As the world adapts to the long-term consequences of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Mayor of Los Angeles has made a major announcement that may affect aspects of next year's Wrestlemania 37.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has effectively cancelled all sporting events and concerts set to take place in Los Angeles until 2021. In addition to impacting professional sporting events like MLB and NFL games, this could derail the WWE's plans to host its marquee event in the area in March 2021. Speculation has similarly arisen that public events will be cancelled or postponed until a vaccine to COVID-19 is available to the general public, which may not be until mid-2021 -- months after the event's original date.
This past February, the WWE announced Wrestlemania 37 would take place in Los Angeles on March 28, 2021, with a week of special events throughout the city to commemorate the pay-per-view event's return to the city for the first time since 2005. While the main event is slated to be held at SoFi Stadium, which is located in Inglewood, CA, numerous other WrestleMania themed events are currently scheduled to be held in Staples Center, which is based in downtown Los Angeles.
The professional wrestling industry has been in a state of flux in the face of the global health crisis, with live tapings cancelled and only select events televised. Additionally, the WWE has cut the size of its staff and reduced executive salaries due to the pandemic's impact on its revenue and operations.
For more information on COVID-19, along with basic protective measures such as social distancing, please visit the World Health Organization website.
via KRON 4
UPDATE: The original version of this story indicated that all of WrestleMania 37 might be affected by Los Angeles' proposed shutdown length. The actual wrestling event, however, is slated to take place in SoFi Stadium which is based in Inglewood, CA - part of Los Angeles County, but not the City of Los Angeles.