Featured image credit: Optus Stadium
US wrestling promotion WWE will return to Australia for the first time since 2018 with Perth’s Optus Stadium to host the Elimination Chamber event next year.
The Premium Live Event (PLE) will be delivered by WWE in partnership with the Western Australian Government through Tourism Western Australia. WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will take place at Optus Stadium on February 24. It will be the only PLE category event in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024.
“Perth is the perfect location for a major WWE Premium Live Event in Australia, following a series of record-breaking WWE events in iconic international destinations,” said WWE senior vice-president, Chris Legentil. “With a week full of WWE events and experiences, we hope to leave a lasting memory for Western Australia and the entire WWE Universe.”
The 2023 WWE Elimination Chamber, staged at the Bell Centre in Montreal, broke multiple company records. Viewership of the event saw a 54% increase versus the prior record set in 2022. It also marked new high points for gate, merchandise and sponsorship.
Western Australia officials have set an initial ticket sales target of 50,000, but Optus Stadium is likely to be configured to include seats on the pitch, potentially resulting in a capacity of 65,000. The state is targeting having between 15,000 and 20,000 fans travelling from interstate and overseas.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is now WWE’s sister promotion following this month’s closure of a merger deal, also chose Perth as its destination for its first major event in Australia since the outbreak of COVID-19.
UFC 284 in February drew 14,000 fans to RAC Arena, with 9,000 of those travelling from outside of Western Australia. “Hosting WWE in Perth is a real coup for our state as it will shine a global spotlight on Western Australia to billions of viewers worldwide, attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to WA and create an incredible atmosphere in the city for the local community and visitors alike,” said Rita Saffioti, Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism.
“The WA Government, through Tourism WA, is proud to support this exclusive event that will generate millions of dollars for the local economy and highlight WA as a world-class events destination. I encourage everyone to Western Australia for WWE to extend their trip to explore more of our wondrous state as part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was the destination for WWE’s last trip to Australia, with 70,000 fans watching a Super ShowDown event back in 2018.
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