A few lucky fans will get a unique opportunity to chop it up with Cody Rhodes in Las Vegas. Some are criticizing how much that opportunity actually costs. Is it a valid issue, though?
On Location, WWE’s Official Fan Hospitality Partner, recently advertised a Cody Rhodes Bus Tour package. The experience will give a few lucky fans the chance to tour Rhodes’ “Liberty 1” tour bus.
“Take an unforgettable tour with “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes! This exclusive Cody Rhodes Bus Tour will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the electric atmosphere of WrestleMania, complete with personal stories from Cody himself,” the listing stated. “Get a rare glimpse of the production, fan zones, and restricted areas as Cody shares his experiences, inspirations, and mindset leading into WWE’s biggest event of the year. Each guest will receive a limited-edition commemorative item, along with the chance for a brief one-on-one interaction and photo with Cody.”
The package, available for 12 guests total, was listed at $9,950 per person, and it includes the following perks:
A ride along with Cody Rhodes as he drives a bus to 1-2 iconic Las Vegas landmarks, accompanied by a professional Las Vegas tour guide, a WrestleMania behind-the-scenes experience, and a commemorative gift.
Fans criticized the price of the Cody Rhodes Bus Tour experience
The response to the package has been mixed, with some criticizing how much the bus tour was listed for.
“You used to be able to get experiences like this as part of the top travel package – which, including EVERYTHING (Mania tickets, Raw tickets, SD tickets, NXT tickets, hotel, WWE World/Axxess VIPs and a reception with food and m&gs) was still like half as cheap as this,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “Hell, I went to the Peformance [sic] Center in 2017 as part of the package, which was priceless compared to this.”
“For $10,000, you’d better let me drive that bus everywhere and drop me off at my hotel,” Justlayingdown_ said on Instagram. JLD also said knowing more logistical details might make it worth it, and they’ve done On Location experiences before. However, the amount is still pretty high.
Running at nearly $10,000 per person sounds like a lot of money for a meet-and-greet. But, as some pointed out, it’s meant to be a premium experience. You’re basically visiting Cody Rhodes’ home away from home; that’s not “just” a meet-and-greet.
One fan tried to make the comparison between paying $130 to meet AEW’s Hangman Adam Page and nearly $10,000 for the tour bus package. That post resulted in an almost tribalistic debate about AEW vs. WWE.
Is this really something to get upset over?
No matter how you feel about the price of this experience, there are some important things to remember. First, Cody isn’t setting the price; On Location is. Cody Rhodes has always been about the fans and goes out of his way to make WWE fans’ experiences memorable. If you’re mad at him, you might want to re-evaluate things.
Second, you can’t really even be mad at them for charging this much when people are willing to pay that much for it. The Cody Rhodes Bus Tour is for 12 people; it’s really meant to be a limited or exclusive experience. On Location also has a Cody Rhodes live podcast recording package with Liv Morgan available. That one is $550 per person, and it’s limited to 50 people. (If you really want to get upset, there’s a 2-day package with a bunch of perks starting at $37,500.00)
Finally — it’s sold out, so it clearly appeals to fans who have the money for the experience. It might not be for you, but it’s not meant to be for everyone.
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