More new records obtained by Wrestlenomics from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission shed light on the business of Wrestlemania earlier this year. We reported the gate information for these events last month, but this gives us counts of ticket sales and comps we didn’t have before.
Night 1 of Wrestlemania on Apr. 6 at Lincoln Financial Field sold 56,147 tickets, according to documents WWE submitted to the commission. Another 3,889 tickets were given away for free, bringing the actual tickets distributed count for Night 1 to 60,036. It’s possible these numbers don’t include suite attendees or credentialed media. WWE announced the attendance as 72,543 on the broadcast.
Night 2 on Apr. 7 sold 56,758 tickets — slightly more than Night 1. 3,445 tickets were comped, for a total of 60,203 tickets distributed. WWE announced similar attendances for both nights, claiming 72,755 for Night 2.
As previously reported, Wrestlemania 40 holds the all-time pro wrestling gate records for the #1 and #2 highest ticket gross ever, not adjusting for inflation. Night 2 is the leader with a gate (without ticket fees) of $18,433,325.39. Night 1 is #2 with a gate of $17,656,964,.62.
The commission requires wrestling promotions to submit a record of gate receipts as the governing body collects a 5% tax on ticket sales.
Smackdown on the Friday before Wrestlemania sold 12,699 tickets and 896 comps. The gate, as reported earlier was $2,022,405.06.
NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday afternoon sold 9,545 tickets, with 753 comps for a $1,109,245.01 gate.
The Raw after Wrestlemania sold 13,151 and had 626 comps for a $2,43,014.99 gate.
Despite no wrestling matches taking place at the Undertaker’s “1deadMAN SHOW”, the event was nonetheless an event that WWE paid tax to the commission. The event, which took place on the Thursday before Wrestlemania at the nightclub The Fillmore, sold out with 928 ticket sales and 42 comps, drawing $180,325. The commission took its 5%: $9,016.25.
Records indicate that both Wrestlemania nights were sell-outs, with no tickets unused. However, the receipts also indicate there were no unused tickets for NXT Stand & Deliver, despite that event distributing a few thousand less than Raw or Smackdown in the same venue.
Overall, Pennsylvania collected just over $2 million in commission taxes from WWE events from Thursday, April 4 through Monday, Monday 8, plus a $100 enforcement fee for each event.
A PDF showing the gate receipts and forms sent to the commission is here.
Undertaker’s 1 Dead Man Show (The Fillmore)
Tickets sold: 928
Comps: 42
Tickets distributed: 970
Gate: $180,325.00
Average ticket sold: $194.32
WWE Smackdown (Wells Fargo Center)
Tickets sold: 12,699
Comps: 896
Tickets distributed: 13,595
Gate: $2,022,405.06
Average ticket sold: $159.26
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver (Wells Fargo Center)
Tickets sold: 9,545
Comps: 753
Tickets distributed: 10,298
Gate: $1,109,245.01
Average ticket sold: $116.21
WWE Wrestlemania 40 Night 1 (Lincoln Financial Field)
Tickets sold: 56,147
Comps: 3,889
Tickets distributed: 60,036
Gate: $17,656,964.62
Average ticket sold: $314.48
WWE Wrestlemania 40 Night 2 (Lincoln Financial Field)
Tickets sold: 56,758
Comps: 3,445
Tickets distributed: 60,203
Gate: $18,433,325.39
Average ticket sold: $324.77
WWE Raw (Wells Fargo Center)
Tickets sold: 13,151
Comps: 626
Tickets distributed: 13,777
Gate: $2,243,014.99
Average ticket sold: $170.56
Brandon Thurston has written about wrestling business since 2015. He’s also worked as an independent wrestler and trainer.
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