WWE and Indiana Sports Corp. have joined forces to bring three of WWE’s most significant stadium events, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and WrestleMania, to Indianapolis. The partnership, the first of its kind, was announced on June 24, 2024. The Royal Rumble is set to take place on Feb. 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium, followed by two-night events for SummerSlam and WrestleMania in future years.
WWE, a part of TKO Group Holdings, estimates that these three events, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and WrestleMania, generate an economic impact of over $300 million. The collaboration also includes hosting WWE television shows like Raw, Smackdown, and NXT, as well as WWE live events in cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville throughout the partnership.
Patrick Talty, president of Indiana Sports Corp., emphasized the importance of bringing in visitors and media coverage through sports events to build the city’s international brand. Indiana Sports Corp., with a history dating back to 1979, has hosted over 500 national and international sporting events, including Super Bowl XLVI, the College Football Playoff National Championship, Men’s & Women’s NCAA Final Fours, and 11 Big Ten football championship games. These events have resulted in more than $4 billion in direct spending in the community over the years.