Professional wrestling’s premier annual spectacle returns to Las Vegas this weekend, following last year’s event that injected more than $322 million into the local economy according to new research data.
TKO, the parent company behind WWE, announced Wednesday that studies by Applied Analysis revealed the 2024 two-day wrestling extravaganza generated an economic impact of $322.2 million. Wrestling enthusiasts journeyed from across the United States and international destinations, filling hotels and dining at restaurants while shopping at local establishments.
The wrestling organization schedules multiple events throughout the week surrounding its flagship show, including fan meet-and-greet sessions with performers, its prestigious Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and tapings for its weekly television programs ‘Smackdown’ and ‘Raw,’ encouraging visitors to extend their stays for several days.
Las Vegas is welcoming the wrestling showcase for a consecutive year as the city works to attract tourists amid changing visitor patterns. The entertainment destination experienced its lowest visitor numbers in four years during 2024, while Strip casino revenue increased by less than one percent, based on January statistics.
The 2024 wrestling event attracted 124,693 spectators over two evenings at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
According to Applied Analysis data cited by TKO Group, 85.4% of those attending traveled to Las Vegas exclusively for the wrestling event. International visitors comprised 22% of attendees, while 90.2% came from outside the local area.
Jefferies analyst Randal Konik noted in a recent report that the wrestling event produced approximately $66 million in ticket revenue across both nights, citing Pollstar information. Tickets averaged around $635 each, nearly twice the cost of the previous year’s event.
‘WrestleMania 41’s performance highlights the strength and strategic importance of WWE as a core asset within TKO,’ Konik wrote.
ESPN will provide extensive coverage of this year’s wrestling spectacular. Featured matches include undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes defending his championship against Randy Orton, and CM Punk risking his World Heavyweight title against Roman Reigns.
The weekend event at Allegiant Stadium begins Saturday and Sunday, with ‘SportsCenter’ coverage starting Thursday and ‘First Take’ broadcasting from Las Vegas Friday.
For the first time, the event will stream on the ESPN app. Saturday’s opening hour will air on ESPN2, while Sunday’s first hour broadcasts on ESPN. Both nights begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
ESPN started carrying WWE premium events on its ESPN Unlimited streaming platform last September. Most major cable, satellite and streaming providers have agreements with Disney that include ESPN Unlimited access in their television packages.
This marks the first occasion that portions of the main event will broadcast on traditional television. The inaugural WrestleMania took place in 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
