WrestleMania 39 is set to be hosted at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California on April 1st and 2nd of 2023, and we now have the host for the 2024 event.
Recent news has come out that WrestleMania 40 would take place on April 6th and 7th, 2024 in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles, PHL Sports, Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney and the WWE are excited to bring the “showcase of the immortals” back to the city.
Image: PHLCVB
Mayor Kenney went on to say, “We are proud to welcome WWE fans from around the world to Philadelphia to be a part of the historic 40th WrestleMania in 2024," "The week-long series of events will help put a global spotlight on our great city while also generating a major impact for our local economy."
The last time Philly played host was WrestleMania 15. The main event was The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the attendance for that blockbuster event was 20,276. At that Mania you had the famous Brawl for All with Bart Gunn vs ButterBean.
Image: TPWW
The last two WrestleMania's were held in Tampa Bay, Florida at Raymond James Stadium and this year in Dallas, Texas at AT&T Stadium.
The attendance this year compared to last year’s held in Tampa, Florida had a total combined attendance of 51,350. This year’s WrestleMania in Dallas featured a total attendance for both nights of 156,352. Giving us an average of about 78,176 fans per night. Both Wrestlemania’s featured amazing crowds.
Dallas’ WrestleMania not only surpassed their attendance record number but, according to Wrestlinginc.com, they also surpassed an economic impacting profit of $206.5 million in profits and another $24.8 million in federal, state and local taxes.
Image: Tampa Bay Times
Tampa Bay and Dallas were both a huge success. And I’m sure both Inglewood and Philadelphia will be excellent, but what happens after that? My question is why not New England? When will WrestleMania return to New England?
The last time WrestleMania was held in Boston was WrestleMania 14 in 1998 The main event was billed with Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Shawn Michaels, with Mike Tyson as a special guest ring enforcer for the WWE Championship. This particular mania would be the launching point of the “Stone Cold Steve Austin” Era as the true face of the WWE.
Image: Wrestleview
New England and the Northeast was a wrestling capital. Many years ago WWWF was a market some would say that no one could touch in professional wrestling and in sports entertainment.
But, if WrestleMania were to return to New England, it would do so at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. For the “Grandest Stage” in Wrestling to take center stage in Gillette Stadium would be every wrestling fan’s dream. Gillette Stadium’s location would be perfect as it sits at an appropriate distance from two major cities - Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island.
Image: Stadiums of Pro Football
According to a 2016 study by Patch.com, the last reported public record of revenue reports was up 34% over the previous number of $2.83 million. One would presume with the success that the New England Patriots and New England Revolution have had in recent years, it has gone up even further.
On top of all of the success, Gillette Stadium has also been making its mark in other fields. Gillette Stadium has recently won a bid to host World Cup games in 2026, and will also be the home of the famous Army-Navy football game in 2023. One also might add that they are making significant changes to their facility with a brand new end zone jumbotron that will launch at the beginning of the 2023 NFL Season.
So what does this mean?
Looking at revenue from previous WWE events and recent reports for Gillette Stadium, this is a home run for not only Gillette stadium, but also for the surrounding areas.
When an event like WrestleMania comes around it takes over. Looking at the growth of independence now there are a plethora of companies that can piggyback off of the success of the grandest stage.
The market for independent wrestling is hot especially in New England and what independent company would disagree with this opportunity. Independent promotions could look at this as a cash cow weekend. On the brighter side of things not only for the promotions but for the wrestlers that compete for these companies. For the guys and girls in the back they bust their asses for opportunities like this.
Another big thing to add to this is the success of conventions for wrestling fans. WWE has their axes but the independents have many others. More specifically the WrestleCon. This is an organization that started in 2013 by HighSpots. It’s a wrestling merchandise distributor from North Carolina. Stars of the Past, Present and Future live in person to meet the many fans from all over the world. A weekend like this can also be a launching point on the success they could see in the future. To elaborate, Professional wrestlers are always looking to expand their reach when it comes to opportunities, whether wrestling for one promotion, one region or one state.
Image: SECscoops
The following image below goes over the bidding process for these stadiums to bid on the show being held at its stadium in the coming years. Here are some main points as a take away from this “Bid Book”
Minimum Capacity of 65,000 including all general seating, club seating and press press box seating. World Wrestling Entertainment would retain 100% of revenue from ticket sales.
Providing all utilities, construction of additional temporary risers is requested including power ,lighting, house lighting, house sound, by WWE, the arrangements would be made by WWE, and HVAC.
Image: FanByte
Stadium Capacity
Requirements from what it looks like are met for Gillette to host a Maina. The real question is why hasn’t a deal gotten done?
Why is New England not being looked at?
Is it the weather in April? WrestleMania was hosted at MetLife Stadium on two occasions, so I find that to be unlikely.. Plus the WWE has stated that the ring used is heated so if it was to for some reason snow that ring would be warm for the competitors.
Can’t be capacity?
So what is it?