Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter
As previously reported here on eWrestlingNews.com, WWE has cancelled their December 8th live event in India due to slow tickets sales. The original plan was to run two back-to-back WWE live events in India. The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the site of the WWE live event(s), was set up to hold 10,000 fans each night.
According to sources, one of the issues was the pricing structure ($25 to $520 US dollars). That is far more expensive than Indian fans are used to paying for sporting events. When WWE was in India two years ago, the company sold 11,500 tickets both nights in the same building but that was the company’s first time in the country in 14 years and the tickets were priced lower.
The cancelation of the second live event is being looked at as a “black-eye” for WWE. The company had been pushing Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion in the last few months and India is a country where they have more social media followers and YouTube viewers than any other market. WWE ranks #2, behind Cricket, as the biggest sports event in the country. Most sporting events in India are paid for by sponsors and fans are often times let in for free.
As far as Jinder Mahal being WWE champion is concerned, the ratings in India remained roughly the same during his title reign. Also, live event and television tapings attendance for the SmackDown! brand are down from last year. There was also no measurable increase in overseas markets.
Revenue from the Asia Pacific market was also about the same this quarter, even with the television rights fees in India increasing.
It should also be noted that WWE looks at both China and India as “long-term players” as far as developing new markets.
