Spokeswoman: Station Casinos’ troubles don’t impact UFC

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Despite Wednesday’s news that Station Casinos’ reported a $3.19 billion net loss in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Las Vegas’ hotel chain’s road to a possible bankruptcy filing later this month ‘has no impact’ on another business owned and operated by the Fertitta brothers who chair Station: the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A spokeswoman for Station Casinos told The Times on Tuesday that, ‘while the UFC and Station Casinos are both owned and operated by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, they are two separate business and operate independently and therefore have no impact on each other.’

Lorenzo Fertitta is vice chairman of Station Casinos and Frank J. Fertitta III is chairman and CEO of the company. The pair have directed UFC to become a highly lucrative business that routinely fills arenas throughout the U.S. and Europe, and generates millions of sales in pay-per-view buys as it nears its landmark UFC 100 show in July in Las Vegas.

Station Casinos is currently involved in a restructuring plan after announcing in February it would not make a $14.6-million interest payment. Bondholders are weighing whether to accept the restructuring plan of a $244-million cash payment by the Fertitta family and Colony Capital to help reduce the company’s debt.

Negotiations will continue until April 15, when the Fertittas will either reach an agreement with the bondholders, seek an extension to continue negotiations or file for bankruptcy protection.

-- Lance Pugmire