Nearly 11,000 fans attended Sunday's WWE New Year's Revolution Pay Per View event, the arena's marketing staff estimated.
"Something like this is comparable to a sold-out concert," said Marketing Director Anthony Marino, comparing the turnout to that from big-name headliners like Aerosmith or Lenny Kravitz. "Any time that you can be on worldwide television, it's great for Albany. It's great for the capital region."
Many fans are simply hooked. Ricky Diamond of Nassau and his friend Nick Hughes, dressed as wrestler Carlito, have watched professional wrestling as long as they can remember.
"It's constant. It's every week," said Diamond. "They don't take no vacations." While watching wrestling on television comes with all the commentary and instant replays, seeing it live is altogether more thrilling. "It's incredible. You're here in person. The atmosphere is outrageous," added Diamond. "The intensity of the event is what draws me here."
The memorabilia and souvenirs are another reason to come to the events, said Hughes as he displayed a replica championship belt.
Whether "Edge" slams veteran old-time wrestler Ric Flair in the head with a briefcase or Trish Stratus pummels Mickie James to defend the women's championship, the crowd roars to life in approval of the scripted, showcased bloodshed.
Pyka Hanson, Hughes's fianceé, joined her boyfriend at the event partly because she also is a loyal fan and partly because of the wrestlers themselves.
"I've been into wrestling ever since I was young," said Hanson. "The sweaty men, the hard bodies - that's what gets girls into wrestling." For the men, the women's events are obviously the biggest draw, she said. "The Gauntlet tonight - that's why the guys come, to see the girls," added Hanson, referring to the female five-wrestler, every-woman-for-herself battle royal.
The main attraction was the no-holds-barred cage match, called the Elimination Chamber, between six wrestlers for the heavyweight championship title.
Other highlights included a grudge match that mushroomed into a brutal melee between the 500-pound Big Show and HHH, who had recently "broken" the enormous wrestler's hand with a sledgehammer.
Other fans showed up simply to check out an unconventional way to spend a evening. Even Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian made an appearance.
"I haven't been to a wrestling match in seven or eight years," said Tutunjian. "It's the biggest event in the Capital District on a Sunday night, so I figured we'd come and get a laugh."
However you look at it, pro wrestling has endured in one way or another as one of the most successful forms of traveling entertainment. After all, WWE managed to draw more than 10,000 people in the Capital District downtown on a cold Sunday night.
"Their fans are great," said Pepsi Arena Marketing Coordinator Tracy Allen, referring to WWE's energetic following. "They always show up and they get into it."
