Lucky Thirteen #11
The Future of Wrestlemania
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
Wrestlemania XXXI is just a few short days away and �Mania 32 has already been announced for Arlington, Texas. Now is the time for stadiums and sports venues across the country to sell their city for the thirty-third annual event and beyond. Will Wrestlemania continue to exist exclusively on American soil as it has for the past 13 years—or might we see the Sports Entertainment Spectacular emanate from another nation? My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this week's edition of the "Lucky Thirteen" is counting down the coolest possible locations for the "Showcase of the Immortals," as we look toward the "Future of Wrestlemania."
13. The New Minnesota Stadium – Minneapolis, Minnesota
The New Minnesota Stadium is the state-of-the-art, soon-to-be-home of the Minnesota Vikings, located in Minneapolis. Currently under construction, the multi-billion dollar football field will feature a translucent roof with movable windows and a seating capacity of more than 70,000. The New Minnesota Stadium is already positioned to be one of the most widely recognized sports facilities in the nation; in addition to hosting Super Bowl LII (52), the �Stadium is also rumored to enter the bidding war for Wrestlemania 33 in 2017. With Brock Lesnar signed for the next three years, he is most certainly expected to appear at �Mania 33—could we see a potential �homecoming' for the Beast?
12. Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico
Wrestlemania has crossed the northern border on two occasions but has yet to go "Down Mexico Way." While the high crime rates in some parts of the country might contribute to the WWE's decision to stay-stateside, the most logical explanation is the diminished value of the Mexican Peso. If the WWE runs an event in Mexico, they would surely be forced to charge based on the U.S. dollar, which would alienate a large segment of the local fan base unable to afford such a ticket. Ignoring the financial logistics however, let's focus on why Estadio Azteca would be a perfect Wrestlemania locale. The �Stadium has played host to countless sporting events throughout the ages and has been home to the Mexican National Soccer team since 1966. The attendance record was set for the �Stadium during a boxing match that drew more than 130,000 fans. Estadio Azteca is located in Mexico City in what is a far safer state than more notorious cities such as Tijuana or Juarez. There's a plethora of possibilities in regard to Axxess and the Hall of Fame, as the Lucha Libre-obsessed city is in no way short on small sports venues and large-scale arenas. With annual themes becoming more important to the overall show, this would be a chance for the WWE to embrace the contributions made by Mexican and Mexican-American Sports Entertainers.
11. Soldier Field – Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has been chosen to host the WWE's biggest show of the year on three separate occasions, and was the final city to showcase the event inside an arena. Should Wrestlemania one day return to the "Windy City," it will most certainly need to be somewhere larger than the Rosemont Horizon. Soldier Field is the oldest football stadium still in use by the National Football League, and is located on the Near South Side of Chicago. It has been home to the Chicago Bears since 1971 and can hold up to 100,000 fans if coordinated correctly. Soldier Field would be a fantastic choice for future Wrestlemanias due to its historic ambiance and Chicago's affinity for professional wrestling, but could prove challenging for more practical reasons; Soldier Field was constructed long before retractable roofs, and is positioned smack-dab in the center of a city currently experiencing a 39 degree afternoon. However if MetLife Stadium in New Jersey could prove accommodating enough, so too could Soldier Field in Chicago.
10. CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Washington
The home of Daniel Bryan and Wrestlemania XIX might be a possible hotspot for the "Future of Wrestlemania," this time inside the home of the Seattle Seahawks—CenturyLink Field. With far more forgiving spring weather than the Midwest and East Coast, Seattle offers the perfect sort of environment for an open-top arena—unless it rains of course. But does it ever rain in Seattle? I can't remember ever hearing anything about rain in Seattle. With a seating capacity north of 70,000, CenturyLink Field is right-in-line with Wrestlemania's most recent records and is in close proximity to several other famous Seattle landmarks including SafeCo Field. CenturyLink has been referred to as the "loudest stadium in the NFL"—a claim that was made fact during a Guinness Book of World Records decibel test in 2013.
9. The Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan
I made mention of the Tokyo Dome on a previous installment of "Lucky Thirteen," titled "Hallowed Halls of Headlocks." While the colloquially nicknamed �Egg Dome' has hosted a significant number of wrestling events over the years, it has never been chosen as the site for Wrestlemania. Japan is thirteen hours ahead of New York City which would create concerns over live broadcasts in America. However it's not unheard of for puroresu shows to begin early in the day; if Wrestlemania started live at 9 o'clock in the morning on a Sunday, we would be watching during prime-time here in America—on Saturday. In addition to hardcore American match-goers, the event would draw fans from throughout Japan as well as Europe and the Pacific Islands including Australia. The Tokyo Dome City which includes the equally-famous Korakuen Hall would be the perfect location for all of the Wrestlemania Week festivities, including Axxess and the Hall of Fame. Similar to an event in Mexico, a Japanese Wrestlemania would allow the WWE to recognize numerous puroresu stars and capitalize on a thriving athletic industry, while showcasing its own assorted Benetton Ad of talent.
8. Wembley Stadium – London, England
The WWE's
ACTUAL
attendance record wasn't set at Wrestlemania III, but at the original Wembley Stadium in 1992 at Summerslam. The classic building opened in 1923 and was demolished 80 years later to make room for the
NEW
Wembley Stadium that stands today. The venue has hosted a great deal of concerts and sporting events since opening in 2007, including the English Football League and the upcoming 2015 Rugby World Cup. The New Wembley Stadium hosts a maximum attendance capacity of 90,000 and features a movable roof, allowing tenants greater control of the elements. The United Kingdom is four hours ahead of New York City; Wrestlemania could conceivably go live in London at 7PM and broadcast to the United States at 3PM. I live on the West Coast which means the preshow for Wrestlemania 31 is already set to air live at three o'clock. I think an earlier schedule would be a small price to pay to see the Union Jack fly high above the "Showcase of the Immortals."
7. Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Another open-top venue victimized by the menacing Midwest winters is the 93-year-old home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. As of this writing—March 26, 2015—it is 43 degrees in Columbus, which is warmer than Chicago but nowhere near the 82-high of Santa Clara, California. Ohio Stadium is one of the most venerable locales on our list, but is more so recognized for its gargantuan seating capacity of nearly 105,000. Ohio Stadium was built between 1921 and 1922, yet still features a slew of modern comforts including 80+ luxury suites, an LED ribbon board, and state-of-the-art sound system. Filling 100,000+ seats could prove challenging, but might actually be easier in Columbus, Ohio than anywhere else. Ohio is among the most centralized states in America, making it easily accessible from multiple metropolitan areas including New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago—not to mention Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus itself. Added to the hoard of international attendees, Wrestlemania at Ohio Stadium could prove to be the most
lucrative
event in �Mania history.
6. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
The Indianapolis Colts are a team that resonate with football fans around the nation no matter where they might reside. So it's only fitting for the 2-time Super Bowl Champions to have a home worthy of such inordinate mystique. Lucas Oil Stadium is located right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, with a massive window through which audiences might see the skyline. Constructed over three years beginning in 2005, Lucas Oil Stadium opened on August 16, 2008 and has since played host to a number of monumental events including-but-not-limited to the Big Ten Football Championship, the 2010 NCAA Final Four, and even Super Bowl XLVI (46) in 2012. Indianapolis had the privilege of hosting Wrestlemania twenty-three years ago when Wrestlemania VIII took place at the now-demolished Hoosier Dome. With an indoor seating capacity of more than 70,000, Lucas Oil Stadium would make the issue of weather in the Midwest obsolete, while still allowing the outside elements to shine through.
5. Stadium Australia – Sydney, Australia
Sydney is similar to Tokyo in terms of time zones, and the good folks "Down Under" are currently positioned 15 hours ahead of WWE's Global Headquarters in Connecticut. That means that Wrestlemania would either have to be filmed in advance—which is most definitely not going to happen—or configured to meet the demands of live television. An event could go live at Stadium Australia—before 90,000 screaming fans—at noon on a Sunday, and then broadcast back to the �States at 8PM EST. Stadium Australia was constructed specifically for the 2000 Summer Games and currently hosts a number of football and rugby clubs including the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the New South Wales Blues, and the Sydney Swans. Australian wrestling fans have maintained a firm presence at the "Granddaddy of Them All," dating back to the dawning days of �Sports Entertainment," so it would appear fitting to one-day bring the excitement of Wrestlemania to them.
4. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is another storied structure in sports
and
entertainment, and was the original location announced for Wrestlemania VII in 1991. After breaking attendance records at the Toronto Skydome, it appeared natural to up-the-ante with a stadium capable of accommodating nearly 100,000 people. The World Wrestling Federation was unable to sell nearly enough tickets, and instead moved operations to the much-smaller Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. But nearly a quarter-of-a-century later, the WWE has a habit of selling out Stadiums and still has yet to return to Los Angeles outside of smaller events at the Staples Center. The �Memorial Coliseum opened in 1923 and has hosted the University of Southern California's Trojan Football Team ever since; on July 27, 1984, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was added to the Registry of Historic Places, which would make this the first U.S. Landmark to host Wrestlemania.
3. Montreal Olympic Stadium – Montreal, Quebec
Wrestlemania returned to the "Great White North" for a second time in 2002 after a twelve year absence. Now that we're thirteen years removed from 2002, and �Mania locations have all-but-been announced through 2017, it seems that a Canadian �Mania is long-overdue. While the Toronto Skydome has been a prominent feature in �Mania Moments' from both VII and X8, another viable venue just on the other side of the border is the Montreal Olympic Stadium. The �Stadium was home to Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos from 1977 until 2004, and currently hosts the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer. Ground was broken on the �Olympic Stadium in 1973 and was completed by the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In July of 1977 Pink Floyd attracted 78,322 fans to the Montreal Olympic Stadium—over 10,000 more than WWE's attendance record at the �Skydome. It seems inevitable that the WWE will one day bring Wrestlemania to Canada again, and when they do, I recommend checking out the iconic Montreal Olympic Stadium.
2. Yankee Stadium – Bronx, New York City
When the WWE announced they'd be heading back to the New York area for Summerslam 2015, speculation started to run rampant in regards to where the "Biggest Party of the Summer" might take place. Most fans assumed it'd be inside the Izod Center, but when New Jersey lawmakers announced the impending demolishing of the former "Continental Airlines Arena," the rumors kicked into high gear. A long shot during the "dog days of summer" would have been the brand new Yankee Stadium, but how about in March? The New Stadium opened in the Bronx in April of 2009, right across the street from the famed "House that Ruth Built." The entire facility is a modern marvel of architectural ingenuity that includes a wide variety of restaurants, a 5,925-square foot high definition video screen, and an on-site museum. Its position in New York City would allow for an intense weeklong Wrestlemania experience including Hall of Fame inductions and Axxess, as well as the potential debut for NXT at the Manhattan Center. In addition, Yankee Stadium's general proximity to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan would make this location an exceptional sport for future milestone events, such as Wrestlemania XL (40).
1. Churchill Downs – Louisville, Kentucky
Perhaps the strangest selection on the countdown came in at number one, and there are a variety of valid reasons why. Churchill Downs is perhaps the most prolific venue in the history of sporting in the United States and can accommodate an astonishing 120,000 fans. Before any sort of organized athletics entered the mainstream, horse racing reigned supreme as the most popular event in the New World. Churchill Downs opened in 1875 and has been home to the world-famous Kentucky Derby ever since. 'Downs hosts an enormity of possibilities for future Wrestlemania events, even outside of the potential 120k attendance record. The architecture is unlike any we've come accustom to during the "Show of Shows," and could lend to a quirky dress code incorporating big hats and flashing pastel suits. The lawn overlooking the derby would also make for suitable seating at an affordable rate, opening up further possibilities for must-watch "Mania Moments." The state of Kentucky has never hosted a Wrestlemania event in the past, so what better way to check them off the list than by breaking all possible WWE records in one night? As opposed to contemporary speedways that hold nearly 300,000 fans, Churchill Downs allows for adequate viewing without the use of large monitors—the likes of which the WWE would still employ to enhance the experience. With plenty of extra space and facilities to house Axxess and the Hall of Fame ceremony, Churchill Downs could be the coolest contender for the "Future of Wrestlemania."
Thank you for joining me for another exciting installment of "Lucky Thirteen," a column that has come to mean more to me than I ever expected. I'll be back next week with a special look at wrestling action figures in "Lucky Thirteen #12: Rubber Wrestlers and Plastic Punches." My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and I invite you to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "The B+ Players." Until next time I hope you all enjoy the many festivities surrounding Wrestlemania and continue to check out Cheap-Heat for all the latest and greatest coverage, countdowns and columns.
