TAMPA, Fla. — We still don’t know how many fans the NFL will allow inside Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl LV.
And World Wrestling Entertainment is also going to take its time when it comes to making that announcement for WrestleMania.
“We are going to have a limited capacity crowd so keep your ear to the ground to find out about tickets. They are going to go so quickly," said current WWE Champion Drew Mcintyre.
Wrestling’s Super Bowl was set to be held in Tampa for the first time last year.
But the pandemic forced the WWE to move it to its training facility in Orlando.
Now after more than a year performing in empty buildings, wrestlers like McIntyre will have fans back for the rescheduled WrestleMania in Tampa April 10 and 11 at Raymond James Stadium.
“We will be working with the local government and releasing information in the coming weeks regarding safety protocols and the amount we will be able to get inside the building. But I just can’t wait. I know we are going to do it as safe as possible. But I just can’t wait to have the fans there," said McIntyre.
USF Professor Dr. Jay Wolfson says the safety precautions help, but it does make him nervous to think of thousands of fans inside Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s one thing to have a large-scale event. It’s another thing to have it populated with spectators. It’s a Petri dish for spreading disease and we can only hope that people recognize the relative risk," said Wolfson.
“Safety is our absolute top priority and with over two and half months to go our discussions will continue with our local partners' collaboration with local authorities to build a safe and measured plan," said WWE Vice President John Saboor.
“If you checkerboard the stadium and the arenas where the events are happening and you have some control as people are coming in that’s doable. And Disney does a good job of this and up until recently the NFL has done an OK job as well as have some college football teams," said Wolfson.
WWE officials came to Tampa to see the stadium set up for Buccaneers games and say they’ll be watching how the NFL handles the Super Bowl too.
