Update: WWE Issues Statement About Philadelphia And Wrestlemania
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) –I'm not sure if I can handle this report. Not because it makes me angry, but because it's so perfect.
Philadelphia was long-rumored as a finalist for Wrestlemania 31. The talk was, it was Philadelphia and Lincoln Financial Field or Santa Clara, California.
Santa Clara was confirmed as the winner this weekend, and Philadelphia wrestling fans were left hoping for a chance at Wrestlemania 32.
So why Santa Clara? Well, we're just not friendly enough apparently, according to a report from Pro Wrestling Mania.
"The city of Philadelphia was reportedly very close to landing WWE's WrestleMania 31 but the main reason they didn't is because of the way they approached the bidding process," the report says. "WWE felt like Bay Area officials were more inviting and wanted them to be there. Philadelphia officials approached the situation like they were doing WWE a favor by having WWE in their city. When it came time for various cities to push themselves to WWE, Philadelphia just didn't get the job done like the Bay Area and other cities did."
The WWE offered a formal statement on the matter:
"While Philadelphia expressed a great interest in hosting Wrestlemania in 2015 and 2016, the fact is the city did not submit a formal proposal because the facilities necessary to host ancillary events weren't available. Philadelphia remains a strong market for WWE in all aspects of our business."
