The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is using a portion of federal pandemic relief funds to help get WWE SummerSlam 2025.
WWE had Cardi B announce in late September that SummerSlam 2025 would take place in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd.
SummerSlam 2024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium drew 57,719 fans, the highest attendance outside of a WrestleMania. It also broke records for viewership, sponsorship, merchandise, and social media.
Bergen Record via Katie Sobko reports that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has approved $7.125 million to assist MetLife in securing SummerSlam. The funds are from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-19 Stimulus Package), which New Jersey received from the federal government during the pandemic.
The funds can be used to’respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.’ SummerSlam is expected to generate a total economic impact of more than $80 million in the region.
Brian Aberback, an agency spokesperson, stated that they are in the process of completing their funding application, which will be submitted to the state Department of Community Affairs. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority previously used $3.5 million from the American Rescue Plan to host UFC 288 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
