With any outdoor annual spectacular shown to millions worldwide, there is always the concern of stormy weather spoiling the event. Considering the amount of money at stake, this is no surprise.

World Wrestling Entertainment ran WrestleMania, its biggest show of the year, under the open sky twice in its 25-year history. In 1993, the extravaganza emanated outside Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace, and WrestleMania 24 in 2008 in Orlando brought more than 74,000 fans to the open-air Citrus Bowl.

Each time, including the Florida show, moved forward without Mother Nature raining down on WWE's grand parade.

Miami is hoping to make it three and is currently in the running as the host city for WrestleMania in 2011 or 2012. Since the likely venue Land Shark Stadium doesn't have a retractable roof, the issue of weather is a thought.

Legendary announcer Jim Ross, a WWE Hall of Famer, spoke on the subject in one of his recent blogs. Ross enjoys coming to South Florida with WWE or when his beloved Oklahoma Sooners play, but he thinks cities with domed stadiums have a better shot to host the event.

``I read where Miami, Florida is interested in hosting WrestleMania in 2011 or 2012. I assume many cities are in the bidding process as 'Mania brings in big money to the host city,'' Ross wrote. ``However, if the trend is to go into stadiums for WrestleMania events, how does one address the issue of rain especially with South Florida's lovely but rainy, at times, climate? No, I did not forget WM24 in Orlando, but that was a hold one's breath deal as it related to the weather and how to deal with rain not only for the talents but for the many fans who traveled thousands of miles and paid healthy dollars to attend the show.''

David Bernard serves as chief meteorologist and storm specialist for Miami Herald's partner CBS4 WFOR-TV in South Florida.

His forecasts for March make it an ideal time to hold an outdoor event.

``Our driest months are January, February and a good part of March,'' Bernard said. ``Each year can be different, but in general, we stay quite dry into April. However, our rainfall averages do slowly start to increase by the first of April. This being said, the odds of it being dry are quite high and any rain is typically light and not of a long duration.

``Of course January is usually very dry, but remember the Super Bowl three years ago? There are always exceptions.''

When WrestleMania occurred in Orlando in 2008, there were some sprinkles but relatively nice weather, and talent was not hindered, and fans had a great time. For precautions, a steel rig with a tarpaulin was placed over the ring.

Bernard says in places north of South Florida, like Orlando, rain chances increase significantly in April and May.

``In some cases severe weather can be a concern especially in April,'' he said. ``However, even these months have the potential for good weather until rainy season sets late in May.''

According to Weather Underground, a website with a wealth of weather related information, on likely dates for the event April 3 (for 2011) and April 1 (for 2012) had zero and .29 inches of precipitation, respectively, in 2009.

Also, if the National Football League can hold the Pro Bowl (Jan. 31) and Super Bowl (Feb. 7) outdoors 2010 at Land Shark Stadium, why can't WWE follow by holding the super bowl of pro wrestling?

This further pushes the point that having WrestleMania in Miami at Land Shark Stadium is a very minimal risk concerning weather.

In the past, South Florida has played host indoors to two WWE Royal Rumbles, a WWE Survivor Series, two WWE Armageddon PPVs, as well as countless WWE Monday Night Raws and WWE Friday Night SmackDowns.

• The Florida Marlins are expected to debut its new baseball stadium in April 2012 in Miami. The facility will have a retractable roof. It holds about 40,000 people where as Land Shark Stadium seats roughly 75,000.

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