Beyond Wrestling: How WWE’s Successful Live Events Drive Economic Boost in Host Cities

WWE officials, including Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque and President Nick Khan, recently discussed the success of hosting live events such as WrestleMania and the economic impact it has on host cities. With interest booming in hosting future events, potential host cities are bidding 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, was the last site inherited by WWE’s current management team from their predecessors over four years ago. Despite frigid temperatures, the event drew over 70,000 fans, showcasing its popularity. Looking ahead to future events, President Nick Khan mentioned 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. Additionally, WWE is 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