WWE downsizes Money in the Bank, shifts from Allegiant Stadium to MGM Grand Garden Arena

WWE revealed that it was moving Money in the Bank from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to the smaller MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Turns out the time hasn’t quite arrived for WWE Money in the Bank to be a stadium show.

WWE had been promoting Money in the Bank for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant can hold more than 70,000 attendees depending on the event, and the hope was obviously that the show would sell enough tickets to warrant a venue of that size.

But that apparently hasn’t been the case, as WWE sent an email to fans who had purchased tickets at Allegiant Stadium explaining that the show was moving to MGM Grand Garden Arena. Anyone who purchased their seats via Ticketmaster would receive a refund, as well as an opportunity to buy tickets at the event’s new location prior to a general on-sale.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reported that as of May 6, just under 17,000 tickets had been distributed for Money in the Bank. MGM Grand Garden Arena holds 17,000 fans, so even if some people who bought tickets thinking it would be a stadium show reconsider, WWE has a good chance to sell out the smaller venue.

What will be worth watching going forward is if this experience in Las Vegas is specific to that market or will affect the company’s plans for future shows. Andrew Zarian of Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Online reported in April that WWE was planning more stadium shows for the rest of this year and beyond, as opposed to the traditional WrestleMania, SummerSlam and overseas events.

The idea was that WWE wasn’t expecting sellouts at every stadium show, but merely felt it could sell more seats than the capacity of most indoor arenas. At least for Money in the Bank, it looks like that optimism may have been misplaced. The plus side is that MGM Garden Arena should be near or at capacity for the show on July 2.