WWE WrestleMania 39 takes place on April 1 and 2, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
ABC News reports that according to WWE SVP and Head of Global Sales & Partnerships Craig Stimmel, WrestleMania 39 has already earned $20 million in revenue courtesy of sponsorship deals. This figure is a record for any WWE event.
T. Maxwell, a partner at Max Sports Marketing, stated that sponsors are attracted to WWE due to the loyalty and diversity of its fans. He said,
“WWE fans are fiercely loyal and dedicated, they are hooked, they crave storytelling and will be WWE fans for life. This creates an amazing opportunity for savvy brands to connect with a unique audience for life. I think WWE fans are much more accepting of (sponsors) than the traditional sports.”
Stimmel clarified that WWE intends to use corporate brands at WrestleMania in a variety of ways, including match sponsorships. There will also be a “blurring of the fourth wall” between what fans see at home and what the live audience experiences. Furthermore, WWE also has plans for an augmented reality experience. Stimmel said,
“We try to find the perfect marriage of brand and story. WrestleMania is our Super Bowl”
It was further noted that WWE has crossed 16 billion video views, with almost 94 million YouTube subscribers and over 20 million followers on TikTok. The female Superstars make up five out of the top 15 most-followed female athletes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The list is topped by Ronda Rousey, who has 36.1 million followers. WWE also generated over 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February, up 15% from this point in 2022.
GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders stated,
“WWE has multiple channels to connect with customers which is important for sponsors who don’t want to rely on just one medium. It basically gives brands multiple bites of the cherry to reach customers. WWE has built out an entire entertainment ecosystem which brands can tap into and use to push their marketing messages.”
