WWE Closes the World

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. To Close Restaurant

 

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2003--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. announced that effective today, it will close its restaurant located in New York City.

"We have ceased the restaurant operation as of today, but we will continue to operate the retail store until April 27, 2003," said Linda E. McMahon, Chief Executive Officer. "We will seek to sublease the facility and will work closely with the landlord's organization in this effort."

 

"We are reallocating resources to the continued growth of our global business, rather than focusing on a single, site-specific and local project," said Linda McMahon, Chief Executive Officer. "We will build shareholder value by continuing to create WWE branded products and programming which we can distribute on a worldwide basis."

 

WWE issued its third fiscal quarter earnings release today and will host a conference call Wednesday, February 26, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. ET.

 

Mrs. McMahon lauded the effort of the restaurant's current management and employees. "We would like to personally thank each and every employee at the restaurant and at WWE for their hard work, commitment and passion for the business."

 

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE - News) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, 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.

 

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, food and beverage, 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; 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.

[Guest Eagan469]

Damn, that's a shame.

 

I wonder if the WWE store/tourist attraction at Niagara Falls will close too.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

The WWE should really stick to wrestling. This global company "we make movies" BS needs to end fast.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Countdown to WCW like shutdown: one and a half years...the length of time it took for the Nitro Grill to be taken down before WCW folded...

[Guest Choken One]

Well...Damn where does RVD host at now? The Lucky Go Around Bar in Shelbyville, Nowhere?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

We have a tourist attraction in Niagra Falls?

[Guest RedJed]

Wow, they must have really been losing revenue big time. I know there was problems with different management some time ago, but I thought they took care of this. I could imagine in general the effect of attendance and ratings consistently dropped, that this would turn over to the attendance levels of the restaurant too likely.

[Guest Eagan469]

We have a tourist attraction in Niagra Falls?

at Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Ont

 

There's a WWE store with a ride called "Tombstone" which drops you from like 10 stories. It's basically The World minus the restauraunt.

 

My friend took his little brother there when it opened about a year ago and he saw Chris Benoit and his girlfriend walking around town.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

It was doomed to fail from the beginning. I remember listening to one of the investors in this restaurant on a radio show and he was saying how he told them that they should make it like a planet hollywood type restaurant and put wrestling memorabilia all through it. Of course Vince said no and now it is finally shutting down.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Countdown to WCW like shutdown: one and a half years...the length of time it took for the Nitro Grill to be taken down before WCW folded...

That was accelerrated because they had Russo-itis.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

How long did the Nitro-grill last?

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Countdown to WCW like shutdown: one and a half years...the length of time it took for the Nitro Grill to be taken down before WCW folded...

That was accelerrated because they had Russo-itis.

Witness Brain Gerwitz...I rest my case.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Goddammit, that was one of the things I was looking forward to in New York also.

 

Why didn't they make it like Planet Hollywood? Did they accidentally sell everything on WWFAuction.com?

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Benoit has a girlfriend? What happened to Nancy?

[Guest Damn You Helmsley]

I went there a few summers back and all I saw was a lot of un-sold Chyna autobiographies. I never went back.

[Guest AndrewTS]

Fraud running rampant, a location that just has to have incredibly high rent, overpriced food, and during a time when WWE interest is at a low due to constant fuck ups.

 

I guess Linda would say this was a "miscalculation" which is WWE-speak for FAILURE.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

I'm a huge Vegas buff, so I know these things.

 

I don't know if there were any other Nitro grills but the one in Excalibur opened in June 99 and closed in September 2000.

[Guest Eagan469]

about WWE Niagara Falls:

 

World Wrestling Entertainmentä Retail Store and Themed Drop Ride Opens in Niagara Falls, Canada

STAMFORD, CONN., August 1, 2002 -- World Wrestling Entertainment’sä (NYSE: WWE) first Canadian retail store and themed drop ride, WWEä Niagara Falls, has officially opened in Niagara Falls, Canada. The store and themed drop ride, operated by Canadian Niagara Hotels under license from WWEä , features more than 4,000 square feet of retail and exhibit space and a 220-foot ride.

 

WWEä Superstars Trish Stratusä , Chris Benoitä and The Big Valbowskiä cut a symbolic championship belt to officially open the store and themed drop ride. They were among the first to ride the 220 foot high "Pile Driverä " and later they cast their hands in cement as a permanent memento of the opening.

 

"World Wrestling Entertainmentä is extremely pleased to bring our brand of excitement to Niagara Falls, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations," said Carl DeMarco, President, World Wrestling Entertainmentä Canada, Inc. "The store not only provides visitors the opportunity to purchase WWEä merchandise but it will also offer them great entertainment through the exhibits and ‘Pile Driverä ’."

 

The retail store contains World Wrestling Entertainmentä exhibits, memorabilia, exclusive merchandise and interactive displays. Multi-media lighting designs and effects create an atmosphere for fans equivalent to that of stepping into a World Wrestling Entertainmentä arena.

 

"With 14-million tourists visiting Niagara Falls every year, WWEä Niagara Falls further establishes the Falls Avenue site as Niagara’s premier destination," said Dino DiCienzo Jr., Canadian Niagara Hotels.

 

"This is a significant investment for Niagara Falls," said Wayne Thomson, Mayor City of Niagara Falls. "Over the past few years, our tourism industry has grown to include many leading brands in entertainment and the arrival of the World Wrestling Entertainmentä is the icing on the cake."

 

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Chicago, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information television ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.

 

Canadian Niagara Hotels and Entertainment is a wholly owned Canadian company operating the Falls Avenue site in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Its hotels include the Sheraton on the Falls, Brock Plaza, Skyline Inn and Hampton Inn at the Falls.

[Guest Angle-plex]

WWE Closes the World

 

That's a shame.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Witness Brain Gerwitz...I rest my case.

Oh please. Gewirtz wishes he could book half the crap Russo thinks up.

 

When Carrot Top beats Booker T to win the Raw title, we can talk.

 

EDIT: Doh. Fucked my shows up.

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

WWE is having a conference call tomorrow so I'm sure they'll address this as well as other silly things like cobranding and such.

[Guest bob_barron]

Shit!!!

 

Where am I gonna meet wrestlers now??

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

Shit!!!

 

Where am I gonna meet wrestlers now??

At this rate, at an Indy show near you.

[Guest El Satanico]

WWE is having a conference call tomorrow so I'm sure they'll address this as well as other silly things like cobranding and such.

Oh don't forget an update on the building of new stars...

 

I'm guessing that they're working on it but that it takes time.

[Guest RedJed]

Witness Brain Gerwitz...I rest my case.

Oh please. Gewirtz wishes he could book half the crap Russo thinks up.

 

When Carrot Top beats Booker T to win the Raw title, we can talk.

 

EDIT: Doh. Fucked my shows up.

Gerwitz has never had full control of the book like Russo did in WCW though.......hard to say the damage he could do. Could be as bad or worse than Russo.

 

WWE lost almost 33 million from the World........ouch.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

I hope some smart wrestling fans call the conference and drill Linda again like last time. That was great.

[Guest AndrewTS]

WWE is having a conference call tomorrow so I'm sure they'll address this as well as other silly things like cobranding and such.

Oh don't forget an update on the building of new stars...

 

I'm guessing that they're working on it but that it takes time.

Maybe they'll bring up plans to push Test once they've finished punishing him.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

I expect there to be a lot of "We've got Austin back now, everything's going to be just fine!" talk, as well as saying that Rock is back and will fix things also, even if he's only going to be around for a month.

[Guest T®ITEC]

I expect there to be a lot of "We've got Austin back now, everything's going to be just fine!" talk, as well as saying that Rock is back and will fix things also, even if he's only going to be around for a month.

Rock's only back for a month AGAIN? Jeebus.

[Guest Quik]

Haw haw.

 

Damn, and I was looking forward to an order of Rocky's Mountain Oysters, or a piece of Stacy's Choice Rump Roast.