Screenwriting : Locations! by Gavin D Walsh

So after much debate with myself, and several helpful comments to my previous thread. I have decided to shelf my current project temporarily, and make a start outlining my next project, while I patiently await fresh ideas to construct my third act to the standard required. This post is to clear up a little debate I had with a few friends while talking about my next screenplay - 'Champ'. I want this story to be based mainly in my local area. But several of my friends, who are not writers, think that this would be bad idea. Mainly because Swansea is not famous for making movies, which I feel may also be an advantage. Does anyone else share the opinion that Swansea, in South Wales, would be a poor choice for location? I guess if I were able to tell you a little about it, then it would help with your answers. But after reading a few comments on other posts about 'ideas' I'm not so sure it would be a great idea to write too much about it here. I will say, though. That it follows the development of an MMA fighter, who has always been coached by his dad. So some travel to different locations would be involved. But the fighter is a Welshman, so the early years would be based there. I really wish I could write more than that, just to give a flavour of what the premise consists of. That short description makes is sound somewhat bland... Any feedback on locations and their importance would be really appreciated!