Sports

WrestleMania Coming to New Jersey in 2013

WrestleMania XXIX will be held at MetLife Stadium on April 7, 2013.

New Jersey. Ready for the ‘Granddaddy of Them All?’

WrestleMania, the WWE’s annual spectacle, is coming to New Jersey.  Governor Chris Christie made the announcement on Thursday (Feb. 16) that WrestleMania XXIX would be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on April 7, 2013.

“We are excited to be hosting WrestleMania XXIX in the great state of New Jersey,” Christie said.  “Having WWE’s preeminent international event here will strengthen both the regional and local economies and continue to showcase MetLife Stadium as a world-class venue for sports and entertainment.”

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While wrestling fans in the area cheered the news, non-wrestling fans are excited as well as the annual event typically brings a positive economic impact to the area it’s held in.  Last year, WrestleMania XXVII generated $62.1 million in economic impact for Atlanta, GA.

"This is not a one-day thing, this is a week-long celebration that is going to be brought here to New Jersey and the surrounding area," Christie said at the press conference.  "You will have fans from all around the country and around the world who are going to come and generate tens of millions of dollars in all type of economic activity for this area."

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Christie was joined at the press conference by New York Giants President and CEO John Mara and New York Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson.  The teams were influential in bringing the event to MetLife Stadium.

“When WrestleMania comes to town, related activities will occur throughout the New York and New Jersey area, but we are looking forward to hosting the main event,” said New York Jets Chairman and CEO, Woody Johnson in a statement.  “We are confident that both the Superstars and fans of WWE will feel at home in MetLife Stadium.” 

Representing the WWE at the press conference was CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon, along with superstars John Cena, Triple H, Sheamus, Mark Henry, Brie and Nikki Bella and the company’s ‘special guest’ Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.   

“We will present to you an extraordinary event, something that likely many of you have never seen before,” said McMahon. 

In addition to the actual event, WrestleMania typically has a full week of activities that will be held called WrestleMania Axxess.

This is the third time the event has been in New Jersey, the first time since 1989.  WrestleMania IV and V were held at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.  This year’s version will be held in Miami, FL on April 1.


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