Reason for WWE Changing Venue of the Upcoming 10/8 WWE NXT Episode on CW Network

WWE is gearing up for significant changes as NXT prepares to transition from the USA Network to the CW Network in October. To celebrate this move, WWE has scheduled two special roadshows for the first two episodes, with events in Chicago on October 1st and St. Louis on October 8th.

However, the St. Louis show, originally planned for the larger Enterprise Center, was announced to be relocated to The Factory at The District in Chesterfield, Missouri with the reason for the change being unveiled.

Low Ticket Sales Prompt Venue Change for NXT St. Louis Event

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE decided to move the event to a smaller venue because they had only sold around 2,196 tickets in a venue with a 14,000-seat capacity. By shifting to The Factory, which holds about 2,300 people, WWE hopes to create a more packed and engaging atmosphere for fans and television viewers. Moreover, it also revealed that the setup has been done for 1,715 tickets, and about 1,129 tickets have been sold so far.

“The second of the two NXT tapings for CW, on 10/8, which was scheduled for the major arena in the market, the Enterprise Center, was moved to a smaller building in nearly Chesterfield, MO, due to disappointing ticket sales. They had 2,196 tickets out in a building which would hold 14,000. The advance was similar to what most of the recent AEW shows were doing and to an extent, it made more sense financially for WWE not to move given running the building was cost savings because they were running Raw in the same building the night before. They had pushed it as the second taping on CW and with Orton, from St. Louis, as the guest star. The new building The Factory at The District, could hold about 2,300 for the taping but right now is only set up for 1,715 and tickets now out are 1,129. It should end up packed.”

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WWE Offers Refunds and Puts Remaining Tickets on Sale

WWE has offered refunds to those affected by the location change and has put the remaining tickets for the new venue on sale, aiming to fill the venue and ensure a packed house for this milestone event. Furthermore, the decision also aligns with WWE’s preference for avoiding heavily tarped-off sections in large arenas, a contrast to AEW, which has previously opted to stay in larger arenas even with lower ticket sales.

“WWE is offering refunds due to the location change and is putting tickets on sale for the remaining seats this week. It shows a very different philosophy as WWE didn’t want to run in a building that would be heavily tarped off while AEW has never moved one of its weak selling events in major NBA arenas to a smaller arena. For example, AEW Dynamite a week later in San Jose booked the major arena, the SAP Center, and the advance was slightly lower than NXT had in St. Louis and there are three other buildings in the city, two of which would fit 3,000 and 4,000, so they in theory could pack or come close to packing it, but instead will run a big arena that will be heavily tarped. Plus the smaller building will make for a better television atmosphere.”

Randy Orton, a St. Louis native and WWE veteran, is set to appear at the October 8th event, where he will wrestle NXT upstart Je’Von Evans. Despite the last-minute venue change, the event remains highly anticipated, as it marks a key moment for NXT’s growth and its move to the CW Network.

What are your thoughts on WWE’s decision to move the NXT show to a smaller venue just days before the event? Let us know in the comments!