Wrestlemania 36 Changes Venue to the Performance Center

[cero2k]

Source: F4WOnline

The fate of WrestleMania 36 has been decided.

WWE issued a statement today announcing that WrestleMania 36 and its related events for that week will no longer take place in Tampa, Florida. WrestleMania will instead air live from the Performance Center on its originally scheduled date of Sunday, April 5. Only essential personnel will be in attendance on the closed set.

“In coordination with local partners and government officials, WrestleMania and all related events in Tampa Bay will not take place," WWE's statement said. "However, WrestleMania will still stream live on Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view. Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania.”

WrestleMania 36 was supposed to be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, but it had become clear over the last several days that -- due to the coronavirus pandemic -- the show wouldn't be able to go on in its originally planned form.

“I’m hoping that Vince McMahon and WrestleMania and WWE make the call themselves but a week from now, if they've not done that and we’re still in the situation we're in, we'll probably have to pull the plug on that," Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller had said last Thursday.

WWE had issued a statement last week saying they were committed to holding WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on April 5 but were putting contingency plans in place in the event that the show was canceled by government officials, civil authorities and/or local venues.

Last Friday's SmackDown, tonight's Raw, and this Wednesday's NXT have all also officially been moved to the Performance Center.

[NWK2000]

And the anti-WWE dorks salivate at the idea of a Wrestlemania with an attendance of zero.

[Big Red Machine]

And the anti-WWE dorks salivate at the idea of a Wrestlemania with an attendance of zero.

If Vince is smart, he'll listen to Todd Martin's idea from last week, which is to offer 50 fans the chance to pay an extra $2,000 to fly to Orlando and then self-quarantine for a few weeks before Mania so that they'll be indisputably clear by the time Mania rolls around, so that Vince both gets an audience for his show and a few extra thousand dollars.

[cero2k]

And the anti-WWE dorks salivate at the idea of a Wrestlemania with an attendance of zero.

WWE is still going to bump it up to a couple thousand to break the record tho

[Big Red Machine]

And the anti-WWE dorks salivate at the idea of a Wrestlemania with an attendance of zero.

WWE is still going to bump it up to a couple thousand to break the record tho

Here's the worst part:
Vince will know that people will know that there were zero fans, so he'll know he'll need to provide a plausible number for what talent and crew combined would be... and in doing so, he'll discover the lie he can use to claim that the inflated attendance numbers for all other shows are in some way true.

[XIV]

This will be one year he’d want to understate the attendance so he’s not going against legislation and governments.

[Big Red Machine]

This will be one year he’d want to understate the attendance so he’s not going against legislation and governments.

Fair point.

[Big Red Machine]

UPDATE:

By Joseph Currier | @josephcurrier | Mar 18, 2020 4:28 pm

Update --

WrestleMania 36 will take place at the Performance Center and multiple other locations. All of the locations will be closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance.

**********

For the first time ever, WrestleMania will be a two-night event.

WWE announced today that WrestleMania 36 will take place across two nights. The show will now take place on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5.

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski has also been announced as the host of WrestleMania 36. He sent out a tweet today announcing the news: "It’s official! I’m hosting @WrestleMania this year...and it’s gonna be too big for just one night. For the 1st time, #WrestleMania will be a 2-NIGHT event: Saturday, April 4 AND Sunday, April 5 on @WWENetwork! Tell you more this Friday night on #SmackDown at 8 ET on @FOXTV"

WrestleMania was originally scheduled to take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on April 5.

NXT TakeOver: Tampa had been set to take place at the Amalie Arena on April 4 before being canceled.

Here are the matches that have been officially announced for WrestleMania thus far:

Universal Champion Goldberg defending against Roman Reigns
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Drew McIntyre
Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch defending against Shayna Baszler
NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley defending against Charlotte Flair
John Cena vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Edge vs. Randy Orton is also all but official, with Orton set to appear on next Monday's Raw and respond to Edge's challenge for a last man standing match at WrestleMania.

[cero2k]

so, are we talking 2 4-hour shows?

[Big Red Machine]

so, are we talking 2 4-hour shows?

I think so. That would be SOOOOO much more manageable than the horrible marathons we've been getting.

[XIV]

so, are we talking 2 4-hour shows?

It reduces attendance, can have only the required workers there. Reducing exposure to the virus.