Tony Khan Reveals Logic Behind AEW’s Preference for Larger Arenas Despite Lower Turnout

AEW burst onto the scene in 2019 with significant momentum, reaching its peak after All Out 2021. However, the company is currently facing challenges in selling tickets for their shows, marking a shift from its earlier success. In light of their decline in attendance, Tony Khan has revealed the logic behind AEW’s preference for larger arenas despite lower turnout.

For a long time now, AEW has been struggling to sell tickets for its weekly shows, which has become a cause of concern for many. In fact, a previous week’s episode of AEW Collision had shockingly low attendance throughout the night.

Attendance for AEW Dynamite shows typically hovers around 3,000 fans as of late. AEW often selects local basketball or hockey arenas with seating capacities ranging from 10,000 to 20,000. While a portion of the arena is by default blocked off due to staging, fans frequently note that certain AEW shows may appear less attended compared to the overall arena size.

While speaking in an interview with GV Wire, AEW President Tony Khan addressed the decision to use larger arenas despite lower attendance. Khan explained that the choice depends on the market and timing.

Larger arenas offer advantages such as established email lists, effective marketing, and being recognized as destination venues for shows. According to Khan, these factors contribute to the decision, acknowledging the benefits that bigger arenas bring in terms of sales contacts and marketing resources.

“It depends on the market and the time. A lot of times, those arenas have a lot of big advantages like email lists and marketing and they are a destination venue for shows. It depends on the market and the timing. Certainly, bigger arenas do have a lot of advantages. They have a lot of sale contacts and really good marketing resources.”

”It depends. They have a better chance of outreaching to certain customers than other venues.”

Concerns about the current state of the company are voiced, expressing a desire for a return to the initial success under Tony Khan. The emphasis is on the importance of strategic venue selection to enhance AEW’s overall presentation.

How do you perceive Tony Khan’s explanation regarding AEW’s preference for larger arenas despite facing challenges in selling tickets for their shows? Let us know in the comments.