ORLANDO’S AMWAY CENTER HOSTED HISTORY-MAKING WWE® RESIDENCY

ORLANDO’S AMWAY CENTER HOSTED HISTORY-MAKING WWE^® RESIDENCY

WWE has completed a 119-day run at Orlando’s Amway Center following last night’s live telecast of Monday Night Raw^® on USA Network, marking the longest-running residency in an arena since the global pandemic began. On August 21, WWE ThunderDome, a critically-acclaimed viewing experience featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras debuted at Amway Center during Friday Night SmackDown^® on FOX. Since then, WWE’s residency included 37 events with 16 Friday Night SmackDown shows, 16 Monday Night Raw shows, and five pay-per-view events such as SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

 

Starting this Friday, December 11, WWE will bring its Thunderdome viewing experience and virtual seating to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay as it begins a new residency with SmackDown^® on FOX.

 

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed hosting the first-of-its-kind ThunderDome at Amway Center and are deeply appreciative that our friends at WWE chose to embark on this exciting virtual endeavor with us,” said Orlando Venues Chief Venues Officer Allen Johnson. “At a time when the vast majority of arenas have remained dark and dormant due to the pandemic, our partnership with WWE not only kept the arena buzzing with activity but also provided much-needed jobs for many. I sincerely thank WWE for the opportunity.”

 

“On behalf of WWE, we would like to thank the entire team at Amway Center and the City of Orlando for their overwhelming hospitality during our residency at their world-class facility,” said John P. Saboor, WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events. “We remain incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Mayor Dyer and the city, and look forward to returning to Amway Center again in the future.”

 

During the residency, the production of WWE’s live weekly programming featured the world-class WWE ThunderDome^™ virtual fan experience and was conducted on a closed set with health and safety protocols administered to talent, crew and employees, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks.

 

The WWE residency at Amway Center has concluded its stay as the Orlando Magic and Orlando Solar Bears begin play at the arena later this month.

 

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms.

 

WWE’s TV-PG, family-friendly programming can be seen in more than 800 million homes worldwide in 28 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (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/.

 

About Amway Center

The Orlando Magic served as the developer of the Amway Center, which hosts major national events, concerts and family shows. Opened in the fall of 2010, the facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community. The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one facade. A 180-foot tall tower serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline. The 875,000 square foot, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology, including 1,100 digital monitors, the tallest high-definition video board in an NBA venue and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. Amway Center was honored with the International Association of Venue Managers' 2017 Venue Excellence Award which is bestowed upon facilities that excel in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Amway Center was the only arena to garner this distinction. Additionally, the arena has earned numerous awards which most notably includes TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ 2013 Customer Experience Award and was named SportsBusiness Journal's 2012 Sports Facility of the Year. For more information about the Amway Center, visit www.amwaycenter.com.