WWE Q2 Financials: Live Events Revenue Jumps 98 Percent Thanks to WM 32

– In today’s WWE Q2 financials, WWE announced that live events revenues increased 97% to a quarterly record of $51.9 million, primarily due to the timing of WrestleMania 32. Excluding this timing impact, Live Event revenues increased 15% to $30.4 million from $26.4 million in the prior year quarter. Here is the breakdown…

* There were 81 total events (excluding NXT) in the current quarter, including 62 events in North America and 19 events in international markets, as compared to 86 events in the prior year quarter, including 65 events in North America and 21 in international markets.

* North American live event revenues were $40.9 million in the current year quarter as compared to $16.9 million in the prior year quarter, with growth driven by the timing of WrestleMania, which generated revenue of approximately $21.5 million in the current year quarter. Excluding the impact of WrestleMania, revenue from the Company’s North American live events increased 15% to $19.4 million as a 12% increase in average ticket prices to $51.87 was partially offset by the staging of four fewer events during the quarter.

* International live event revenue increased 16% to $11.0 million from $9.5 million in the prior year quarter reflecting the strong performance of the Company’s events in Europe. Average international attendance at these events increased 16% to 8,000 fans. As part of the Company’s international growth strategy it announced the return of a WWE live event to Shanghai on Saturday, September 10, 2016.