Central Florida vying to host WWE's 2024 Royal Rumble event
The event has the potential to bring in $70 million in economic impact, 1,900 hotel room nights and more than 40,000 attendees.
Central Florida wants to host the Royal Rumble, one of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE's) most prestigious annual events.
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to vote on May 2 whether to give $850,000 to Greater Orlando Sports Commission in order to bid for 2024 WWE Royal Rumble.
The event could generate an economic impact of up to $70 million, with 1,900 hotel nights and over 40,000 attendees.
This event has traditionally been held in the month of January. It could bring additional visitors to Central Florida at a time that is often considered non-peak season for leisure travel.
Since 1988, the Royal Rumble has been one of WWE's biggest annual events. It is often broadcast as a pay-per view. The last time it was in Orlando, at the Amway Center in 2016, and in Florida, at Tropicana field in St. Petersburg 2021.
The Royal Rumble would be another feather in Orlando’s cap, after the city hosted WWE’s biggest event, WrestMania in 2017, at Camping World Stadium.
Jason Siegel is the president and CEO of Greater Orlando Sports Commission. He told Orlando Business Journal that 'we have a history of hosting major WWE events in Orlando. We are hopeful our friends at WWE will select Orlando as host of Royal Rumble 2024.
WWE executives could not be reached to comment.
It is important that infrastructure investment in the local area be made to keep facilities up-to-date and capable of handling more attendees. Major events such as WWE shows are a good example. Orlando's sports leaders discussed what it takes to attract events of world-class quality during the Business of Sports segment of Orlando Business Journal.
Siegel said previously at the event, "We need to reinvest more in order to compete with other destination." If we want to attract high profile events that will give Orlando visibility, and have a billion-dollar economic impact on the city, we must improve our venues.
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