WrestleMania 22 Blog

John Cena confirmed on a radio show here in Chicago that Wrestlemania XXII will indeed take place in the Windy City

At Wrestlemania 21 there will be a Money in the Bank Ladder match that will pit Chris Benoit, Kane, Christian, Edge, Shelton Benjamin, and Chris Jericho against each other with the winner getting a guaranteed shot at the World Heavyweight Championship in the next year, which includes Wrestlemania 22

Edge wins the match at Wrestlemania 21, any updates if this affects Wrestlemania 22 will be posted

Here is the official press release from the WWE:

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Taps Rosemont's Allstate Arena To Be Location for WrestleMania 22 in 2006

STAMFORD, Conn.--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., today named Rosemont's Allstate Arena in the Chicago area as the site for WrestleMania® 22 in 2006, the company's annual multi-million dollar live and pay-per-view pop culture extravaganza. The event is expected to bring millions of dollars to the local economy and draw tens of thousands of WWE® fans from around the world to the Chicago area.

WrestleMania 21, being held on April 3, 2005, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, is expected to reap similar economic benefits.

"We are extremely pleased to announce Rosemont and Allstate Arena as the site for WrestleMania 22 in Chicago," said Kurt Schneider, WWE's Executive Vice President, Marketing. "There were several communities interested in hosting WrestleMania, but Rosemont provided the best package of incentives, and was a sentimental favorite because of its great fans and the tremendous experiences we have had there, particularly with past WrestleManias. We know Rosemont and the Chicago area are the type of location that will continue to make WrestleMania an appointment event for our many fans around the world."

A briefing with WWE officials for the greater Chicago business community has been organized by the Village of Rosemont and the Rosemont Chamber of Commerce for Friday, March 4.

WrestleMania XX, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in March last year, resulted in an estimated $13.5 million of new economic activity for New York City and created the equivalent of 96 full-year jobs. More than 50 percent of those jobs were in the hospitality sector. Spending related to WrestleMania also generated $2 million in city, state and federal taxes. In a study, conducted by Enigma Research Corporation, researchers categorized WrestleMania as a "destination" event. Eighty-six percent of the 18,000-plus attendees resided outside of New York's five boroughs, with attendees coming from 16 countries and 48 states. Spending on goods and services by these non-local WWE fans translated into $7.9 million of impact, with each non-local WrestleMania fan spending an average of $555 on goods and services while visiting New York. WWE spent $5.6 million on hotels, catering, security, and production for the event.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE - News) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreement, including television distribution agreement; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

And from The Des Plaines Journal

Wrestlemania Bringing International Fanfare To Arena

By DWIGHT ESAU

Journal Reporter

Events at Rosemont's Allstate Arena just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Rosemont officials have scheduled a press conference and luncheon on Friday, Mar. 4, to announce that Wrestle-Mania, pro wrestling's biggest and best-attended event, will come to Rosemont and the Allstate Arena in April, 2006.

Wrestle-Mania is to professional wrestling what the Super Bowl is to pro football, the World Series is to baseball, and the Final Four is to college basketball. It is part sport, part spectacle, part drama, and all entertainment.

It brings pro wrestlers from around the world together to compete in a one or two-day tournament to decide more than half-a-dozen pro wrestling championships. Both individuals and tag teams will be involved, along with a lot of musical presentations.

Plus a number of sideshows and satellite events reportedly leading up to the championship competition.

""This event will bring thousands of fans from around the world to Rosemont,." said a press conference statement issued by arena management. "It will be an event with a significant economic impact on our local hospitality industry, and it will generate global television exposure for our community."

While many prominent sports and entertainment events have been held at the arena since it opened in 1980, this is the first one with true international stature.

Later this month, on Mar. 17-19, the arena will be the site of the Midwest regional of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) final four college basketball tournament. It will be covered by a major national TV network and be attended by media representatives from around the nation.

More than $2 million worth of upgrades and improvements at the arena have recently been completed, partially in preparation for these kind of events.