Future WrestleMania at Michigan Stadium? Mentioned by WWE

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.

I will personally sprinkle gasoline on the 50 yard line to torch the place before WWE befouls Michigan Stadium.

HELLLLL NOOOOOO!

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.

Title makes it seem like it's a done deal.

Thank god it isn't.

As someone who lives close to the stadium this is terrifying. While it would bring in a ton of money for the school and town, I frankly don't want 100,000+ drunk WWE fans roaming around where I live.

loves the idea

Money, money, money, money!!

Don't we already have enough useless stuff to freak out about?

That being said   <FREAK THE F OUT>

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.

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.

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?

...just make the Ohio game UTL!

Scott Steiner vs. Mike Martin?

a massive stadium and has been enjoyed by many, but I don't believe that means it is for anytlhing and everyone.  Nothing against the WWE, but Yost, Bo and even marketing master  Don Canham would frown on this.  Just my opinion.

IF YOU EAT YOUR VITAMINS, SAY YOUR PRAYERS, YOU CAN TEE-OFF ON YOUR FRIENDS FUTURE EX-WIFE ON VIDEO!

I'm sure hosting it would pour a shit ton of much welcomed money into the city as well as a hefty cut to the university, both of which are never a bad thing.  

That being said, in my middle school years, I watched wrestling religiously, until I was old enough to comprehend it's inaneness.  Thus, I'm quite aware of the type of "clientele" the WWE attracts. So, selfishly, as someone who considers the Big House hallowed ground and loves the "non WWE-ness" of the city of Ann Arbor...

It would be interesting and I'd be for it. The ring would look very small from the last couple rows, though.

It WILL be wrestling every Saturday in the not too distant future.

Next up at the big house, monster truck races!

I'm going to pretend this thread never happened.

Someone needs to explain to Herm all this.

But stick with Ford Field.

But stick with Ford Field.

I'm burning my diploma.

But seriously, why do people still watch WWE?

Sure, wrestling sucks, but if Brandon can make a shiny nickel for the Dept and subsequently reduce the ticket pri.... huh?  They will pocket the cash and still raise ticket prices?

I'm out.

There, I mentioned this hope on the internet. It's going to happen now, right?

I think this would be absolutely hilarious....

Is this Dave Brandon bein a rascal? Or who do I snicker at now?

This makes about as much sense as wine and cheese tasting at the Ohio State Fair.

The Big House and The City of Ann Arbor do not have the infrastructure to pull an event like this off.  Sure, we fit 111,000 people in the big house every Saturday in the Fall, but a very large portion of these are students and locals who walk to games.  I would expect a miniscule porportion of Ann Arbor to attend.  As far as I know, there simply isn't enough hotel space + parking to have an event this big (assuming it would be ~125000).

Also, cliche aside, The University of Michigan and WWE mix together as well as water and oil.

Dale Torborg played baseball at NU ('Cats not Corn') and was a wrestler in the WCW Monday Nitro "The Demon".



/cool story bro!

Pretty sure an meteor impact would be preferable

I don't know all about Wrestlemania, and really don't want to anytime soon.

Lots of hate in this thread.  The prevailing theme seems to be that it's beneath us to allow these dirty immature WWE fans into our totally pure and clean Ann Arbor and loan to them our crown jewel, the Big House, which has NEVER seen a rowdy crowd or a drunk person.  Ever.

I get where it's coming from, kinda, but really, we have a kickass stadium - the biggest in the US - and it only gets used a single-digit number of times per year, and not at all for the majority of the year.  I really don't see it being as big a problem as others seem to.

YOU JUST ADMITTED YOU WATCH MONDAY NIGHT RAW AHAHAHAHA! (its ok im watching it now too)

On the one hand there's the downsides: the crowd could potentially be drunken rowdy rednecks/spartans/buckeyes/juggalos/morons. Michigan stadium is hallowed ground and this would disgrace the stadium. Wrestling is "beneath" Michigan.  Based on the number of downvotes in this topic, obviously there is a lot of negativity to this idea.

On the other hand, when I was a student (00-03), I knew plenty of people that were students of UM that watched the WWE and ordered pay per views every time there was one, and threw parties for said PPV events. So there are wrestling fans on campus (or at least there were a decade ago) so it's not as beneath UM as some people may think.  It will sell out for sure, which will bring in a ton of revenue for UM, as well as for the surrounding businesses with an influx of money and tourists in April, not exactly a boom time for many of our local businesses as they are about to face the slow summer season before Football rolls around.  Also, as mentioned, it would be pretty nifty for Michigan to hold the attendence records for an entertainment event, a football game, and a hockey game, all at the same venue.  

I know there are many that would oppose this though so I don't know if it would happen, but if it does happen lets hope it is for Wrestlemania XL, because why not have the event XL at the largest stadium in the US?

For the record I no longer follow the WWE, but I used to watch it as a kid and teen. If they do stage the event and my son is old enough and watches wrestling by then, I would try to get tickets for his sake.

Only if they play "In the Big House" before, during, and after the event.

Jesus the level of hypocrisy on this board is astounding. It's okay to cheer like a madman as 18-22 year olds slam into each other at top speed all for the sake of entertainment but God forbid the Big House hosts an event where paid adults do the same in the name of spectacle.



I don't watch wrestling anymore, but considering Madison Square Garden is the de facto home base for the WWF, maybe we should dial down the "too good for wrestling" comments.

if the cost wasn't too high. WWE, like it or not, is probanly a big deal to some. Personally, I think it would be pretty cool to at least experience it in person just once, to see what it's about. At the Big House would be neat too. It would never make me a WWE fan, but still. Maybe it builds character or something.



I don't see this "tarnishing" the Big House. I mean, who remembered Ford Field as having an attendance record for WWE before this thread? Few, everyone just knows it as the Lions stadium. It's just one of those events that needs a stadium, and in this case it happens to be ours.

No thank you.

Michigan State playing Ohio State in the Big House.

Not cool man, not cool.

                  and graduation.  No hockey, weddings, and hence no WrestleMania.  That said, I was at 'Mania in Detroit and it kicked ass.  Everyone complaining about the "type" of wrestling fan is an idiot.  There are idiot fans of everything, including Michigan football.  I know we wish every Michigan fan was a Michigan man and blah blah . . .  but that's simply not the case.  No different for pro-wrestling.  Or maybe I'm just biased because I'm one of those redneck, hillbilly wrestling fans.  Even three Michigan diplomas can't wash the white trash outta me.  Oh well.  I'll take the crowd at Wrestlemania over the crowd at the Blind Pig any day of the week. 

First, thanks for posting this.  Don't know why you're getting downvoted.  It's not April 1 so I have to assume this has at least a grain of validity. (clicks on link ) My God.  The WWE has a pic of Michigan Stadium front and center.

I will start by saying I was at the Pontiac Silverdome Wrestlemania.  I was  a youngster.  Wrestling was in its heyday, and kids thought it was real.   Hulk Hogan bodyslammed and pinned Andre The Giant and it was great.

Having said that...  if Brandon allows this to happen...  guh,  I have no words.  NO.  Just NO.

What about the mountain of cash it would bring the athletic department? Maybe it helps fund a few line items, so they can avoid raising ticket prices for a season. Just spitballing here but either way, more revenue is typically not a bad thing.

Thought the goal was WOW experiences.

I am not a wrestling fan, but goddamn I would go to this.

And seriously, what makes those of you who claim that it would be all MSU/OSU/etc. fans truly believe that a more significant percentage of those fanbases are WWE fans than Michigan? I have a feeling that if this were to happen, there will be just as many, if not more, UM fans in attendance than those of MSU or OSU. Plus, if tickets aren't too terribly priced, I think a fair number of current students would go just for the novelty of it all.

Open up the student section to the students. That would be sweet to see the corner all maized out!!!

If they are bringing theatre to the Big House, could they at least bring back the Royal Shakespeare Company instead?

Stereotypes are a real time saver!

This would be great. Weather is a concern; I think we'll see how far this idea moves forward after this here's event in NJ.

And for those knocking this idea as not being good enough for UM, there are numerous people on this very site who freak out when teenagers lose a football game. Let's pump the brakes a bit on the high and mighty tone.

I think there are a few logistical concerns, the one about hotel spaces has already been mentioned. The other one I see is how would WWE get their massive stage into to the stadium? I've heard large concerts cannot go to the Big House because of how smaller the 1 tunnel is.

If they could figure it out, I think it'd be fun. I was at Wretlemania the last time it was in Detroit and it was one hell of a time.

I would be hung over for weeks after.. Not even a fan of rassling, but I'd be there! I want to DDT Suburban Meijer!

...how would people feel about flooding Michigan Stadium to recreate the Battle of Lake Erie?  I think that would be pretty cool.

Can pop evil play?

Obviously there are divergent opinions on the idea of the WWE at the Big House but , in general, I like the idea of events at the Big House (and I do live in the immediate vicinity). I guess the big question is whether on not there's any word from the AD about such an idea.

Personally, whatever brings people, recognition, and imo money into the area is a good deal.  Anytime that 100,000+ people are packed into that venue and we get worldwide TV coverage, that's a good deal.

The same issues that prevent the Big House from playing host to large scale rock concerts and other similar events would prevent the WWE from bringing Wrestlemania here too...
Mainly - it's a physical issue.  The tunnel isn't big enough for trucks to bring equipment in, so any stage set up, sound system, and lighting rigs, would have to be dropped in via crane, or broken down to smallest parts and carried in for re-assembly, making any such production cost-prohibitive.

and that's fine by me.

I went to Wrestlemania 23 at Ford Field when I was in 8th grade.

I would buy tickets no matter what it took!

I haven't had time to reply to this thread but this is something I think would be pretty cool.  A couple things right off the bat:  I am a U of M Alum and a WWE fan, so yes, people who graduated from Michigan can like the WWE.

I've followed wrestling almost my whole life.  My dad was a fan when he first immigrated to the US and would go once a month to Madison Square Garden to watch the events.  When he moved to Michigan, he would be the ring doctor at local events (he met the Junk Yard Dog for old school wrestling fans).

People will say all of this is fake.  I wouldn't go with fake but rather staged.  Professional Wrestlers for the most part are incredible athletes who put their bodies on the line everyday.  Yes, the outcome is predetermined but that does not mean they don't risk injury every match.

I think this would be great for Ann Arbor.  The event would be the first weekend of April which isn't a busy time for the city.  WrestleMania would probably sell 125,000-140,000 tickets to the event, shattering any American record for largest crowd.  The amount of money that both the University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor would make cannot be ignored.

I understand many people are worried about drunk rednecks who would come to the Big House.  Yes, those type of fans exist but they aren't the only ones.  I've been to a few WWE events including two PPVs and the crowd is mostly kids and their families.  WWE is huge with children and having young kids come to the Big House to watch WrestleMania would only help Michigan's brand with the young.

Do I think this will happen, No.  Ann Arbor simply cannot handle that many people for a whole week (for WrestleMania, there is a full week of events throughout the hosting city).  To have it in Ann Arbor, you would have to lean on Detroit as well.  I would expect most of the fan events that happen the week of WrestleMania to take place in Detroit.  WrestleMania at the Big House and Monday Night Raw the following night in Detroit as well.

Before they even think about doing a WrestleMania in the Big House, I think they should first try doing a house show or a weekly televised show in Crysler.