimeter of the circle, alternately refereeing and answering questions," Neatorama says. "The rules were simple: find a partner, get in the ring. No face shots, tapping out ends the fight. No settling scores, just fighting for the fun of fighting. No experience or discernible skill required." I hate violence, but I need to go to Union Square to see these staged brawls for myself. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 70% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Urban Fight Clubs:** Opportunity to create a safe and controlled environment for individuals to engage in combat sports and provide an alternative form of entertainment for enthusiasts. - **Recreational Violence:** Potential for non-contact sports to incorporate the thrill of combat through virtual reality technology and attract a wider audience. - **Extreme Sports Spectatorship:** Possibility to monetize the event by offering streaming opportunities to those unable to attend and provide new revenue streams to the sports industry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sports:** The emergence of fight clubs presents an opportunity for sports organizations to attract new fans and expand their offerings beyond traditional sports. - **Technology:** There is potential to incorporate virtual reality technology into combat sports and provide a unique experience for enthusiasts. - **Entertainment:** Fight clubs can provide a new form of entertainment and an alternative to conventional entertainment options for people looking for an adrenaline rush. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Rock Climbing Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rock-climbing-festivals-the-north-face-will-host-its-climb-festival-at-nycs.md) - [Preparedness-Inspired Fitness Classes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/preparedness-inspired-fitness-classes.md) - [Deconstructed Pop Art NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matt-gondek.md) - [Sizable Athletic Membership Parties](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-athletic-clubs.md) - [Counter-Loneliness Social Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/friendship-corner.md) - [Boxing Club-Inspired Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-punchers-chance.md) - [Battle-Style Art Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-art-of-competition.md) - [Holiday-Themed Rage Rooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holidays-are-brutal.md) - [Street Defense-Inspired Fitness Progrrams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/group-fitness-studio.md)