APRIL 2019 VOLUME 18  NUMBER 4 VENUESNOW.COM APRIL 2019 Q1 TOP STOPS CASINO VENUES ESPORTS ABROAD

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THE POWER &

WRESTLEMANIA THE GLORYWRESTLEMANIA BODYSLAMS ITS WAY TO THE TOP At 35, WRESTLEMANIA BIGis a stadium-worthy spectacle and more, WWE’s version of the Super Bowl

WrestleMania 34 drew 78,133 fans to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome last year.

28 APRIL 2019 DECK GRAPHIX REGULAR 1416 ECERIONIMUS VOLESTI AT CHASE CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO QU FERO ET, SI NONECAT URERCILIS EUMQUOS AUT IPSAE. ET OMNI BERO ET, IUM QUE BYLINE PRODUKT SEMI‚BOLD BY DON MURET

TIMEAPRIL 2019 2929 ANNIVERSARY OF WRESTLEMANIA! TH METLIFE STADIUM CONGRATULATES WWE ON THE 35

PREVIOUS PAGES COURTESY SMG; LEFT COURTESY WWE - - WrestleMania 35, April set for “WrestleMania is the place 40 countries attending multiple events. Over the past fourdecades, expanded fromit’s a single-night spectacle
lled a week to with tiedevents the to annual celebra tion of all things pro wrestling. takes stage center MetLife at 7, Stadium in Jersey New the for second time in six years. In addition, WWE ”agship brands Smackdown, Night Monday Raw theand NXT circuit’s Takeover, league,development are booked Barclaysat The Brooklyn Center. arena also hosts WWE’s Hall inductionof Fame dinner and ceremonies. Elsewhere in the borough, Axxess WWE’s 2019, fan festival, sets up the at Brooklyn Pier 12 Cruise Terminal. Several charitable are events scheduled throughout the in week the region with wrestlers making hospital visits, among other appearances connected social to causes in the community. where once a year everything taking place in the WWE universe inconverges spectacular fashion,” said John Saboor, WWE’s execu CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 PAGE ON CONTINUED - Madison Muhammad Ali served as guest wasIt just the beginning of N MARCH , , Grand entrance: Charlotte WWE Flair, legend Ric Flair’s daughter. Square Garden host played the to
rst WrestleMania, drawing a sellout crowd of 19,121. than More a million viewers watched on it closed circuit arenas at and the aters, producing what the at time was one of the industry’s high- est-grossing pay-per-view events. the for referee headline match, a tag-team bout pitting Hulk Hogan and T against Mr. Paul Orndor‹ and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. (Hogan/Mr. with T won an assist from Jimmy “Super”y” Snuka). Pop singer Cyndi Lauper, immersedin the wrestling culture through music her videos with grizzled grappler Captain Lou Albano, was among the ring com- petitors. Liberace sparkle added in his appearance with Radio Rockettes.City’s something big in the business of live entertainment and the family show category. forward Fast 2019 to and WWE’s WrestleMania brand has reached global proportions. This the year, 35th edition returns itsto birthplace in the York/ New JerseyNew market and expects drawto 160,000 people from APRIL 2019 APRIL 30 METLIFE STADIUM CONGRATULATES WWE ON THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF WRESTLEMANIA! COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - - Saboor knows WrestleMania well. As of the president “Our fans are coming earlier, staying longer and spending Seventeen cities across North America responded the to “The are venues the bedrock said. he the for event,” Over the past 11 years, Camping Stadium World and the Alan general Freeman, manager the SMG’s for Super- CITIES FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 PAGE ON CONTINUED dome anddome Smoothie King recognized Center, Wrestle- potentialMania’s after booking multiple WWE shows over the years the at arena and helped bring WrestleMania 30 to town story, related (see Page 35). Central Florida Sports Commission, for role a key played he the host committee in Orlando when the city competed for the 2008 edition. Soon after the event, Saboor joined WWE, replacing Bob Collins as point man WrestleMania. for Col lins retired that year after a 20-year run the at company. more money in the host Saboor cities,” said, think we “and that has with do to a lot the given them fact that the we’ve impetus make to this their annual family vacation.” WrestleMania has been a
xture stadiums at since 2007 Field, although Ford at NFL played it and MLB venues dating when 93,173 the 1987, to packed Pontiac old (Mich.) Silverdome. Collins recalls WWE Chairman Vince McMa- hon calling him in 2005, the after day WrestleMania 21 at andStaples telling Center, him from then on wanted he the booked stadiums. at event exclusively most recent proposal issued by WWE WrestleMania for over a
ve-year stretch from 2021 (Raymond 2015. to James Stadi um was in recently Tampa announced as the site). 2020 event WWE makes its selections after evaluating such elements key as airports, rooms, hotel transportation and past the market’s experience hosting major events, Saboor said. Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Orleans New been have host WrestleManiato twice in their respective markets. MetLife Stadium joins that list this year. - - - - APRIL 2019 APRIL When MetLife Stadium competed WrestleMania for 29, “The landscape of WrestleMania has week grown The host committees recognize the economic impact the “Woody Johnson and John Mara being there the for A GLITTERING PRIZE FOR STADIUMS 32 tainment headquarters in Stamford, Conn. John Woody the local host committee some deployed heavy hitters to juiceadd its to presentation Wrestling World at Enter dramatically; in more (money) meant the leave to area it’s than could we said. he take ever out,” mittees compete to WrestleMania. for owners, Team stadium managers, sports commissions and CVBs, among other civic entities, join with forces one goal in mind: win to the title belt that is WrestleMania and all that encompasses. it Jets, and John York New Mara,son, owner of the NFL’s co-owner Giants, York both New of the league’s attended, said Brad Mayne, and president CEO of the International Association Managers. of Venue As a facility operator, Mayne twice hosted WrestleMania, once MetLife at Sta massive production brings their to communities. In 2017, surpassedit $180 million WrestleMania for 33 in Orlan- accordingdo, numbers to produced by Enigma Research Corp., the consulting
rm WWE uses track to local spend- ing by attendees. This patrons year, will spend money on both of the sides Hudson River, Saboor said. tive vice of special president a rite of passage events. for “It’s fans that live around the the globe. WWE’s It’s Super Bowl.” comparisonSaboor’s is on point. WrestleMania has grown to the scale of Super Bowl, Final and Four the College Football Playo‹. Similar those to events, cities form local host com presentation speaks volumes important how for WWE and WrestleMania are the to communities Mayne said. now,” that a coveted event everybody“It’s wants.” dium and another time Arrowhead at Honda Pond (now inCenter) Anaheim, Calif., in 2000. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 PAGE FROM CONTINUED WrestleMania 31 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., drew 76,796, one of the venue’s highest attendance totals.

COURTESY SMG Seth Rollinscatch- es some air during WrestleMania 34 last year. Every stage production is unique the to market. At The extravagant sets prompt a big chunk of WrestleMania thoseFor attending WrestleMania 32 the at Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium o²cials prepared were apply to wrist- “They all wanted see to the building,” said. Turner “We MetLife Stadium in a giant 2013, replicaof the Statue of Liberty the over towered ring, taller than the stadium walls, Mayne said. The walkway where wrestlers were introduced and paraded the to ring had replicas of the Em- pire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge with a graphic treatment City. of downtown York New cometicket to into holders the building early see to WWE’s newest “their creation. Super It’s Bowl” and excited they’re seeto the how is going event be to presented, said Paul- Turn the Dallaser, Cowboys’ senior director operations. of event AT&T Stadium, the facility itself was a must-see attraction. Many patrons had not been inside and seen its signature center-hung videoboard since the opened venue seven years earlier as the next generation of NFL facilities. The early rush an to led operational adjustment said. Turner on the ”y, bands the to 14,000 people with ”oor seats as a crowd control measure, and wristband stations set were up both inside and outside the But so venue. many individuals bypassed the process on the fan plaza as they a bee- made line the for stadium doors that resulted it in congestion as fans lined up wristband at stations on the main concourse. O²cials what saw was happening and stopped putting wristbands on those with ”oor tickets. - - APRIL 2019 APRIL “You make of money a lot on the“You and end back your keep Allen Johnson, chief o²cer venues in Orlando, provided Essentially, WrestleMania similar is staged “rent-free,” to “The return on the arena was events marginal, but the “We sold“We them on the The hostcommittee added INCENTIVES PAY OFFINCENTIVES PAY 34 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 PAGE FROM CONTINUED merchandise stands open after Johnson the said. event,” “They come early when the doors wait open; they don’t until
ve minutes before the starts. event an eclectic It’s crowd. There is some drinking of alcohol but not as much compared with a pay-per-view a classic It’s rock show. event, so there are not many breaks.” a peek into WrestleMania food and beverage For revenue. the event, the 2017 per cap was $24.87 from attendance of 75,245 Camping at Stadium. World Doing the math, Levy, concessionaire,the stadium’s generated $1.87 million in income. The spend average was dollars a few higher than three college bowl games and on par with a Metallica con- cert, the four at held events stadium in 2017. the SuperBowl, Freeman said. Last year in Orleans, New the host facility covered all sta²ng event-day costs and generated throughrevenue concessions and facility tied fees its to Tick income o‹ made the stadium the made event entire week worthwhile,” Freeman one of those said. like events “It’s a Final or Super Four want on a it be to do to Bowl. able You regular basis because has it such a great economic impact on the city.” For WrestleMania,For every deal is di‹erent, stadium managers said. Because it has turned into a high-pro-
le enterprise generating tens of millions of dollars in tourism spending, WWE seeks incentives and
nan- cial support from the host committees with marketing assistance and expense waiv- ers, Collins said. etmaster agreement. Bottom line, all for SMG was pay to able of its operating expenses and make a “decent return,” said. he ‘pregame activation’ and their sponsors exposure got out Freemanthere,” said. “WWE’s perspective the got was … you’ve French Quarter, all that’s the ac sometivation need. you There’s truth that, to butthese fans arrive had great very We early. weather that and day they got another taste Orleans of New in Champions Square.” a new piece WrestleMania to 34 with Champions Square, the outdoorplaza next the to Superdome that can accom- modate 9,000 people with a stage live music. for SMG and foodCenterplate, the dome’s o‹set some of theirvendor, expenses by selling food and drink Champions at Square while fans listened local to bands perform beforeWres- tleMania. HOW A ‘NO’ IN NOLA BECAME A BIG ‘YES’

THE STORY BEHIND WrestleMania coming to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome starts at “no,” which is what the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation said after WWE contacted the group about bidding for the 2014 edition. The foundation felt the wrestle-fest didn’t it its mission statement for bringing sports events to town, said Alan Freeman, SMG’s general manager for the Superdome and Smoothie King Center, the NBA arena across the street. The foundation did, however, put WWE in contact with Freeman, who put a host committee together and spearheaded the bid. It was success- ful in landing the event, WrestleMania 30, which grossed $11 million in ticket sales with attendance of more than 75,000 at the Superdome. “Our sports foundation didn’t really understand and know much about it at the time,” said Doug Thornton, SMG executive vice president. “We had to sell them on the idea, and it was Alan who led the charge in putting that deal together. “Alan has a strong relationship with WWE, in particular John Saboor. Alan knew the strength of this event and felt because New Orleans was a strong destination and WrestleMania attracts people from all over the world, that it would be a popular location.” WrestleMania 30 was such a huge success in New Orleans that WWE asked the city for a quick turnaround to submit a proposal for the 2018 event, which it won. Those numbers were even higher: WrestleMania 34 grossed $14 million in called that audible and it worked out great. ticket sales, and the attendance of 78,133 ranks There were no shenanigans. It was an sixth highest in event history. Enigma Research example of one of those things where you showed 77 percent of attendees came from out- prepare for the event, do your research and side the New Orleans region. —Don Muret get ready to go and the situation may be a little bit di‹erent. You make those adjust- ments and do what’s right for the fans.”

FANS COME FROM EVERYWHERE Underneath their menacing costumes, WrestleMania fans are some of the most well-behaved cuit TV at the Spring·ield (Mass.) Civic Center. patrons in sports and entertainment, said Jim Mercurio, “When they
rst told me that, I didn’t believe it,” Van- vice president of stadium operations and general manag- DeVeen said. “But I remember going down to Miami (for er for Levi’s Stadium, host of WrestleMania 31. WrestleMania 28) and every single person I talked to was They’re certainly engaged — and some go as far as get- from another country … England, Australia, China, Italy. ting married: In Orlando, one couple tied the knot under It was unbelievable. These are really new dollars coming a massive replica of a WWE championship belt on display into the market. We learned that in Miami and saw it
rst- at Lake Eola in the city’s downtown district, Johnson said. hand. That’s when we really fell in love with it.” “They’re really passionate and they’ve got their The big question is whether the event could be headed favorites, cheering for certain wrestlers and booing overseas considering its large international fan base. The others,” Mayne said. “They’re part of the entertainment, WWE Network, where WrestleMania is broadcast as pay- frankly.” per-view, now extends to 180 countries, and major events And they come from all over the world. WWE re - have been held in Saudi Arabia, China and Australia, as search shows that up to 20 percent of the total Wres - well as SummerSlam 1992 at Wembley Stadium in Lon- tleMania crowd is international, said Ron VanDeVeen, don. To this point, no decisions have been made regarding MetLife Stadium’s president and CEO. The demograph- potentially expanding WrestleMania abroad, Saboor said. ics have changed dramatically since VanDeVeen, as a “We’ll continue to discuss our long-term international college student, watched WrestleMania 2 on closed-cir- strategies,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

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