- 03/31/2008 (6:14:48 pm)
- Press Release
Attendance Record, Fireworks Statement and more
WrestleMania® XXIV Crushes Records, CareersORLANDO, Fla., March 30, 2008 – Champions were crowned, the legendary Ric Flair was forced to retire, boxer Floyd Mayweather prevailed, and Undertaker extended his undefeated streak as World Wrestling Entertainment® set both attendance and ticket sale records at WrestleMania XXIV tonight at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
WWE® grossed more than $5.85 million in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing live event in WWE history and in the history of the Citrus Bowl.
WWE set an attendance record for the Citrus Bowl with 74,635 fans from all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries invading Orlando, pumping up to $30 million into the local economy. The WWE’s annual pay-per-view, pop culture extravaganza is televised to more than 100 countries.
In the match billed as a showdown between the greatest fighter in the world and one of the largest athletes on Earth, undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather barely survived against 7-foot, 441-lb. Big Show, eventually knocking him out with brass knuckles. Flair, a 16-time World Champion and 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, lost to another legendary star, Shawn Michaels, in an emotion-filled match, forcing him into retirement as one of the greatest pro wrestling stars of all-time. Undertaker defeated Edge® to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, extending his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to16-0. Randy Orton® retained the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat match against Triple H® and John Cena®. Kane became the new ECW Champion, crushing Chavo Guerrero.
Always a star-studded event, WrestleMania XXIV featured several celebrity participants in addition to Mayweather. John Legend performed “America The Beautiful” to open the event, Snoop Dogg served as Master of Ceremonies for the BunnyMania Lumberjack Match, Kim Kardashian was a special guest hostess, and Raven-Symoné played host to 50 Make-A-Wish kids being honored by WWE in its largest wish granting event ever.
WWE® Statement On Fireworks
STAMFORD, Conn., March 30, 2008- World Wrestling Entertainment® issued the following statement today concerning the fireworks display that occurred at the end of WrestleMania® XXIV in Orlando:
We're investigating the incident and doing everything we can to find out why it happened and to make sure it never happens again. While we apologize to anyone who was injured and/or alarmed by this occurrence, we take solace in the fact that the reported injuries were minor.
WrestleMania XXIV Smashes Sales, Attendance Records
ORLANDO, Fla., March 30, 2008- World Wrestling Entertainment® set both attendance and ticket sale records at WrestleMania XXIV tonight at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. WWE® grossed more than $5.85 million in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing live event in WWE history and in the history of the Citrus Bowl. WWE set an attendance record for the Citrus Bowl with 74,635 fans from all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries attending WWE's annual pop culture spectacular.
"We would like to thank WWE Fans from around the globe for making this year's WrestleMania one for the record books," said Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President, Marketing. "We would also like to thank Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and John Saboor, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission, for all of their hospitality during WrestleMania week. It was a tremendous experience."
"This has been an incredible week here in Central Florida," said John Saboor, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. "It was an honor to welcome the WWE and its fans from around the world. We can't wait to ask the McMahon family to come back for another WrestleMania."
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/
