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News regarding a legal clause that WWE has with sports arenas that affects AEW

Aaron Rift

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted the following in regards to WWE’s competition with AEW when it comes to live events…

“Arenas that do rent to both AEW and WWE, WWE has put clauses in its deals that AEW can’t run a certain number of weeks before or after the WWE show, and also that AEW and the arena can’t announce the show or sell tickets until after the WWE show has taken place.”

Eric Bischoff tweeted the following in regards to the report and how WCW was also impacted…

“They (WWE) had the same agreement with different arenas, which effectively blocked WCW. MSG [Madison Square Garden in New York City] being most notable.”

Rafael Morffi, who is the Vice President of Live Events and Touring at AEW, recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s podcast and commented on how AEW attempted to run at MSG but the venue has been loyalty to WWE…

“We came at the right time here in AEW where there are options in the New York market place. Not only MSG [Madison Square Garden], and MSG, we’ve had conversations with them, but they have loyalty to WWE and I don’t blame them. I was a small part of that on the other side. I appreciate their loyalty and how they feel committed to WWE. We embraced a venue that is our own, being Arthur Ashe Stadium.” (quote courtesy of Jeremy Lambert)