TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro has addressed a number of topics, including WWE and UFC events.
Fans have noticed a number of changes to live events and the schedule in general following the sale of the pro wrestling company to Endeavor in 2023. The change that has generated the most backlash was the steep hike in ticket prices, especially for international events and the biggest shows of the year.
With tickets for the likes of WrestleMania and SummerSlam going for tens of thousands of dollars for the prime sections and the nosebleeds pricing out many, fans have often taken to social media to express their displeasure over how much tickets cost. Additionally, WWE star Randy Orton looked stunned when 2 fans informed him of the amount of money they paid for WrestleMania tickets.
While the steep costs continue to cause outrage among some fans, Shapiro’s latest update indicates that ticket prices will remain at a premium until further notice. While speaking at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications conference in Boston, Shapiro stated that the ticket pricing has a “tremendous upside” along with site fees, use of dynamic pricing [ticket prices changing in accordance with demand] and yield management [a broader strategy that aims to maximize revenue by controlling inventory availability and pricing].
Mark Shapiro Addresses Reduction In WWE Live Event Schedule
One change that has been more welcomed by fans is the scaling back of live events, which gives talent more time with their families and reduces the risk of injury due to fewer bumps. However, there are some who have argued that the reduction in house shows could also be detrimental to more inexperienced stars who need to get reps in by performing in front of a live crowd.
The reduction in house shows was also brought up at the conference, where Shapiro defended the decision to reduce the live events from 300 a year to 200 a year. Additionally, the TKO President added that it was not made just to improve margins and that the company may look at reducing the schedule even further.
H/t to F4WOnline.