WWE hasn’t had fans in attendance for their shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they’ve held closed-set shows at the Performance Center and since August been using its ThunderDome set with virtual fans.
It’s been reported for months that WWE has wanted to have fans back at their shows and was looking at the Royal Rumble to be potentially where that could happen.
However, that won’t be the case. Jon Alba reported the news on Thursdayvia his Living The Gimmick podcast.
“Multiple sources indicate there are currently no plans for #WWE to have fans at the Royal Rumble.”
He later tweeted, “As I’ve noted, it’s pro wrestling, plans are always subject to change. But the plan as of now, Jan. 7, does not include fans in attendance at Tropicana Field. FWIW, Florida had 17,783 new positive COVID cases announced Wednesday.”
The NFL will hold the Super Bowl in Tampa with a limited amount of fans at Raymond James Stadium, where WrestleMania 36 was originally supposed to take place. Now, it seems the next possible big show where WWE could have fans in attendance would be at WrestleMania 37.
WWE holds the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event on January 31, 2021 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Just dropped on @theLTGpodcast:
Multiple sources indicate there are currently no plans for #WWE to have fans at the Royal Rumble.
More details: https://t.co/HKAJ05Xmi8 pic.twitter.com/xdaio8SKCT
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) January 7, 2021
The Super Bowl in Tampa will have limited-capacity at the outdoor Raymond James Stadium, while AEW runs limited-capacity at its outdoor Daily's Place venue.
The ThunderDome, as #WWE has said, is a closed set, and remains that way for now.
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) January 7, 2021
As I've noted, it's pro wrestling, plans are always subject to change. But the plan as of now, Jan. 7, does not include fans in attendance at Tropicana Field.
FWIW, Florida had 17,783 new positive COVID cases announced Wednesday. #WWE #RoyalRumble
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) January 7, 2021
I don't think a small number of fans should ever be ruled out given what we've seen at the CWC, but as of this moment, that is not in the cards. And like you said, the set configuration could prove difficult.
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) January 7, 2021