This is a discussion on A Potential European Market? within the General Pro Wrestling : Classic & General forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; So after reading about how the WWE once again did mega-business on their European tour this year it made me ...
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So after reading about how the WWE once again did mega-business on their European tour this year it made me think back to how TNA drew their biggest gate ever in the UK. Small niche companies like 1PW and wXw both also drew really well at their recent shows, and last year both LLL and NOAH sold out too in the UK, this makes think that there is potentially a big market for a European wrestling company. I don't mean a small time indy promotion like wXw, nor do a I mean a WWE rival, but there could easily be a company somewhere in between the ROH to CHIKARA scale in there. Despite business flailing in the US and Japan, it would seem as if wrestling is just as popular as ever in UK and Europe.
So... thoughts? Is there potential for a wrestling start-up in Europe? Is it something you'd like to see?
Good question. I've always wondered about the European market, as the North American promotions traveling do seem to do very well. I wonder if perhaps lack of options there is why, though?
I am surprised that a UK company hasn't got bigger considering the popularity of wrestling over here when they do the tours, but couldn't it be argued that the main reason the WWE tours are so popular is that its so famous and we don't get to see it very often? Same with TNA. They toured the UK for the first time so going to see what you've seen on TV live for the first time is bound to be an attractive prospect.
I do think there is definitely a market though, at least for an indy company to do really well and get pretty big.
I am surprised that a UK company hasn't got bigger considering the popularity of wrestling over here when they do the tours, but couldn't it be argued that the main reason the WWE tours are so popular is that its so famous and we don't get to see it very often? Same with TNA. They toured the UK for the first time so going to see what you've seen on TV live for the first time is bound to be an attractive prospect.
I do think there is definitely a market though, at least for an indy company to do really well and get pretty big.
I definitely think that the reason the tours mentioned did so well, has at least a little to do with the novelty of it. I've been to WWE TV tapings in Manchester, ROH in Liverpool, TNA in Liverpool and Manchester, and NOAH in Coventry, and I'm planning to take full advantage of the upcoming Dragon Gate tour, but while I keep up with WWE and TNA (obviously) I went to NOAH purely for the fact that it was such a big deal and to see guys I knew from ROH, and it will be the same with Dragon Gate. I'm going to see a great show, that I don't get to see often.
If there was a UK promotion (or even a European one) that toured regularly I would like go to one or two shows now and then, but only when I had the spare cash, and I wouldn't really travel to far for it, and I think that's the problem. Once we had something of our own, we'd neglect it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gouldinho
the market is there but the main obstacle for a major European promotion is the language barrier. Ireland and the UK could do it but it needs TV.
And this is also a very good point. A promotion travelling all over Europe would need a multi-lingual roster to survive. WWE and TNA get away with it due to (as I said) the novelty value of seeing something live that you'd normally have to see on TV.
I don't think the langauge barrier is a big problem. Most European countries all understand English fine, and something like wXw and the CHIKARA Grand Prix in Germany last year both did pretty well.
Lets try this again and hope that I don't get another database error.
There's one thing I wonder about the European market. Is it really a profitable year round market or is it profitable only because major companies rarely goes there so fans know to buy tickets or it could be a long time before they can see them again? If the business would be steady for a full year schedule, then there's definitely a major market for it. I do remember hearing rumors about the WWE changing into global brands. One of the brands would have been UK. Whether or not that is still being considered is anyone's guess. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea for the WWE to open up a second developmental system over in Europe. It could act as the minor leagues for FCW, but also as it's own company in Europe. Having a developmental there would make it even easier to scout European talent.
Apparrently Len Davies who runs RQW here in the UK was approached by WWE when they were planning the global brand extension, but it's since fallen through. He's still in touch with them from what I hear, but it's all just rumour and hearsay to be honest.
I never liked the idea of the global brand extension, mostly cos the plans sounded as if the UK would only get to see guys from the UK on a regular basis, and while I appriciate Regal and Burchill, I wanna see Rey and Jericho and Cena and such.
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