There has been a lot of speculation recently about whether WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) will be hosting an event in Montreal, Canada in the near future. Montreal historically has been an important city for WWE, hosting major shows like WrestleMania and Survivor Series in the past. However, WWE has not held a major show in Montreal for several years, leaving fans wondering if the company plans to return soon.
Background on WWE in Montreal
WWE, formerly known as the WWF (World Wrestling Federation), has been running shows in Montreal since the 1980s. Some of the most famous WWE moments have happened in Montreal over the years:
- Bret “Hitman” Hart won his first WWF Championship at a live event in Montreal in 1992.
- The infamous “Montreal Screwjob” occurred at Survivor Series in 1997 when Bret Hart lost the WWF title under controversial circumstances against Shawn Michaels.
- WrestleMania X8 was held at the Skydome in Montreal in 2002, featuring Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock.
Despite this history, WWE has not brought one of its major pay-per-view events or television shows like Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown to Montreal since 2004. This has left Canadian WWE fans disappointed and longing for the return of WWE to one of its most passionate fanbases.
Recent rumors of a WWE return
In the past few months, rumors have picked up that WWE could be returning to Montreal in 2023. In October 2022, a report emerged that WWE was scoping out potential venues in Montreal to host an event next year. The Bell Centre, which can hold over 20,000 fans, was reportedly one of the venues that WWE considered.
Nothing has been confirmed by WWE yet regarding a show in Montreal next year. However, the fact that WWE was looking at venues in the city added fuel to the speculation that the company is seriously considering bringing back one of its major events.
Montreal wrestling fans will be keeping a close eye on any announcements from WWE about their 2023 schedule. A WWE pay-per-view like SummerSlam or even WrestleMania coming to Montreal would be a huge deal and the source of major excitement.
Evaluating the likelihood of WWE returning to Montreal
What are the actual chances that the rumors are true and WWE brings a major show to Montreal in 2023? Let’s evaluate some of the factors.
The size of the Montreal market
Montreal is one of the biggest media markets in Canada and a city with a rich history with WWE, making it an attractive location for a major event. The greater Montreal area has over 4 million residents, which gives WWE a huge potential audience to draw from. Running a show in Montreal allows WWE to capture fans not just locally but across other parts of Quebec and Eastern Canada.
The Bell Centre in particular is a top-notch venue with the capacity to host over 20,000 fans for a premium live event. Past WWE events held there have drawn huge crowds, such as the more than 68,000 fans who attended WrestleMania X8. There is clearly a proven demand in Montreal for WWE.
Passionate Canadian WWE fans
WWE has a very passionate fanbase across Canada. Major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal have all hosted WWE events in the past and drawn enthusiastic crowds. Canadian WWE fans will travel far and wide to attend a premium live event if it takes place in their country.
WWE holding an event in Montreal could attract devoted fans across Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes and even Northern U.S. states. There is definitely a market for a WWE show in this region of Canada.
French-speaking audience
Running a show in Montreal gives WWE a chance to connect with French-speaking wrestling fans. Montreal has a large French-speaking population as it is situated in the province of Quebec.
By holding an event there, WWE would be able to cater specially to this demographic and expand its audience. WWE’s roster also includes popular French-Canadian Superstars like Kevin Owens that could be featured prominently at a Montreal show.
City | French Speaking Population |
---|---|
Montreal | 55% |
Quebec City | 95% |
Ottawa | 12% |
As this table shows, Montreal has one of the highest rates of French speakers among major cities in Canada. WWE has a clear incentive based on language demographics to look at hosting an event there.
Logistical factors
In addition to market size and fan interest, logistics are another critical factor for WWE to consider. Montreal has the airport, hotel, and venue infrastructure to support hosting a major WWE show.
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport has flights connecting from across North America and Europe, making it easy for out-of-town fans to travel to a WWE event there. The city has over 40,000 hotel rooms, including major chains connected to downtown and the Bell Centre arena.
Finally, the Bell Centre is a modern arena accustomed to hosting major events year-round, including NHL and NBA games. The facilities and staff have the experience to handle a large-scale WWE show. Overall, Montreal has the amenities and capacity WWE needs to succeed.
Support from regional partners
Any WWE event requires support from regional stakeholders like tourism boards and venue management. According to reports, WWE met with representatives from Evenko and Quebec tourism while scouting Montreal. These partners likely expressed enthusiasm about having WWE come to the city.
Their backing is key for handling logistics like marketing, ticket sales and staffing. WWE having strong regional ties increases the chances of finalizing a Montreal event.
Potential challenges
Although there are many good reasons why Montreal makes sense as a WWE destination, there are also some challenges that could hinder plans.
Scheduling complications
The biggest issue is whether WWE can make space in its packed event schedule to hold a show in Montreal. Their calendar already includes monthly premium live events and weekly television shows. It may be difficult finding an open date to run Montreal on short notice for 2023.
Out of the major Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver seem to get priority. Toronto hosted SummerSlam in 2022 while Vancouver is getting a premium live event in 2023. Breaking into that rotation with Montreal may require long-term planning by WWE.
Production costs
Running a WWE show internationally comes with higher production costs related to travel, shipping equipment overseas, and currency exchange rates. Montreal is at least within driving distance for trucks carrying WWE’s sets, lights, and staging.
But as a foreign market, it still represents an additional expense that WWE factors into their budget. With WWE cutting costs company-wide recently, expansion into new international markets may slow down.
Competition from other events
Since Montreal is a big city for sports and entertainment, scheduling a date also depends on what else is happening locally. During popular times of year like summer, venues get booked up quickly.
WWE would need to carefully select a date without conflicts that could hurt ticket sales. Competing against other big concerts or events on the same night makes it tougher for WWE to draw as large of a crowd.
The verdict
Evaluating all these variables, I think there is a strong chance WWE brings back a major show to Montreal in 2023. The market size, fan demand, and venue capabilities make it a very logical place to host a pay-per-view or television taping.
Logistically, it also seems like a straightforward option located close to WWE’s main operations. Montreal has been overlooked by WWE for too long relative to other Canadian cities. Next year seems like an opportune time to finally return.
The potential challenges around scheduling and costs can likely be overcome through careful planning. WWE has the experience running shows internationally to handle that. In terms of timing, the later in 2023 the better so WWE can get past hectic periods like WrestleMania season.
If I had to predict, I would expect WWE to announce a SummerSlam or Survivor Series for Montreal in late 2023. A fall pay-per-view gives them plenty of time to organize and promote the show.
I can’t say for certain a WWE event in Montreal gets confirmed. Based on therumors though, I’d rate the chances as high as 75-80% that it happens next year. The city is overdue for a major WWE show that will undoubtedly be a hot ticket when tickets go on sale.
The economic impact for Montreal
Beyond excitement for fans, a WWE event in Montreal would also be a nice economic boost for the city. History shows that WWE brings significant tourism revenue when they come to a new market.
Ticket sales revenue
First is the money generated directly from ticket sales. A venue like the Bell Centre can host 20,000+ fans for a premium WWE event. Even if WWE only sells 50-75% of seats due to configuration, that still amounts to gate revenue between $2-3 million. And that’s before any additional revenue from merchandise and concessions.
WWE also typically does multiple shows when they visit a city, including TV and sometimes house shows. Total ticket revenue for a weekend could approach $5 million.
Increased hotel bookings
Out-of-town fans need hotels, generating significant increased revenue for Montreal’s hospitality industry. If 50% of fans at a Montreal WWE event travel from outside the city, that’s up to 10,000 additional visitors. At an average of $200 per night for hotels, 10,000 visitors would generate around $2 million in accommodation spending.
Across a full weekend of WWE shows, the total boost to hotels could be $3-4 million.
Tourism spending
Beyond hotels, WWE fans traveling to Montreal also spend money on restaurants, attractions, transportation, and retail. Out-of-town visitors may stay a few extra days to see the city. Tourism economics research indicates that every $1 spent on a ticket generates an additional $2-3 in tourism spending.
For a $5 million gate, that could mean $10-15 million more dollars injected into Montreal’s local economy. Major WWE events essentially serve as the anchor for a big tourism weekend.
Economic Impact | Estimate |
---|---|
Ticket Sales Revenue | $5 million |
Increased Hotel Bookings | $3-4 million |
Additional Tourism Spending | $10-15 million |
Total | $18-24 million |
As the above estimates suggest, a major WWE event could generate over $20 million in total revenue for Montreal’s economy. Cities compete aggressively to attract this kind of tourism and media exposure.
Long-term benefits
Besides the short-term financial injection, bringing WWE back would also have long-term benefits. It puts Montreal back on WWE’s radar for future events.
The exposure also helps boost Montreal’s image as a destination for major sports and entertainment. That improves the city’s ability to attract other major concerts, conventions, and global gatherings that deliver economic activity.
Investing to bring WWE back now could lead to bigger payoffs down the road. Visit Montreal and Quebec stakeholders recognize this opportunity.
Excitement building for a possible return
Rumors of WWE’s return have already generated excitement among Montreal wrestling fans. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer recently reported hearing from fans in Montreal that enthusiasm is high for a possible WWE event.
Fans are hoping for top Superstars like Roman Reigns and Bianca Belair to come to the city. A show featuring French-Canadian natives like Kevin Owens and Maryse would also generate even more buzz. Owens in particular has said he would love to main event a WWE pay-per-view in his hometown.
Based on social media chatter among Canadian wrestling fan accounts, anticipation seems to be building the longer Montreal goes without word from WWE. Speculation will likely continue until WWE confirms or denies a Montreal show in 2023.
If it does happen, expect tickets to sell out quickly. Media in Montreal will give the event major coverage as they have done for WWE in the past. It would be one of the hottest sports and entertainment events of next year for the city.
Key factors to watch
WWE has yet to officially announce any plans for Montreal in 2023. But here are some key factors to monitor that may provide clues if WWE will indeed return to the city next year:
Venue booking activity
One indicator to follow is any bookings at major Montreal venues suitable for WWE. If the Bell Centre announces open dates being held or other events moved, it may be to accommodate WWE. Keep an eye on venue schedules shifting.
Partnerships
Look for announcements of WWE partnering with tourism boards or sponsors based in Montreal/Quebec. These deals may involve bringing a WWE event to the city.
WWE scheduling
WWE releasing their event calendar for 2023 would reveal if Montreal is included. SummerSlam dates and location typically get announced by early 2023.
Local advertising
Watch for any WWE ticket sales or promotional ads in the Montreal market later in 2023. That’s a clear sign a show is coming.
WWE talent interviews
If WWE stars like Kevin Owens start mentioning Montreal more often in interviews, it could foreshadow an event getting planned.
The bottom line
The lack of WWE in Montreal has gone on too long relative to other major Canadian cities. With strong fan interest, ideal facilities, and hopes of an economic boost, all signs point to that changing in 2023.
I fully expect WWE to secure a date at the Bell Centre for next year. SummerSlam or Survivor Series seem like the most likely candidates. But even a non-televised show would end the drought for Montreal WWE fans.
While nothing is official yet, don’t be surprised if the rumors turn out to be true. A WWE premium live event will be the place to be in Montreal in 2023. Get your face paint ready!