50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble
33. 1997’s Crowd Came From Nowhere
Check out these attendances for every Rumble to date: 18,000 (1988), 19,000 (1989), 16,000 (1990), 16,000 (1991), 17,000 (1992), 16,000 (1993), 14,500 (1994), 10,000 (1995) and 9,600 (1996). Notice anything? The live gates trended downwards following the boom period of the late-80s. By the mid-90s, WWF business had hit the skids and was in the midst of a serious lull.
That's why it was so shocking when the promotion booked the huge Alamodome for 1997's Royal Rumble. Even more surprising, they managed to pull in over 60,000 folks for the show. Yep, the WWF papered the house significantly in days before the event, and they ran several discounted ticket promotions, but putting that many bums in seats at all considering the climate was an achievement.
Look at 1995 and 1996's numbers again for context. They were just 12 months removed from a 9,600 house in Fresno, California. January '97's attendance in San Antonio, Texas was more than 6 times that. You don't even need to go back a full year to see low gates - In Your House 12: It's Time from December 1996 pulled just 5,000 and change through the turnstiles.
McMahon was taking a sizeable risk by booking such a cavernous building during a time when tickets were hardly flying out the door. He banked on hometown hero Shawn Michaels as a draw, and hoped people would be invested enough in the Rumble itself to come out and see what was happening. The gamble paid off.
Papering or not, the 1997 Rumble looked fantastic on camera and was a great look for the company overall.