WWE having a residency in Vegas

[Bad News Gertner]

Heard this on a podcast a couple weeks back. Life events for WWE had been a money loser pre pandemic. Could you ever see a day where the WWE has a Vegas residency and tapes all their T.V there, except for stuff like European tours. The only events that would travel would be PPV's.

Pretty interesting idea.

[xrodmuc316]

That would be the place to do it with tourist always there. If Vince could make a bunch of money he would totally do it.

[Jordan]

I've never heard a rumour of this but I don't think it would be a sustainable idea. I think it would be a step backwards.

[DAMN iNATOR]

I've never heard a rumour of this but I don't think it would be a sustainable idea. I think it would be a step backwards.

Yeah, pretty much my thoughts.

[Lock Jaw]

It would definitely be a sustainable idea, and would be pretty lucrative in attendance and also potential partnerships/sponsorships.

Think that Vince would be "too stubborn" to break the tradition of "going on the road" though....

[ClockShot]

No. Because years ago they were going to build a Casino there and THAT didn't get off the ground.

Also it doesn't make not sense because you got HQ in Connecticut. The Performance Center and the physical Hall of Fame in Florida. And they did Pandemic shows at said Performance Center and it as just fine.

So, why got all the way across the country to do all your shows, potentially make the bulk of your roster pick up stakes from Florida and move to Vegas, and where in Vegas would you set up shop as to not get in the way of other acts?

[slik]

They should do a residency in Reno instead

https://cdn.5280.com/2018/05/Reno_FTG_Jay-Bouchard-960x720.jpg

[Jordan]

If WWE ran Vegas every week you'd be looking at filling likely 2,500/4,000 tickets a week, twice a week depending on the size of the venue they choose. They certainly won't be selling all of the tickets and many would be giveaways from hotels and casinos. Vegas is also not a strong wrestling market tradionally. Think of merchandise sales too. The live event merchandise would drop considerably.

WWE should always be a road show, just look at the history of doing a show in one location and the complacency and staleness that comes from it (AEW, WWE, TNA).

Now I could see how the argument could be make that live gates and lives merchandise isn't nearly as much of a pull for the bottom line as their tv rights deals so perhaps there is math out there that could make this Vegas concept work. But I would hate to see it simply because of the complacency and over saturation it can have on the audience. Yes I know Vegas would provide mostly tourists for attendance but there would be a loud local fan base that comes often just as in TBA, AEW and NXT.

When WCW was going to be revived by Bischoff and Fusient there was an idea to move to The Joint in Vegas which for them at the time I think would have been a great idea. Their live gates were super low and I think selling or promoting 1,500/2,500 tickets would have been a possibility.

But for WWE I think it would be a major recession move. Just look at things now, ticket sales for WWE are much better than before the pandemic and if they capitalize and give good shows they can actually rebuild towns that they've lost over the years. Texas clearly proving to be an ace market for WWE right now where as New York proving to have lost a lot of interest.

[xrodmuc316]

There is no way Vince would do it unless it was a guaranteed payday. It would need to be a model like Peacock, where Vince gets a set price regardless of ticket sales.

It would be up to the city/venue to fill the seats, like how WCW was at Disney. Park guests got to go inside and watch a live show at no extra cost to them.

It would be another show for whatever tourist are in Vegas that day. Maybe the Casinos/Hotels include tickets as part of their stay.

[xrodmuc316]

Actually now that I think about it, that was exactly Bischoff's plan when he was going to buy WCW before AOL Time Warner pulled their tv contracts.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Most residencies in Vegas are just former hot commodities doing the same old act over and over again for an ever dwindling fan base.

So yeah.

[#1-norm-fan]

They should do a residency in Reno instead

https://cdn.5280.com/2018/05/Reno_FTG_Jay-Bouchard-960x720.jpg

Reno is closer to the legal brothels than Vegas.

Add WWE to that mix?

So many nerd’s parents would be wondering where these credit card charges came from.

[drave]

Feel like it'd work wonders for NXT. Florida is aight, but Vegas would allow for more traffic IMO. Hot tourist spot, bigger venue, more exposure I would think. It would make the cost of "being on the road" cheaper and eliminate a ton of overhead.


Main product should tour, it is always going to be in demand, even if a niche child audience. Parents will dole out stupid amounts of money when possible, for shit like this (Looking at you Disney on Ice).

[slik]

The WWE Universe LIVE at Circus Circus

[drave]

C'mon. The David Copperfield matches write themselves. Blue Man Group Survivor Series team. Carrot Top for 24/7 champ.

[drave]

Now I wanna see a Blue Man Group Survivor Series team damnit.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think Vince is too proud. Part of having their schedule means they can hit markets and remain pretty fresh for big shows. House shows struggle because Vince has neglected that element of the business. I think he’d try to perk it up before he either cuts them or forces them into residency as some sort of hybrid model.

Got a feeling they would choose Florida for that.

[Bad News Gertner]

I could see them using Florida as a mini loop for guys not on T.V

[Mr. Nerfect]

I could see them using Florida as a mini loop for guys not on T.V

Yeah, that’s the sort of thing I can see. A “practice loop.”

[slik]

I'm curious to see how the Raiders do, ticket wise, at Allegiant Stadium. I remember reading there were concerns the local population wouldn't support an NFL franchise in droves but they were convinced it would be something tourists would want to attend while getting plastered/gambling.

[Bad News Gertner]

I know their hockey team does very well