AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Was Barely Profitable for Company

AEW Double or Nothing 2024 took place on May 26, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Fans were excited, but the event didn’t generate huge profits for Tony Khan’s company.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Mike Mansury filed tax credit forms in Nevada listing expenses for the television taping and Double or Nothing pay-per-view show on 5/24 and 5/25. It was noted that those shows were barely profitable at this point.

If you consider between $694,000 and $900,000 in gate revenue between the two shows, because there are conflicting numbers, and $3 million from pay-per-view buys, $150,000 in merchandise, $500,000 from TNT for Collision, then the weekend is profitable, but not by a lot at all. The company also lacks the corporate sponsorships that WWE and UFC have to really help drive up revenue.

The expenses reportedly included $150,000 for talent airfare, $150,000 for broadcast production, $50,000 for catering, $14,000 for cleanup, $7,000 for comms package, $70,000 in airfare for non-talent, $2,000 in ground transportation, $250,000 in hotel expenses, $60,000 for security, $30,000 for LED screens, $75,000 for lighting and rigging, $100,000 for local management services, $10,000 for medical, $400,000 for operations and technical support crew, $15,000 for production consultants, $7,500 for miscellaneous show props, $110,000 for rent, $30,000 for rental cars, $66,000 for rigging and riggers, $700 for robocams and other tech, $40,000 for sound package, $135,000 for stagehands, $10,000 for staging, $50,000 for transportation, and $2 million for talent.

It was also noted that Pollstar had the audited numbers for Double or Nothing at 9,099 paid for $582,204. AEW had previously stated the paid attendance was 7,500, but there were actually over 9,000 in the building, and the gate was just under $800,000.

We will see what AEW does in the future to switch things up and drive more interest. They are spending a lot of money. You have to spend money to make money, but even Tony Khan must have a limit on how much he’s willing to spend without seeing amazing returns.

What’s your take on how Tony Khan is running AEW? Do you think they’re turning a corner into something better? Let us know in the comments section!