WWE officials, including Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque and President Nick Khan, recently discussed the economic impact of hosting live events such as WrestleMania and their success in attracting potential host cities. With interest booming in hosting future events, cities are vying to be chosen as venues for WWE’s premium live events.
Levesque mentioned at the CAA World Congress of Sports that the economic impact is a key factor in the bidding process, providing WWE with a list of options to choose from. The most recent WrestleMania, held at Lincoln Financial Field in early April, drew over 70,000 fans despite frigid temperatures, showcasing its popularity.
Looking ahead to future events, Khan expressed that they will be changing tactics, possibly shifting away from outdoor stadiums on the East Coast in April to avoid competing with other major events like the Final Four. While WWE has not disclosed ticket sales for WrestleMania, Khan hinted at a potential total revenue of $38 million for the two-night event in Philadelphia.
In addition to these milestones, WWE is also preparing for the transition of “Raw” to Netflix in January as part of a 10-year, $5 billion deal. Levesque expressed confidence that WWE fans will follow Raw to the streaming platform as the company has a history of successfully transitioning its audience to new locations. Both deals signal a shift towards digital platforms in the entertainment industry and are seen as significant milestones for WWE.