10 Big Questions About Future Of WWE’s UK Brand
8. Where Will The Shows Be Held?
The Empress Ballroom was a smart choice of venue for the UK Title Tournament. WWE have been known to run shows there in the past, and the building has a rich vein of history. From hosting Queen’s first ever headlining tour to providing a venue for the World Matchplay darts tournament, it’s walls have many a story to tell, and it’s a beautiful old building.
Staying rooted to the same spot might not be the best idea, however. The tournament was a one-off special attraction, and that’s why it was able to sell-out. If WWE became the norm in Blackpool, there’d be less incentive for fans to go out of their way to see it, and the audiences would slowly diminish. That’s not to say they’d evaporate altogether, but the law of diminishing returns would certainly come into play.
There are a number of other suitable venues across the country, with London’s Royal Albert Hall proving a particularly notable wrestling venue over the past few years. Taking the show on the road might be exactly what WWE need to do to keep audience (and enthusiasm) levels high, but this would obviously mean increased costs. Tacking the UK show onto the end of SmackDown (as WWE do with 205 Live) isn’t an option, making this a problem WWE must address.