World Wrestling Entertainment issued the following press release this morning:
WWE(R)’s WrestleMania(R) 22 Results Live Up To ”Big Time” Theme
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 17, 2006–World Wrestling Entertainment®’s WrestleMania 22 proved to be a global blockbuster success. WWE said preliminary estimates to date of world-wide pay-per-view buys for WrestleMania 22 are more than 925,000, putting the event on track to exceed one million pay-per-view buys for the third straight year. The event broke Allstate Arena box office and merchandise sales records. The release of the WrestleMania 22 DVD on May 23, 2006, will add to that success, as it is likely to become the WWE’s best-selling DVD ever.
“WrestleMania 22 was a big time performance and our fans support was again exceptional,” said Kurt Schneider, Executive Vice President, Marketing. “From pay-per-view buys to live event ticket sales to merchandise purchases to global media coverage, everything for WrestleMania 22 screamed ‘Big Time’ and further cemented the WrestleMania franchise and the WWE brand as perennial favorites in pop culture.”
WrestleMania 22 was seen by millions in more than 90 countries worldwide, and was broadcast live to U.S. troops around the world by the Armed Forces Television Network. More than 17,155 people from 16 countries and 43 states attended Rosemont’s Allstate Arena in Chicago, Ill. to see WrestleMania 22 in person. The $2.5 million in ticket sales made it the highest grossing one-day event in the history of the Allstate Arena. Merchandise sales the day of WrestleMania 22 also established a new record for an event at the Allstate Arena. WWE’s per capita sales of $26.70 at WrestleMania 22 more than doubled the previous Allstate Arena record held by rock band Metallica.
Hundreds of national, local and regional media outlets from around the world – such as Sports Illustrated, ABC News, MTV, CNN, Telemundo, Univision, Tokyo Sports, and Nippon Sports — reported on WrestleMania 22, with media from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan in attendance at the event.
WrestleMania 23 is scheduled for Sunday, April 1, 2007, at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. The return to Detroit will mark the 20th anniversary of WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome, an event that attracted 93,173 fans–believed to be the world indoor attendance record for any sports or entertainment event.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE – News) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.
