Since AEW launched in 2019, it has made significant progress and achieved success in the professional wrestling world. However, since the 2021 All Out event, its momentum has slowed down. Like any organization, AEW faces challenges, with one of the major issues being difficulty selling tickets for its live events. In response to this, Matt Hardy has advised AEW to consider booking smaller venues for their shows.
One of the main concerns raised by critics is AEWs use of large arenas, which create unappealing visuals and reveal attendance issues. Despite this, AEW continues to book these bigger venues, even though ticket sales have struggled to keep up.
While speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy urged AEW to book smaller venues for their shows instead of larger ones. He says that when you only get two to three thousand fans, it doesnt make sense to book huge arenas. If youre in a 10,000 or 11,000-seat venue and only a few thousand people show up, it creates an awkward feeling. People might look around and feel unsure about the situation.
On the other hand, Hardy believes smaller venues like the 2,000-seat arenas used by TNA are much better. When the place is packed, the energy is amazing, and it benefits both the crowd and the wrestlers. He thinks AEW would have the same positive effect in a smaller, more intimate space.
For wrestlers, its harder to stay energized in a large arena with only a few thousand fans. But in a smaller venue with a loud and excited crowd, it makes a big difference. The energy motivates wrestlers to perform better and makes the match feel better overall.
In bigger venues with empty seats or sections blocked off, it can mess with a wrestlers mindset. Hardy feels its harder to have a great match in that kind of setting compared to when the crowd is full and excited.
According to Fightful Select, AEW opts not to scale down to smaller venues for several reasons. The promotion takes into account factors like venue amenities, accessibility, parking availability, and the ability to expand seating if needed. They also consider the effectiveness of mailing lists and the adequacy of concession staff when choosing event locations. Regardless, only time will tell if AEW will pay heed to Matt Hardys advice and simply book smaller venues for their shows.
Please creditRingside Newsif you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you believe AEW should start booking smaller venues in general for their shows? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
