Future WrestleMania at Michigan Stadium? Mentioned by WWE
I'm sure all of you on here are familiar with WrestleMania and how it is the Super Bowl of the WWE. The Pontiac Silverdome hosted it in '87 and set the national indoor attendance record at 93,173.
It returned to the state 20 years later at Ford Field and holds the Ford Field attendance record at 80,103. The event is a global attraction and brings in people from all over the world.
Anyways, on the WWE's official site, they put up and article about 10 venues that should host WrestleMania. And #5 on the list is none other than Michigan Stadium. Here is what is says-
One of the most revered stadiums in all of college football, the home of the University of Michigan Wolverines certainly lives up to its moniker, “The Big House.” With an official capacity of 109,901, Michigan Stadium is the largest outdoor stadium in the United States and third-largest in the world, making it an ideal host for WrestleMania and the WWE Universe.
In addition to being the home to the university’s storied football program, the massive complex hosts the institute’s commencement ceremonies, and has housed outdoor hockey games. “The Big House” also holds an NCAA attendance record of 114,804 during the September 2011 battle between Michigan and Notre Dame. Expanding the capacity onto the field area to surround the ring on The Grandest Stage of Them All would undoubtedly shatter that record, and create an unrivaled atmosphere of electricity. Not to mention, “WrestleMania in The Big House” is a great slogan.
The thing that makes me want to mention this is that WWE doesn't exactly throw names around for no reason. They only have their events at large stadiums and have just announced WrestleMania next year to be at the Superdome.
I think this is a serious concern and it has a better chance of happening than most people think. Michigan's athletic department would make a fortune on this if they were to loan WWE The Big House for one night.
The Winter Classic and the Polar Plunge benefiting the Special Olympics are two events that point to future events being held at the stadium. The current WrestleMania attendance record was set at the Silverdome. No doubt, Michigan would SHATTER that record. Not only would the athletic department benefit largely from hosting it but the Ann Arbor community as well.
I don't think sightlines are a concern because there have been many stadium WrestleManias. Silverdome in (1987), Reliant Stadium (2001, 2009), SkyDome (2002), Safeco Field (2003), Ford Field (2007), Citrus Bowl (2008), University of Phoenix Stadium (2010), Georgia Dome (2011), Sun Life Stadium (2012) and Met Life Stadium this year in April.
I really have no opinion on this. I'm more in shock than anything. Just wanted to leave this here and get some thoughts on it.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:50 PM ^
My 1st though is that it fits sparty or ohio a bit more than UM, b/c I grew out of WWF when I was 12.
But then, they could get 125,000 in there and it would be a pretty cool event. weather would be an issue tho.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
They're generally held in March/April. This years is going to be outdoors at Met Life Stadium in April. I'm really interested to see how that works out.
That's also where Super Bowl XLVIII is going to be.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:30 AM ^
They're in April.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:03 PM ^
Calls wrestling immature, says "ohio" in the same sentence.
[head_asplode]
February 18th, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^
i'm just going by their preferred terminology.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
Eh, yeah, but I don't know.
I wouldn't call the "Ohio" thing immature at all. At the same time, I personally am tired of it. I think it used to be funny at times, but at the same time there is an Ohio that is not Ohio State.
More importantly, OSU fans mock us calling them Ohio. There is a certain MSU inferiority complex there I think. That's just my view - I know it's not a popular one here, but hopefully I've articulated why I don't like it.
February 18th, 2013 at 11:23 PM ^
Ya I've seen it going on for awhile now, just never was a fan of it personally. People can say whatever they want. Just not my thing.
February 19th, 2013 at 12:07 AM ^
I'm too lazy to say State now for Ohio...and too lazy to type it also.
Their fans can suck it, also, since all I hear from them is scUM and Walverine.
This latter comment offends me since, of late, I've been getting my Michigan gear at Meijer.
February 19th, 2013 at 8:36 AM ^
Even shorter than "Ohio." Problem solved........
And I don't see too many OSU fans saying "scUM" or "Walverine." Just "TSUN" which is not really all that offensive, IMO.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
Clearly you don't visit message boards or blogs that are not pro-Michigan because "scUM" is pretty much buckeye fans' favorite thing to call Michigan. Try the ESPN forums; you will see nothing but "scUM" from buckeye assholes. It doesn't offend me, but they use it a lot.
Look, each fan base has nick names for the other school; that's just the way it is.
pOSU, scUM, TTUN/TSUN, Ohio, Walverine (although that is mainly used by Sparty fans because they're the ones with the inferoiority complex)
February 19th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
Ohio fans mock us for everything we do, regardless of good taste, bad taste, or in between. If it's good enough for Brady Hoke, and it's good enough for the team, I feel it would be rather presumptuous of me to say that I should be "above" it.
February 19th, 2013 at 8:46 AM ^
February 19th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
hahaha, good point
February 18th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
I will personally sprinkle gasoline on the 50 yard line to torch the place before WWE befouls Michigan Stadium.
HELLLLL NOOOOOO!
February 19th, 2013 at 4:46 AM ^
would not be my thing, either. No, no, a thousand times no.
February 19th, 2013 at 8:33 AM ^
I have a feeling that the sort of people that poop in coolers are the same sort of people that watch WWE. This is not the sort of people we want in Michigan Stadium.
No, just no.
We shouldn't burn the place down though...
February 19th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^
I am a married dude who is 31 and have a job. I'm a responsible person and professional when it comes to my job. I like WWE. Stop stereotyping.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
I have doubts they would be able to fill it with expanded seating on the field. The last thing they want is something short of a sell out. I don't particularyly see this happening. Bonus rumor dousing: Wrestlemania is held in March if memory serves. You want to roll the dice on an outdoor event in Michigan in March? I would not recommend it.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^
February 19th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
They have no problem selling out NFL venues and creating a resale market with tickets scalped for $100+. The event is huge and they would have no problem filling in the field with people.
Wrestlemania is a days, possibly week long event now too leading up to the event. They have fan events for days beforehand. Just like the Superbowl. People travel from all over the world for it. I'm sure selling it out would not be a problem.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
Title makes it seem like it's a done deal.
Thank god it isn't.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:54 PM ^
Sorry about that. I just changed it,
February 18th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^
As a counterpoint, there are usually 100,000 drunk fans on Saturday mornings in the fall... Granted, there is a difference between the average Michigan football fan and the average WWE fan, but I don't think that they would be any worse than Sparty or Ohio fans coming to town. I've been to a WWE event before, and it wasn't anything like you'd expect. It was more little kids than anything else (Side note: I took my 10 year old cousin to a couple of events last year).
February 18th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^
A huge number of WWE fans these days are kids. Although there would be plenty of rednecks to worry about, a very large portion would be dads and their 5-12 year olds.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:46 AM ^
Some of you people are acting like WWE fans are complete trash and red neck people. That isn't so. Just because you don't like the company doesn't mean you have to stereotype by saying blanket statements like that. WWE is one of the most successful companies in the world for a reason. They're obviously doing something correct. Monday Night Raw is the longest running show in the history of television.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^
What he said. It's not like it used to be in the late 90s where you had people being crucified (literally, that happened), set on fire, have crap dumped on them, people bleeding all over the place and nudity.
It's a PG product now and is geared towards kids like it was in the 80s and early 90s.
Plus they're big partners with the Make a Wish foundation and do the anti bullying campaign (which is ironic being it's WRESTLING).
February 19th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^
Keep in mind that about one-third to one-half of the audience would be kids, so your claim is outrageous.
February 19th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^
Wrestling fans are far closer to a Comic Con crowd than a Hell's Angels rally. I think your experience would be far less than "terrifying." Annoying at worst.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:54 PM ^
loves the idea
Money, money, money, money!!
February 19th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
I'm so sick of people complaining that "it's all about money." Yes, obviously it is. That is the way the world works. Do you know why Dave Brandon agreed to have the NHL WInter Classic in the Big House? Because he is going to get a nice fat check from the NHL. Stop bitching about money. Money is good for the athletic department and in particular, the football program. Ohio State has one of the richest (if not the richest) athletic departments in all of the NCAA. I want Michigan to be like that. Money drives everything. This is how the world has been for centuries, ever since the idea of money came to be.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:53 PM ^
Don't we already have enough useless stuff to freak out about?
That being said <FREAK THE F OUT>
February 18th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
Please. No.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
I still think it sad that one of their events at Ford Field holds an attendance record over the Lions. I doubt they could top the 114K+ from the UTL though.
EDIT: Awright! Whoeva flamebaited this; I challenge you to a cage match while wearing throwback singlets. Unless it's Herm, because his would be authentic and he would likely eat the turnbuckle stuffing in classic George "The Animal" Steele fashion.
February 18th, 2013 at 10:12 PM ^
The reason they break the attendance records is because they have seating on the field. If it does come to Ann Arbor, they would probably break the UTL attendance.
February 18th, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^
What would it break? WWE is entertainment. UTL holds the world record for attendance at an American football game. If anything, The Big House would hold 3 world records.
Football, Hockey and Entertainment.
February 18th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
I can assure you that the world record for attendance at an "entertainment" event is much higher than 100,000. It is probably higher than 500,000. Michigan Stadium will not hold the world record for attendance at an "entertainment" event.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
The record would be for an entertainment event in a confined facility....still don't know if they would break it but they wouldn't be comparing it to Woodstock
February 19th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
Is there such a record? I know that Guinness lists the largest crowd for a wrestling "entertainment event" as 190,000 in Pyongyang, North Korea, in a "Confined Facility" (the stadium, not the country).
Michigan Stadium will not break the Guinness record for attendance at a wrestling event.
February 19th, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
No idea, the words confined facility were mine and I wasn't quoting anything. Just pointing out the difference between something like this and a Woodstock-style event
February 19th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
Yeah, but Kim Jong il counted the gate at the North Korea show.
February 18th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
Catering to the lowest common demoninator is mutually exclusive to "The Leaders and Best".
Yes, it sounds like I'm in the "sit down, your blocking my view while I doff my ascott whilst tippling on my sherry" demographic, but holy jeebus, if Dave Brandon can't understand the difference between the Wings v. the Leafs, versus a steroid-filled soap opera for the 16-25 year-old demographic befouling one of the Holy Grails of college football...
February 19th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
Seriously, your arrogance is astounding. Just because you do not care for something doesn't mean you should act as if anyone who approves of it is a lower form of life.
I think this is a wonderful idea. Just think of the amount of money that would be brought in to Ann Arbor from all over the world. Think what you will of the WWE, but having Wrestlemania in a city brings in to an area. In many ways the event has an effect similar to the Super Bowl. This year's event is expected to bring in over $100 million to the New York area. You can't laugh off that kind of money.
February 19th, 2013 at 8:35 AM ^
We don't tipple on sherry, it's cognac, VSOP or better. Didn't you get the memo?
...and yeah, I get the difference. No WWE.
February 19th, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^
February 19th, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^
True, but at least hockey is an actual athletic competition. Wrestling is just a soap opera on steroids. If we're going to put the stadium out for hire, let's at least draw the line at actual athletic competitions.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
You really think WWE isn't about being athletic. Get the fuck out of here. You look like a fool with that post. These guys (yes, some use steroids...whatever, I don't care. WWE wants big dudes, that's how it's been for decades) are EXTREMELY athletic...well most of them.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
I don't think it could be possible to host that type of event that early in the year, and I doubt it would sell out with alot of the big names that are dropping off the WWE roster due to retirement recently.
February 19th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
There are plenty of big names in WWE right now. You just don't know them because you don't watch. Yes, the big names from the 90s and early aughts are retiring, but one great thing about WWE is they know how to develop talent. There are plenty of young guys who are great at what they do. CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler are two prime examples.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
Iran is mentioned as a possible location on the very next slide, making me doubt the sincerity of the whole slideshow.
Also, they mention Notre Dame Stadium as a possible host. I actually like that idea. Where better to host a fake event than at a stadium that is built on myths?