If WWE visited your town recently, attendance was probably higher than last time: Market-to-market live event analysis for WWE and AEW

By Brandon Thurston and Jason Ounpraseuth

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Our market-to-market analysis shows that same-type WWE events have mostly (13 out of 18 times) performed better in 2023 than the prior time a comparable event was in the city. In many cases, these events had the possible benefit of occurring in Q1, which is usually a good season for attendance.

In AEW’s case, there are fewer recent market-to-market comparisons, but AEW’s returns to most markets since late last year have been in front of smaller crowds versus the company’s prior visit for the same-type event.

Why doing it this way makes for a fairer analysis

When we try to make sense of attendance numbers (here, WrestleTix estimates of ticket maps), it’s important to keep in mind at least three factors that influence attendance:

  1. Market (i.e., city or region): Different markets have different populations, different levels of enthusiasm for wrestling, and different economic conditions.
  2. Event type: Different event types sell differently. Televised events usually sell better than house shows, and pay-per-view/PLEs usually sell best of all.
  3. Season (i.e., quarter-year): Historically, in WWE’s case, Q1 and Q4 perform better than Q2 and Q3 for at least two possible reasons. Indoor entertainment tends to do better business during colder months. WWE runs a string of events around Christmas in major markets that often do well. And Q1 is thought to do well partly because of increased interest in events during the lead-up to Wrestlemania.
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Wrestlenomics Radio: The business of WWE Elimination Chamber

 

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Brandon Thurston, Jesse Collings, and Chris Gullo discuss:

  • Triple H’s comment on a potential WWE sale
  • Brandon’s experience at Elimination Chamber
  • Friday’s WWE Smackdown preliminary rating
  • Elimination Chamber ticketing business
  • Bloomberg reports Vince McMahon’s asking price of $9 billion for a WWE sale.
  • Manchester United is up for sale with assistance from Raine Group
  • MLW-WWE lawsuit complaint has been dismissed
  • NBC is interested in acquiring NBA TV rights
  • The average viewership for the entire week ending Feb 5 by age demographics
  • Will AEW Revolution sell out?

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Wrestlenomics Radio: Viewership for Royal Rumble on Peacock

 

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Brandon Thurston and Chris Gullo discuss:

  • Royal Rumble viewing data on Peacock
  • Smackdown ratings on Fox compared to other Fox programming and other broadcast primetime
  • Why wouldn’t Comcast want to own WWE?
  • The pro wrestling TV schedule
  • Average age of roster for WWE, AEW, Impact, New Japan, Stardom
  • AEW on ESPN in Australia, New Zealand; still on FITE

📺 Tune in to Wrestlenomics Radio every Sunday at 11:00 am ET at
youtube.com/c/wrestlenomics

Wrestlenomics Radio: WWE could be sold in 3 months… or not

 

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Brandon Thurston, Chris Gullo, and Jesse Collings talk about:

Wrestlenomics Radio: Thurston & Pollock on WWE Q4 & Year-End 2022

 

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John Pollock of POST Wrestling & Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics go through WWE’s Q4 and year-end financials for 2022 along with the earnings call.

They go over another record year for the company and eclipsing $1 billion in revenue for the second year in a row, the return of Vince McMahon and his financial obligations for the investigation, plans for 2023, “strategic alternatives” & more. 

Wrestlenomics Radio: Abraham Riesman, Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and Unmaking of America

 

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John Pollock of POST Wrestling & Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics are joined by Abraham Riesman, author of the upcoming book Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America.

They discuss the complexities of reporting on professional wrestling and Vince McMahon, the many scandals from the past year, contextualizing McMahon, media coverage of pro wrestling on a mainstream level, McMahon’s departure and subsequent return & more.