According to a report from Fightful Select, WWE has blocked (blacked out) watch parties for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber in the Chicago area.
Fightful Select notes the decision for the new rule in an effort to increase ticket sales for the big event at Chicago’s United Center.
This reportedly has caused frustration with local business owners in the Chicago area who usually rely on these types of high-profile pro wrestling events to draw in the big weekend crowds. Under the new domestic rights broadcast agreement with ESPN and internationally for Netflix, WWE has taken a more aggressive approach with public performance licenses. By enforcing blackout areas, the goal is maximize gate revenue for the more high-profile premium live events.
At the time of this report, according to Wrestletix, 14,895 tickets have been distributed for the event with a set-up for 17,016.
Going to Ticketmaster’s website and looking on the map, there are still a number of premium front row seats still available for $5,178.85. If you want to sit in the second row, you will need to pay $1,905.00. However, if you want to sit farther back from the ring on the floor, that will cost you anywhere from $713.00 to $678.00. If you decide you want to sit at the top level of the venue and only want the cheapest seats available, well that is going to cost you $261.00.
Elimination Chamber features CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor, Becky Lynch will defending the Women’s Title against AJ Lee and the men’s and women’s chamber matches.
WWE is also said to be blocking restaurants and other major establishments within 50 miles of Allegiant Stadium in the Paradise/Las Vegas, Nevada area from hosting WrestleMania 42, watch parties, despite those establishments willing to pay a licensing fee. This is being will the plan that it will boost tickets sales for the big two-night event.
As of this writing, there are still a set of VIP two-day combo WrestleMania 42 packages left, which will cost you $46,219.20. Other two-day ticket packages still available cost between $419.00 to $8,998.00. Single day tickets still available range between $292.00 to $2,575.05.
It has been previously reported that ticket sales for WrestleMania, which will be at Allegiant Stadium for the second year in a row, have been down roughly 18 percent from this time last year.