New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority is using a portion of federal pandemic relief funds to help get WWE SummerSlam 2025
In late September, WWE had Cardi B announce that SummerSlam 2025 will be held in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, August 2nd, and Sunday, August 3rd, 2025.
SummerSlam 2024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium drew 57,719 fans, the largest gate outside of a WrestleMania. It also set all-time records for viewership, sponsorship, merchandise, and social media.
Bergen Record via Katie Sobko has a story about the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority approving $7.125 million to assist MetLife with securing SummerSlam. The funds come from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-19 Stimulus Package) that New Jersey received from the federal government during the pandemic.
The funds can be used to ‘respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality.’ SummerSlam is expected to have a total economic impact of over $80 million for the region.
Brian Aberback, an agency spokesperson, stated that they are in the process of finalizing their funding application, which will be filed with the state Department of Community Affairs. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority previously used $3.5 million of the American Rescue Plan for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, to host UFC 288.
