World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that The 25th
Anniversary of WrestleMania generated a $49.8 million dollar
economic windfall for the greater Houston area, according to a study
conducted by the Enigma Research Corporation. Despite one of the biggest
economic downturns in recent history, local and state governments
collected $5.7 million in taxes. This follows the $51.5 million of
economic impact WrestleMania XXIV brought to Orlando.
"Having the opportunity to host The 25th
Anniversary of WrestleMania was a huge honor and success,” said Greg
Ortale, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitor’s
Bureau. "The direct expenditure demonstrates that WrestleMania is
indeed economically on par with the world’s greatest sports and
entertainment offerings.”
"Our overarching goal with our public and private sector partners is to
consistently provide positive economic impact for WrestleMania’s
host communities and establish a lasting pro-social legacy, "said John
P. Saboor, Senior Vice President of Special Events for World Wrestling
Entertainment.
A capacity
crowd of
72,744
from all 50 states, 24
countries and seven Canadian provinces attended the pop culture
extravaganza. Key highlights from the study included:
-
$49.8 million of direct, indirect and induced impact derived from
spending by non-locals visiting specifically for The 25th
Anniversary of WrestleMania, equating to 600 full time jobs for
the area.
-
During WrestleMania Week, 86% of out of state, overnight
visitors who came in for the festivities,
stayed in local
Houston area hotels. 67% stayed for three nights or more.
-
Nearly 75% of fans that came to The 25th
Anniversary of WrestleMania from outside of Houston traveled by
air.
-
23% of the fans that came from out of state were from California and
New York.
-
Nearly 65% of the fans that attended were between the ages of 10 and
34.
Next year, WrestleMania XXVI will take place March 28, 2010 from
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Tickets go on sale
Saturday, November 7 at 10 AM MT through the University of Phoenix
Stadium box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com,
or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. The event will be broadcast live
on pay-per-view, and viewed in more than 100 countries.
Enigma Research Corporation is an international consulting firm which
specializes in measuring the economic impact of special events. Enigma’s
economists developed a customized model which converted expenditures
into economic impact, employment created and taxes generated as a result
of the event.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE:
WWE), is an integrated media company and recognized leader in global
entertainment. With programming broadcast in more than 145 countries and
30 languages, WWE provides 22 hours of weekly PG-rated programming
domestically, in addition to 14 pay-per-views a year. Each week, 16
million people tune-in domestically to see WWE Superstars and Divas on Monday
Night Raw®, Friday Night SmackDown®, ECW®, and WWE
Superstars’ with millions more internationally. WWE holds more than
300 live events, entertaining over two million fans a year. The
company’s brand extends across multiple platforms including: WWE
Studios; WWE.com and WWEKids.com; WWE Magazine and WWE Kids
Magazine; licensed merchandise; music and home entertainment. In
addition, WWE "In Your Corner” is WWE’s charitable arm that focuses on
literacy programs, civic engagement, military support and a 20+ year
partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. More information on World
Wrestling Entertainment can be found at http://corporate.wwe.com/
Trademarks: All WWE programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks,
copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling
Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos
and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This
news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which
are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and
uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events,
broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature
films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise;
acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those
markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with
producing live events both domestically and internationally;
uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to
maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television
distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time
to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or
anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend
is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical
and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and
condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of
dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider
relevant.
