LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — WWE’s WrestleMania is taking over Las Vegas for just the second time in a row this weekend.
Last year exceeded expectations, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
The LVCVA says it is hoping for another strong WrestleMania weekend this year, while also recognizing it may not quite match the level of success seen during the event’s Las Vegas debut.
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Record-breaking 2025
The LVCVA is looking back at last year’s WrestleMania in Las Vegas — the most successful in WWE history, according to the WWE.
“Last year was so fantastic that they just decided they needed to do it again, and we were thrilled that they made that decision,” said Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
It was also the most-viewed WrestleMania of all time, according to the WWE. Even as tourism declined 5 percent last year, officials say WrestleMania helped keep visitor numbers strong.
“We calculated the economic impact of WrestleMania last year. We had thought that it would be about $250 million. It turned out to be $325 million. And that difference was the exceptional part,” Hill said.
Expectations for 2026
This year, officials are anticipating another strong turnout — but not necessarily the same level of hype as last year.
“I don’t know that the financial numbers will turn out to be quite as strong as they were last year. I mean, it just over-performed so much last year that that’s not really something that can be replicated. But it’s a very strong weekend,” Hill said.
Fans are excited to be here, with many traveling from out of state.
“And I was like, the SmackDown before WrestleMania kind of sounds like a good idea. And then my friends talked me into it. And we ended up here for $60 a ticket and had the best time of our lives,” said Cruella Morgan, a WWE fan.
“I’ve been to Vegas before, so I knew, like, the experience, the vibe, but I didn’t know how big wrestling would be. Like, it literally takes over the whole city,” said Madison Dubiel, another WWE fan.
WWE’s WrestleMania contract in Las Vegas wraps up this year, as the event is set to take place in Saudi Arabia next year. But the LVCVA says it is confident WrestleMania will return to Las Vegas in the future.
SmackDown wrapped up this evening, and WrestleMania continues through the weekend. The series of events will conclude on Monday with RAW.
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