Tag: WrestleMania

WrestleMania: Big Time

WrestleMania 34 drew 78,133 fans to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome last year. (Courtesy SMG) At 35, the annual extravaganza is a stadium-worthy spectacle and more, WWE’s version of the Super Bowl On March 31, 1985, Madison Square Garden played host to the first WrestleMania, drawing a sellout crowd of 19,121. More than a million viewers watched it on closed circuit at arenas and theaters, producing what at the time was one of the industry’s highest-grossing pay-per-view events.   Muhammad Ali served as guest referee for the headline match, a tag-team bout pitting Hulk Hogan and Mr. T against Paul Orndorff and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. (Hogan/Mr. T won with an assist from Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka). Pop singer Cyndi Lauper, immersed in the wrestling culture through her music videos with grizzled grappler Captain Lou Albano, was among the ring competitors. Liberace added sparkle in his appearance with Radio City’s Rockettes. It was just… Continue Reading WrestleMania: Big Time

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Opening Number: WrestleMania

WrestleMania this month celebrates 35 years as an event at MetLife Stadium. World Wrestling Entertainment’s extravaganza has posted some impressive numbers over the years in evolving from arenas to a stadium event; here are some tied to attendance, ticket prices and gross ticket sales.  19,121 Sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden for the first WrestleMania in 1985. 2005 Staples Center becomes the final NBA/NHL arena to host WrestleMania, drawing a crowd of 20,192. 2006 Allstate Arena is the last arena to host WrestleMania, attracting 17,159 in attendance. 101,763 Record attendance for WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium and the fifth-highest crowd for an event at the Dallas Cowboys’ facility.  $17.3 million Gross ticket revenue for WrestleMania 32, highest in event history. $6,507 Ticketmaster primary site listing for a platinum ringside seat to attend WrestleMania 35 at MetLife Stadium. $7,475.05 Total cost for that dynamically priced seat in the third row, which… Continue Reading Opening Number: WrestleMania

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WrestleMania Back in Market Where It Started

Celebrity timekeeper Liberace and some of Radio City’s Rockettes at WrestleMania 1. And, yes, there’s a story behind that. (Getty Images)  WWE mega-event began at Madison Square Garden in 1985 World Wrestling Entertainment’s WrestleMania celebrates 35 years this week, culminating with Sunday’s main event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The massive production returns to the market where it all began at Madison Square Garden in 1985. Bobby Goldwater, now a consultant with The Goldwater Group, ran the Garden at the time WrestleMania 1 took place, and he played a key role in planning the inaugural event. The arena was the appropriate setting, considering MSG as an organization had a rich history with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s family, dating to Roderick “Jess” McMahon, Vince’s grandfather who promoted boxing at the old Madison Square Garden early in the 20th century with the legendary Tex Rickard, who owned the arena at the… Continue Reading WrestleMania Back in Market Where It Started

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