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All Elite Wrestling AEW has experienced a remarkable journey, marked by notable growth and success, notably reaching a pinnacle at the All Out 2021 event, solidifying its status as a major force in professional wrestling. However, every organization encounters hurdles, and for AEW, one significant challenge emerges in the form of ticket sales for their live shows.
Once hailed as the darling of the Internet Wrestling Community, AEW has recently faced intensified scrutiny regarding its creative decisions, manifesting in apparent difficulties in filling seats at its hometown events in Jacksonville, Florida.
An internal email from the Military Affairs and Veterans Department of the City of Jacksonville, obtained by Action News Jax, sheds light on AEW’s quest for additional attendees, referring to them as “fillers” to bolster crowd numbers. The email explicitly seeks “50 people per night to attend as ‘fillers’.”
This week, AEW is staging two shows at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville: Dynamite on Wednesday, April 24, and Rampage/Collision on Saturday, April 27. Despite Daily’s Place boasting a capacity of 5,500, only 2,459 seats are set up for Wednesday’s event, with 325 tickets still available as per WrestleTix. Recent AEW shows have witnessed lower attendance figures, ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 fans, raising concerns about the promotion’s current trajectory.
Furthermore, there’s a looming apprehension that AEW’s attendance patterns might echo the troubling decline witnessed by WCW in 2000, a comparison ringing alarm bells for the company’s future. Only time will unveil whether AEW can navigate these challenges successfully, given the evident improvement in their product over the past few months.
Are you shocked by AEW requiring seat ‘fillers’ for their upcoming shows this week? Let us know in the comments section below!