The push to bring WrestleMania to Ireland is being described as a serious, long-term project, but those close to the initiative are under no illusions about the obstacles that must be cleared before a credible bid can be submitted, according to Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan.
Sources close to the effort say the concept is achievable if the Irish government views the country as a global sporting hub and backs the bid accordingly. Organizers are pointing to the NFL’s successful games at Croke Park and the upcoming Manchester United and Leeds match in August as evidence that the 82,000-capacity Dublin stadium can host international events, dismissing the concerns raised by local residents near the venue.
Two challenges have been identified. The first is financial. Ireland would need to at least match the six-million-dollar bid Las Vegas submitted to secure WrestleMania, a figure that sources within the Irish wrestling community described as a roadblock. The second is practical. Croke Park has no roof, making unpredictable Irish weather a genuine logistical concern for an event of WrestleMania’s scale and production demands.
The economic case provides the strongest argument in the bid’s favor. Fightful was told the event could inject close to 300 million euros into the Irish economy, a figure that could carry weight when the formal pitch is made to government officials.
Kilkenny Councilor Maurice Shortall previously told the Irish Mirror that Ireland is well placed to make a competitive bid and has indicated plans to formally present the proposal to the Irish government. WrestleMania 43 is currently planned for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Nashville also in discussions for a future year.