Tampa officials have publicly stated that if WWE doesn't make the call to change, move or postpone WrestleMania 36, the city will likely have to pull the plug on WWE's biggest show of the year.
While other sports leagues and forms of entertainment are shutting down across the world this week, WWE has yet to make an announcement regarding WrestleMania, which is to take place on April 5, 2020, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. In the meantime, Tampa officials are putting public pressure on WWE, suggesting they are only willing to wait so long before they take the decision out of WWE's hands.
Logistically, there's not a way to pack 70,000-plus fans into the stadium in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the writing is on the wall. And, whether it’s a questions of insurance or WWE simply crossing their fingers that something will change over the next 10-20 days, it probably won't and the longer Vince waits, the worse his company looks as everyone else takes the proper safety precautions.
Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller told Fox 13 news that if WWE doesn't essentially 'do the right thing', they'll be forced to make the decision for Vince McMahon in a week's time.
"I'm hoping that Vince McMahon and WrestleMania and WWE make the call themselves, but a week from now, if they've not done that and we're still in the situation we're in, we'll probably have to pull the plug on that," Miller said Friday, via Fox 13. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister added his own statement putting the onus on WWE to think about fans first. "I commend every sports franchise for erring on the side of caution," Chronister said. "I hope the WWE follows suit. I don't ever want to see people put profit over public safety."
What Will WWE Do?
Essentially, WWE appears to be holding out for a change in the status of this particular health crisis. Citing the economic impact it will have on the Tampa area, WWE doesn't want to change things unless they're forced to. And, while that's not going to fair well for them in the public eye, the financial hit WWE might take is big enough to overlook a few people being critical.
It's one thing to air SmackDown or Raw from the WWE Performance Center, but is that really an option for WrestleMania? Clearly, that's not what WWE wants. Still, it might be the only choice unless WWE chooses to push back the event.