AEW - JUNE 2023

[Octopus]

There wasn’t even one parenthesis in there, @Elsalvajeloco

[Dolphman 3000]

6 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Moreover, what the hell is the job of the arena itself? Their job is to market and advertise these acts.

If the arena gets its booking fee regardless of the crowd size, why would its management care how many fans show up?

Some of the Collision tapings in Canada have less than 2000 tickets sold - that's on Tony Khan

[Coletti]

33 minutes ago, Matt D said:

I hate to inform you but currently his hand, back, and leg are all injured from his grueling schedule. Did you not see Buddy Matthews work over his hand and Jay Lethal demolish his leg. And his back? He's one Roderick Strong match away from no longer having a spine. It doesn't bode well, let me tell you.

They should end his reign with him being in a complete body cast, and then do vignettes as he "recovers." 

[Elsalvajeloco]

2 minutes ago, Dolphman 3000 said:

If the arena gets its booking fee regardless of the crowd size, why would its management care how many fans show up?

Some of the Collision tapings in Canada have less than 2000 tickets sold - that's on Tony Khan

Anytime you go into a bigger venue and it's not near a casino or attached to one like MGM Grand or Michelob Ultra Arena (fka the Mandalay Bay Events Center), it's always going to be a little from column A, a little from Column B, and a little from Column C. Everyone has to pull their weight.

You don't want to be like a goddamn mausoleum cause that will be take away the allure of running there. When the Showtime Lakers were a thing, everyone wanted to run the fabolous Forum. Hell, they had boxing events there with major celebrities there ringside that weren't even on TV outside the LA area. Juxtapose that with the LA Sports Arena, which sadly doesn't have much history outside of oddly enough pro wrestling. When the Clippers moved to Staples Center and they couldn't get another major tenant, they couldn't wait to tear that piece of shit down. So yeah, you still have to do your job as a venue operator. 

It's on everyone to make this thing work.

[Stefanie Sparkleface]

7 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Thing is though what is the likelihood those circuses at the exact same time from a ticket sales standpoint are EQUALLY popular? MMA honestly is only the UFC. However, Bellator still goes in a lot the same venues that UFC does. In some cases, right after the UFC ran them. The UFC just did 24 or 25 straight major arena sellouts. If anything, those venues WANT more MMA because it's shown that if it's hot enough, you can do decent numbers even if it ain't UFC. 

Venues don't operate on the less is more mentality. Boxing runs arena shows week after week after week after. In the last 10 years, I can think of maybe seven or eight legit draws in boxing in North America. And half of them only fight really at either T-Mobile Arena or MGM Grand. There was a five year span in boxing where no one not named Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao could sell out an arena or even halfway fill up an arena. No one at the box office told one of these goddamn promoters, "man, that's enough."

Moreover, what the hell is the job of the arena itself? Their job is to market and advertise these acts. I know WWE is Rosemont Horizon and AEW is the United Center. However, if either company had a legit big event, you could do those shows within a month and a half of each other at either one of those venues. The fanbases are different enough with just enough overlap where you won't cannibalize each other.

I think we're speaking about two different situations here, because you keep bringing up larger cities with multiple venues like New York, Las Vegas, and Chicago, where this exclusivity wouldn't be affected, not to mention have a large enough population where two niche touring companies can run within the same city.

I'm thinking more of a city with one arena and a metro area less than 250k that might get one or two WWE or AEW shows a year. The chances of them falling within 4-6 weeks of each other is fairly moot anyway. Most arenas charge a flat fee for rental anyway - per ticket rental prices are rare unless the building knows they're going to make more money that way, in my experience with building rental, anyway - but the real big money item for arena is concessions. If you don't spread out your dates and your wrestling fans went to WWE in March, then they may not come to AEW in April, and there go your concession sales. But if they come to WWE in March, they might come to AEW in July...

Those exclusivity requests aren't for the major metropolitan hubs, really. They're for the smaller areas where the big arena is the minor league hockey arena that seats 8,000 that Cardi B wouldn't be caught dead in. And those are the venues where, yes, you might want to spread out your bookings some.

[Stefanie Sparkleface]

26 minutes ago, Dolphman 3000 said:

If the arena gets its booking fee regardless of the crowd size, why would its management care how many fans show up?

Some of the Collision tapings in Canada have less than 2000 tickets sold - that's on Tony Khan

Arenas make money on concessions. Lower turnout, lower concession sales, lower extra money in your pocket.

[zendragon]

On the subject of live entertainment post pandemic it seems a lot have bands have jumped from clubs to theatres and theatres to arenas. There’s still a hunger for live entertainment looming recession be damned 

[Elsalvajeloco]

45 minutes ago, Sparkleface said:

I think we're speaking about two different situations here, because you keep bringing up larger cities with multiple venues like New York, Las Vegas, and Chicago, where this exclusivity wouldn't be affected, not to mention have a large enough population where two niche touring companies can run within the same city.

You think when I speak of the WORLD REKNOWNED JimmyCrackCorn.com Memorial Civic Center, you're think I am thinking of Chicago? I cannot possibly name every city or town in the United States as an example. 

I am from the area if Mississippi that's closer to Memphis than the state capital. In that area, the only option is the FedExForum. The college team nearby plays there even. The Pyramid is a giant fish store. The Mid-South Coliseum is just sitting there and Memphis still hasn't decided what to do with it and it's been 20 years since someone ran there. You can go to the Landers Center, which is a hop, skip, and jump over the state line, but yeah, that's it.

However, if you go into other parts of Mississippi, you strangely enough have multiple arenas that are actually in good shape (which is why AEW is doing a show in Tupelo of all places). Guess what? The state of Mississippi aren't strong enough to support shit. Niche or otherwise. Economically, it hasn't been in multiple decades. Last I checked, it still ain't. Yet, these venues are booking pro wrestling shows (be it AEW or WWE), Trump rallies, Wild n Out tours, major music acts, comedy acts (black and white), etc. They ain't whole lot of holes in their schedule. Why? Cause if there were, they couldn't exist. 

So this whole well, if WWE comes hear this month, we got to wait three months to reload and get another pro wrestling show. It's based on absolutely nothing. Also, both companies have different routing. WWE now basically does three or four shows in four days in the SAME market (SD, two house shows if it is a SuperShow with both brands, and then normally Raw not too far away). So WWE is competing against ITSELF. AEW is doing one show in one market and most likely in another market for one show the next week. Sometimes, they do a show on the opposite end of the state the next week. But that's it. So how is that a market or an arena can support FOUR WWE shows all within 50-150 miles of each other in four consecutive days BUT NOT two shows from two distinctly DIFFERENT companies inside of a month. That's absolutely silly. Some of these markets aren't as bad off as Mississippi but they coming in damn close.

[Elsalvajeloco]

21 minutes ago, zendragon said:

On the subject of live entertainment post pandemic it seems a lot have bands have jumped from clubs to theatres and theatres to arenas. There’s still a hunger for live entertainment looming recession be damned 

Man, if EC3 and Braun had held out and waited, CYN would have taken over the world.

[Stefanie Sparkleface]

10 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

You think when I speak of the WORLD REKNOWNED JimmyCrackCorn.com Memorial Civic Center, you're think I am thinking of Chicago? I cannot possibly name every city or town in the United States as an example. 

I am from the area if Mississippi that's closer to Memphis than the state capital. In that area, the only option is the FedExForum. The college team nearby plays there even. The Pyramid is a giant fish store. The Mid-South Coliseum is just sitting there and Memphis still hasn't decided what to do with and it's been 20 years since someone ran there. You can go to the Landers Center, which is a hop, skip, and jump over the state line, but yeah, that's it.

However, if you go into other parts of Mississippi, you strangely enough have multiple arenas that are actually in good shape (which is why AEW is doing a show in Tupelo of all places). Guess what? The state of Mississippi aren't strong enough to support shit. Niche or otherwise. Economically, it hasn't been in multiple decades. Last I checked, it still ain't. Yet, these venues are booking pro wrestling shows (be it AEW or WWE), Trump rallies, Wild n Out tours, major music acts, comedy acts (black and white), etc. They ain't whole lot of holes in their schedule. Why? Cause if there were, they couldn't exist. 

So this whole well, if WWE comes hear this month, we got to wait three months to reload and get another pro wrestling show. It's based on absolutely nothing. Also, both companies have different routing. WWE now basically does three or four shows in four days in the SAME market (SD, two house shows if it is a SuperShow with both brands, and then normally Raw not too far away). So WWE is competing against ITSELF. AEW is doing one show in one market and most likely in another market for one show the next week. Sometimes, they do a show on the opposite end of the state the next week. But that's it. So how is that a market or an arena can support FOUR WWE shows all within 50-150 miles of each other in four consecutive days BUT NOT two shows from two distinctly DIFFERENT companies inside of a month. That's absolutely silly. Some of these markets aren't as bad off as Mississippi but they coming in damn close.

Pardon me for thinking that when you bring up Rosemont Horizon and United Center that you're bringing up Chicago. I must be thinking of the Rosemont Horizon in Philadelphia and the United Center in East Rutherford.

[Elsalvajeloco]

Just now, Sparkleface said:

Pardon me for thinking that when you bring up Rosemont Horizon and United Center that you're bringing up Chicago. I must be thinking of the Rosemont Horizon in Philadelphia and the United Center in East Rutherford.

I dunno if you made it through 5th grade geography...probably didn't, but the United States is a very large place in landmass and population. Your failure to understand that is probably why you have to deflect to this.

[Stefanie Sparkleface]

2 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

I dunno if you made it through 5th grade geography...probably didn't, but the United States is a very large place in landmass and population. Your failure to understand that is probably why you have to deflect to this.

I'm not sure why you're getting heated about this. We have a difference of opinion and I was trying to lighten the situation. My apologies. Have a good evening.

[Elsalvajeloco]

Just now, Sparkleface said:

I'm not sure why you're getting heated about this. We have a difference of opinion and I was trying to lighten the situation. My apologies. Have a good evening.

Yes, the ole lighten up a situation by being very sarcastic. I used that one a lot in high school, actually.

[Octopus]

Guys. Of course you’re both getting heated. Mama Octopus always said at a dinner party you never talk politics, religion, or venue scheduling.

[Casey]

2 hours ago, Matt D said:

Ok, someone better be taping this Tupelo card

Now it's...

• Britt vs Ruby
• Stat vs Anna
• Storm vs Skye
• Caster vs Pat Buck
• Lethal/Satnam vs The Boys
• OC/Darby vs Bill/Ethan Page
• Dax vs Garcia

Yet another card where I want to see everything.

It would appear that Hook & the Hardys versus Juice, Fletcher & Vance is a match that happened too.

[Elsalvajeloco]

Just now, Octopus said:

Guys. Of course you’re both getting heated. Mama Octopus always said at a dinner party you never talk politics, religion, or venue scheduling.

You forgot Pitbull.

Now, if it was Pitbull #1 or #2...that's a different story. But just Pitbull. No sir.

[Octopus]

1 minute ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

You forgot Pitbull.

Now, if it was Pitbull #1 or #2...that's a different story. But just Pitbull. No sir.

There’s something to limits 

[Dolphman 3000]

1 minute ago, Sparkleface said:

I'm not sure why you're getting heated about this.

 

Dunning-Kruger

[Casey]

Just now, Dolphman 3000 said:

 

Dunning-Kruger

Bold strategy Cotton - let’s see if it pays off.

[Elsalvajeloco]

1 minute ago, Octopus said:

There’s something to limits 

Damn right.

That is unless you're a Villano. Then, there are like 70 of you.

FYI: Did you know Villano is Spanish for villain?

[Octopus]

1 minute ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Damn right.

That is unless you're a Villano. Then, there are like 70 of you.

FYI: Did you know Villano is Spanish for villain?

Only ask me that question in the Ask Octopus Anything thread

it’s a conflict of interest here

[Kevin Wilson]

I don't follow Japanese wrestling as closely as I used to, is there a backstory on why Shibata wrestles in AEW but not in New Japan? Since 1/4/22 he has zero New Japan matches and six matches under the AEW umbrella. I know about his injury history of course and why he doesn't wrestle regularly, does New Japan just not feel comfortable using him but don't mind if other promotions do? Is he even officially signed with New Japan or a Freelancer that affiliates with them?

[Elsalvajeloco]

Just now, Kevin Wilson said:

I don't follow Japanese wrestling as closely as I used to, is there a backstory on why Shibata wrestles in AEW but not in New Japan? Since 1/4/22 he has zero New Japan matches and six matches under the AEW umbrella. I know about his injury history of course and why he doesn't wrestle regularly, does New Japan just not feel comfortable using him but don't mind if other promotions do? Is he even officially signed with New Japan or a Freelancer that affiliates with them?

Doesn't he live and work technically in the United States now? He probably would prefer to not be on long flights back and forth.

[Casey]

He did an interview with Tokyo Sports after winning the Pure title - he’s been back living in Japan for a year or two. He comes back to the US weekly or every other week usually. Which is insane.

And he re-signed with New Japan earlier this year I believe.

[Elsalvajeloco]

I can't see that being too feasible going forward unless New Japan is paying him to do that.