Confessions of a property guru: Making millions and losing some
15 minutes to read
Jane Phare is a senior business reporter for the New Zealand Heraldjane.phare@nzme.co.nz
Property syndication guru Mark Francis talks to Jane Phare about building up Augusta to prepare for takeover, his network of friendships and how Covid-19 knocked millions off his wealth. Posing for photos outside his grand office entrance, there s a moment when Mark Francis looks almost mournful.
Guarding the office suite are two massive bronze doors, the handles forming a stylish A for Augusta. Named after the course which hosts the US Masters golf tournament, Augusta has been Francis baby for 20 years. Now, after last year s buyout by ASX-listed Centuria Capital in a deal worth around $169m, it will disappear.
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It’s been nearly a year since an arena full of fans were in attendance for a UFC event. The last time a full capacity crowd witnessed live fights inside the Octagon was UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 7, 2020.
COVID-19 restrictions and precautions have prevented fans from attending live events. The UFC was the first major sports league to return to action, hosting three events in eight days at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida last May… sans fans. And they haven’t stopped.
Since those three events in Florida, all other UFC events have taken place in either in Abu Dhabi or the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. UFC president Dana White is optimistic that full-capacity crowds will be back by the summer.