WWE isnâ€t running as many live shows as they used to—but the ones they do run are turning into serious cash grabs, and John Cenaâ€s farewell tour is only fueling the fire.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer broke down the current state of WWEâ€s live event business and how the company is using scarcity to boost ticket revenue. According to Meltzer, fewer house shows have created more demand for the companyâ€s TV tapings and premium events—and prices have skyrocketed.
“Nick Khan today was talking about that he feels that the combination of eliminating the house shows has made the product more scarce. So because the product is more scarce, thereâ€s more demand for tickets to these shows that they are doing, like the TV tapings and obviously the pay-per-view shows. And [it] has enabled them to raise the price because of the scarcity.â€
That strategy has turned out to be highly effective. Meltzer said that ticket prices across the board have doubled, and WWE will continue raising prices as long as fans keep paying on the secondary market.
“As long as ticket sales are good, inherently, based on the law of supply and demand, the tickets are not priced too high. And as long as the secondary market prices for tickets are higher than the face value, the next time they come to town, ticket prices are probably likely to be higher… WWE ticket prices have doubled.â€
And while some markets like Salt Lake City didnâ€t deliver, Meltzer pointed to John Cenaâ€s final run as a major driver behind WWEâ€s current financial momentum. The veteranâ€s goodbye run is pushing ticket demand into uncharted territory.
“This next Mondayâ€s RAW in Boston is obviously going to be really big. The week after, in the Garden, is going to be even bigger. And then the DC show on December 13 is going to be… most likely the largest arena-sized gate in the history of professional wrestling.â€
With fewer shows and ticket prices hitting new highs, WWE is leaning heavily on premium attractions like Cena to justify the cost—and fans are still buying. Itâ€s a strategy that works for now, but once Cena is gone, the company may need to find a new ace to keep the gates packed.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you think WWEâ€s price hikes are fair or are they squeezing fans too hard? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
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