TNA Wrestling Leaving Universal Studios Florida

[NemoRocks78]

TNA Wrestling is leaving Soundstage 21. The promotion, which has called USF home since 2004, is going on the road full-time. The last shows to be broadcast live from Orlando will be on February 28 and March 7.



Those who've been around here for some time might remember all those TNA pictures in my frequent Universal updates. I went on and off between 2006-2008, and once I moved to Orlando I was at nearly every television taping and live PPV until I left in summer 2009. I made a lot of good friends and had some great times there, so I'll definitely miss it. It's also a real shame to lose something like this from the production facilities at the park.

 

[Slipknot]

About time.

 

[IWant2GoNow]

TNA Wrestling is leaving Soundstage 21. The promotion, which has called USF home since 2004, is going on the road full-time. The last shows to be broadcast live from Orlando will be on February 28 and March 7.



Those who've been around here for some time might remember all those TNA pictures in my frequent Universal updates. I went on and off between 2006-2008, and once I moved to Orlando I was at nearly every television taping and live PPV until I left in summer 2009. I made a lot of good friends and had some great times there, so I'll definitely miss it. It's also a real shame to lose something like this from the production facilities at the park.

Well that certainly is a downer. Glad that it seems they are doing well enough to tour though. I went to a taping back in like 2005 I think. I was still amazed that it was absolutely free to watch save for standing in line for a half hour or so. I wonder what they will use that Soundstage for now...

 

[The Legend]

They could barely get people to go for free in a theme park, I have no idea how they are going to get people to pay on the road once a week.

I can also see this hurting them in signing veteran wrestlers who liked the idea of not being part of a 'traveling circus' and staying in one town most of the time.

 

[JT3000]

I was under the impression that TNA had basically dropped off the face of the Earth already. I don't know how they expect to fill full-size arenas, or even survive long-term.

Hopefully they can find a steady replacement of some sort.

 

[OFTeric]

HHN Maze shuffle?

 

[NemoRocks78]

I think the issue with taping in a theme park is getting people to actually take time out of their vacation to wait in line for an hour or more and then watch the show for another two or three. Most of the random people that would be in there while I was attending shows would leave after a little bit.

This is being seen as a good thing around the web. They couldn't stay in SS 21 forever. They're also saving money by cutting back to four PPVs a year vs. 12, so that makes this doable. Their numbers aren't terrible for PPVs on the road - Slammiversary did 5k last year in Dallas, Lockdown and Bound for Glory did about 3k. The recent Wembley Arena taping looked pretty full. Going on the road will also make the shows look better - it won't be so bush league with a "real" audience vs. some of the Impact Zone regulars that try to get themselves over on TV all the time. I think this can work if they run small arenas and such and do a good job of promoting around town to get people in the doors.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I always had a hard time following the story lines with TNA which is my fault because I didn't watch it enough.

I do miss the days of the foreign bad guy coming out and trash talking the USA and the good guy beating he snot out of him. Simpler times.

 

[lilclerk]

That's too bad. My friend went to this while I went to D23 back in 2011. I didn't feel so bad leaving him on his own knowing he was doing something geeky, too.

 

[SirLink]

I was under the impression that TNA had basically dropped off the face of the Earth already. I don't know how they expect to fill full-size arenas, or even survive long-term.

Hopefully they can find a steady replacement of some sort.

They are huge over here in Europe, just like WWE, both sell out huge arenas ...

I'm glad that now they will have hot crowds, plus they'll now be able to charge for tickets like a real promotion.

 

[bsiev1977]

I saw the December 2005 PPV at Uni. On a whim really. Was on vacation and visited Uni and saw the PPV was taping. I found a number to call and was shocked to find out it was free admission.

My dad and I are longtime WWE fans, and always wondered how TNA has been able to stay afloat for so long, due to essentially being a theme park attraction for so long.

Like someone else said, how will this decision be taken by guys like Kurt Angle, who left WWE in part due to the travel schedule.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Aaaaaaand they're back.

A longtime valued partner, Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla, will serve as the hub for TNA’s revolutionized programming strategy with shows primarily taping at their location, along with some IMPACT shows that will be filmed on the road from different markets. The first IMPACT show scheduled from Orlando will air live on November 21.

http://www.impactwrestling.com/news...ds-Programming-with-Universal-Studios-Orlando

 

[draybook]

I was tempted to watch a show once, when they had like 8 employees outside trying to wrangle up people to come in. However, I just couldn't justify leaving my family for 2 hours, especially not for TnA.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I actually tried to watch last night on TV. Excruciating.

 

[71jason]

Aaaaaaand they're back.

RIP WWE Hall of Fame in CityWalk.

 

[Mr Bill]

RIP WWE Hall of Fame in CityWalk.

TNA seems to be in a death spiral right now, WWE could probably break ground on a HoF tomorrow and TNA would be out of Universal again by the time the WWE Hall of Fame was ready to open.

 

[Bairstow]

Doesn't the WWF film some kind of wrestling show at a college in Orlando?
I wonder if they would have any more success if they tried to film a show at Universal.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Doesn't the WWF film some kind of wrestling show at a college in Orlando?
I wonder if they would have any more success if they tried to film a show at Universal.

I believe all of there weekly shows are filmed on the road. They may have filmed one of their "reality" shows there.

 

[NemoRocks78]

I think it's a good idea for them to go back. Being on the road obviously isn't working at this point in time. I went to the Bound for Glory PPV in San Diego last Sunday, and while they had a decent crowd in a smaller arena (all the pics floating around of the place 'empty' are BS since they're of camera side and WWE often doesn't fill that area up either), it just wasn't big enough for what's supposed to be their WrestleMania. Going back to Universal Studios gives them another (maybe final?) chance to turn things around. This whole "Action Never Ends" thing sounds interesting.

I don't see why TNA's return should stop WWE from doing the HoF thing... they'll have a wrestling fanbase coming onto property for both, and TNA tapings sure didn't stop WWE from running Axxess INSIDE USF during Wrestlemania 24 weekend while TNA was taping on the same days.

 

[71jason]

TNA seems to be in a death spiral right now, WWE could probably break ground on a HoF tomorrow and TNA would be out of Universal again by the time the WWE Hall of Fame was ready to open.

I've heard this. Going back to Hogan (not sure that's confirmed?) seems like an act of desperation.