And then there were two
Atlanta, Miami remain in WrestleMania 2011 sweepstakes
BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com
The finalists to host WWE WrestleMania in 2011, Atlanta and Miami await to hear the verdict from WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Conn.
It could be soon. It could be within the month. It could be later.
``We're continuing our diligence and our internal deliberations,'' said John Saboor, senior vice president of special events for WWE. ``We hope to make a decision during the next several weeks. We're generating points of interest, points of clarification.
``There won't be a lot left to the imagination as to what WWE is certainly willing to deliver in the execution of WrestleMania Week and what a host community -- both from the public and private sectors -- is willing to deliver on behalf of the mosaic which is their region.''
WWE and Miami discussed 2011 and other future WrestleManias, but the focus for WWE and Miami is 2011. Standing in South Florida's way is Atlanta and vice-versa.
``We issued the bid document to 18 cities, and a large majority of those responded with formal presentations,'' Saboor said. ``Ultimately, Miami was named as a finalist along with Atlanta, and I visited, comprehensively, both communities.''
Saboor knows all too well the anticipation, excitement and stress stemming from the waiting game.
Saboor, who previously served as president of the Central Florida Sports Commission, was instrumental in landing WWE WrestleMania 24 in Orlando in 2008. It was the first WrestleMania in the Sunshine State and set a Citrus Bowl record with 74,635 fans from 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries..
WWE was so impressed with Saboor's efforts that the company hired him shortly after.
The company allowed him to remain in Orlando, his home base since 1994.
Saboor visits prospective sites -- like Miami -- for the super bowl of pro wrestling/sports entertainment.
``Miami broke out of a very competitive national landscape for a lot of different reasons,'' Saboor said, ``not least of which is great infrastructure. The fact that it's a gateway city to the world -- South and Central America and the rest of the domestic United States and Europe. It has a very successful history of hosting world class events that really helped Team Miami matriculate to this point in the process.''
If Miami is chosen, Land Shark Stadium, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and the Florida Marlins, would host the event. The stadium holds approximately 76,500. The Georgia Dome in Atlanta seats approximately 71,000.
``The current selection process suggests that we are focused on larger venues right now and stadiums as a whole that would seat something north of 60,000,'' Saboor said. ``That's not to say that on any given day, under the right circumstances, that we wouldn't enjoy the ability to move from that position, but the current selection process is focused on that 60,000 plus.''
In April, more than 72,500 fans invaded Reliant Stadium in Houston for WrestleMania 25.
``Certainly, our fans have demonstrated that they are willing, able and excited about being in larger venues as well,'' Saboor said. ``Each year is going to be its own atypical model, and I think while the focus is on 60,000 plus, we will always have in the back of our minds every city is different; every situation is different; and we'll ultimately do what's best for our fans.''
Saboor implemented a company plan to generate WrestleMania interest from cities.
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