20. The Show Experienced Rapid Growth Within Year One
The success of Raw was sudden, with fan demand causing the concept and venue to change within the year. The first eight shows were at the Manhattan Center, but the location was then moved to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York. The capacity was 3,000 fans, which was three times what the Manhattan Center had been filling. Still, it retained the sense of an intimate atmosphere. By the end of the year, the small scale concept was abandoned completely. In September 1993, Raw was hosted in front of 12,000 fans at Connecticut's New Haven Coliseum. It became a touring road show shortly after, albeit to mostly smaller buildings. Vince McMahon knew he'd created a new sensation.
