WrestleMania Vancouver
 

Say what you will about WWE. I used to love it and have stopped watching it for years now but if it came i'm going fo sho. I've watched Wrestlemania 19 I think live in Seattle and it was the bomb.



The Ultimate Fighting Championship is coming to Vancouver on June 12 after a protracted regulatory tussle at the municipal level that nearly saw the event cancelled at the zero hour, but fans of high octane sports entertainment ain't seen nothing yet. The WWE has confirmed there has been preliminary discussion with Vancouver interests to bring an upcoming WrestleMania event to the city.

WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman says the company has received a proposal to bring a WrestleMania event slated for 2012, '13 and '14 to B.C., but says the city, province and private interests would need to demonstrate that they are ready for the event in order for the process to move forward.

"We did receive a letter from an interested third party," Zimmerman said from the WWE's Stamford, Connecticut offices Monday. "We haven't received any official word from the city of Vancouver yet. They'd have to send correspondence that they're interested in doing something with us, then the city would have to meet our criteria to even submit a full bid."

A teleconference involving the Vancouver Athletic Commission, the Vancouver WrestleMania bid committee, and WWE representatives is tentatively scheduled for Friday. A final decision is due February 2011.

The cities in the running currently include Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Toronto, Detroit and New Orleans.

Previous WrestleMania events have drawn as many as 93,000 people in the U.S., and 67,000 to the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The move to bring the WWE to town started with local pro wrestling promoter Dave Teixeira, who stages Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW) events at the Russian Community Centre in Vancouver and at Surrey's Bridgeview Hall when he's not engaging in his day job as a political consultant. Teixeira set up a Facebook group supporting a B.C.-based WWE event, gathered supporters, talked to some folks at City Hall to gauge municipal interest, and then took his case directly to the WWE.

"Unfortunately, there's not an 'office of bids' in Vancouver," says Teixeira, "so much like happened with the Police and Fire Games, it's left to interested people to say, 'We could do this', then gather the paperwork, talk to the people who would need to sign off on it, and then push the issue forward."

Teixeira says the WWE claims their events inject up to $50 million into local economies, based on past history.

"The event has only been held outside the U.S. twice before, both times in Toronto. And they're in the running again, so clearly there's something to it," he says.

Unlike most one-off sporting events, WrestleMania productions are akin to the Oscars and Superbowl in that the show unfolds over several days across a multitude of venues.

"What we're proposing is a multi-day event at different venues, with WrestleMania on the Sunday at BC Place for 55,000 people," Teixeira says, "while Thursday to the Sunday is basically a fan-fest where people can meet the wrestlers. They set up interactive displays, charitable events and autograph shows - that could be at the convention centre. Saturday evening they hold a Hall of Fame induction, so we're saying that could be the theatre bowl configuration of GM Place, which would hold about 6,000 people."

"And next day is a TV taping of Monday Night Raw, so we're saying we'd have that at GM place for 22,000 or so fans," he adds.

The Vancouver Athletic Commission has weighed in with support Teixeira's proposal, sending a letter to the WWE backing the bid.

"Over the years Vancouver has been host to many world-class events with one glaring exception, WrestleMania," the letter states. "It is now with great pride and privilege that the Vancouver Athletic Commission is prepared to assist the WrestleMania Vancouver Bid Committee in hopes of bringing this prestigious event to Vancouver the home of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Should you choose to bring WrestleMania to Vancouver we will be ready to process your event."

Zimmerman says the city of Vancouver would have to show it could handle the transportation, security, infrastructure, venue and accommodation demands of 70,000 people descending on the city. The recent Winter Olympic Games experience would suggest that shouldn't be a problem.

"We want to make sure there's an infrastructure that will ensure those people have a great WrestleMania experience, so the process is a long one and we need, first and foremost, to make certain the city wants us there," he says.

A planned seat fee of $1.00 per ticket has been proposed as part of bylaw changes scheduled to be discussed at Vancouver city council tuesday. That seat fee could bring the athletic commission $100,000 in funding over the course of a WrestleMania weekend.

But for Teixeira, there's an ulterior motive to his lobbying for the WWE to come to town. His ECCW shows could use some of the residual interest that a high profile wrestling event might bring.

"I'm of the philosophy that a rising tide raises all boats. Bringing the UFC here helps local MMA promotions, and bringing the WWE here on the grand stage would help local pro wrestling. We'd probably hold a show on the Saturday or Friday and hope to draw some tourists."

"More importantly, it solidifies our place as an entertainment capital, showcases a new venue with the new roof expected for 2011, and with the UFC, Grey Cup, whatever else, it's a nice way to build on the Olympics."

Professional wrestling has slumped in popularity in recent years, but the annual 'Superbowl of sports entertainment' continues to bring fans out of the woodwork in huge numbers, with the most recent WrestleMania, which took place on March 28 at the University of Phoenix stadium, drawing 72,000 people. It was the highest grossing event in the history of the venue and the third highest in the history of the WWE.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2...348/story.html

I heard about this group wanting to bring Wrestlemania here. I use to be a huge fan back in the day, but have long stopped watching. I think it would be great to have this event here. It draws huge numbers where ever it goes. When they went to Toronto, they got over 68,000 people in the skydome! It's not just a one day event either, it's like a 5 day event where they have meet and greets and other things happening.

I remember when I was in highschool and I went to Seattle to watch Wrestlemania, it was sick!

PS: Having not followed wrestling for years. when I heard Bret Hart was going to be on the Wrestlemania card this year, me and a munch of friends ordered it. Shawn Michaels lost in a retirement match...lol....he's done!:haha::haha:

Could care less if it comes to Vancouver or not, WWE is gay... fake fighting sucks...

Oh man, don't knock it till you try it... I went to a Wrestlemania event a long time ago in Toronto, and I was AWESOME. Not as a wrestling event (of course) but just as a spectacle.

I would go if wrestlemania came here. I haven't followed WWE regularly like I used to but I downloaded the wrestlemania 2 weeks ago and it was amazing

WrestleMania is up there with Super Bowl and Olympics as far as how much money it brings a city. It's also just as big a spectacle as those two too, and even if you're not a fan it's absolutely worth seeing.

Im supportive of this. WWE has treated Canadians well, actually Pro Wrestling in general have treated Canadians very well. Of course, have the Hitman helps alot too.

regardless, Wrestlemania is a huge deal. There is a reason why Vince McMahon is so successful. Its one of teh rare "sports" businesses that actually are very down to earth when it comes to fans.

I wouldn't really want to go watch this personally since I stopped keeping up about 4-5 years ago, but I can't deny that people into the show would be a big way to boost tourism in Vancouver, as much if not more than UFC would.

Outside the ring, the superstars seem like really nice people that love to connect with fans. Inside it, it's one huge soap opera done in tights after I lost interest back in 2003, it's way too gimmicky and overdone now.

This is a way, way bigger deal than UFC. They'll fill BC Place easily.

And BTW I stopped watching around 2001 or so as well, but started again after that. IMO it's quite a bit better than it was when I stopped watching. But it's not for everyone, that's for sure.

are how much are ticket prices at wrestlemania events?

I was watching the news and the WWE story was being aired. Some promoter was going on about how these types of events will make Vancouver a world-class city. What the fuck does hosting events like this make a city a world-class city?

Because people from around the world would come to see it.

WrestleMania in Vancouver would be huge. I haven't watched WWE in years but I would go. I still remember going to Monday Night Raw came to Vancouver.

But that doesn't make a city "world class".

then you don't know the meaning of the term
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no benoit, no stone cold, no kane, no rock no care

The WWE is a company u shouldn't look down upon based on their products. Their events bring in money. Its proven for 26yrs. Its not just the show, its the exhibits and fanfare which generate revenue. Vancouver is in close proximity to seattle, portland and victoria where there is a following. And wrestlemania doesn't always hit up so close to surrounding cities, so yes it does help with tourism. I don't follow the wwe anymore, but even with this year, guys like the undertaker, bret hart and HBK had me a lil excited for faux sports.
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i got mixed feelings about wwe..guys in tights doing drama while fake fighting. It does have its appeal I feel the target audience is geared towards kids ages 5-11

Unless someone wants to prove that adults would enjoy this, please change my views

A lot of blogs are written by 20somethings. Their target is the 18 to 35 crowd. Look at the stands and tell me that all those people filling arenas are not in that age group u fail sir...if only I can fail u on mobile I would
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Old school WWF was good though.

Enlighten me..........

I wouldn't let a 5 year old watch it. Way too much sex in it.

i stopped watching when the rock left. the rock vs. stone cold = good times.

i remember it was the stone cold vs. shawn michaels with mike tyson in wrestlemania that got me hooked onto wwe for 5 years :)

let's not forget about sable and terri runnels. fap fap fap.
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you have the internet at your disposal. Enlighten yourself.
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A few years ago the WWE moved towards a PG rating, trying to gain a new generation of viewers. They need to replace their old audience that stopped watching over the years. The majority of the crows is still the 18-35 crowd, no doubt about that, but it's more of a 'kid-friendly' event now than it's ever been. The Divas are pretty much there to just wrestle now and be part of the storylines. I mean C'MON! Nobody cares about that! What about the swimsuit/lingerie competitions!?

I used to watch it when I was younger but I haven't bothered to follow any of it in recent years. I did watch the episode of Raw where Bret The Hitman Hart was the special guest and I watched the Hitman match during the most recent Wrestlemania. It was one of the worst matches I've seen Bret in but I watched it just because it was him.