WWE losing Pepsi Center on May 25 ESPN.com news services
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to be at the Pepsi Center in Denver next Monday night.
Problem is, so are John Cena and a bunch of wrestlers.
World Wrestling Entertainment says it is booked at the arena for an episode of Monday Night Raw, the same night the Nuggets are slated to host the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman says the organization secured the Pepsi Center last Aug. 15 and has already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the event. He says the organization expects a sellout, with tickets ranging from $20 to $70.
"Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs, obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25th date for a potential playoff game," WWE chairman Vince McMahon said in a statement.
Denver is usually done with basketball by now. The Nuggets had lost in the first round five straight years, but as the No. 2 seed in the West are in the conference finals for the first time since 1985.
The Nuggets referred comment to the NBA, which handles scheduling during the playoffs. NBA spokesman Mark Broussard said the league was looking into the conflict.
Zimmerman said the Pepsi Center confirmed in March with the WWE that the organization wanted to keep the May 25 date, and sent a contract on April 15 -- the final night of the regular season -- which WWE signed and returned. Tickets went on sale April 11.
The conflict didn't arise until Sunday, when the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. Had the Rockets won, Denver would have had home-court advantage in the next round, hosting Games 1 and 2 and putting the May 25 game in Houston.
As of Monday afternoon, the schedule on the Pepsi Center's Web site listed WWE for 6:30 p.m. local time and Western Conference finals Game 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the wrestling event could still be purchased online.
Pepsi Center officials told the ABC television affiliate in Denver that the Nuggets game will be played as scheduled and that they are working with the WWE to reschedule or move their event.
1. Classic Vince: "Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs, obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25th date for a potential playoff game." I can picture him saying this like he was talking down to Costas.
2. I would think the fact that the Pepsi Center signed the contract on 4/11 would be at least a little bit problematic.
3. Don't think I didn't at least chuckle at "WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman."
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
If Vince has a contract for the building for the evening, the Nuggets are going to have to find a way to schedule around it. Going back to '91, the Celtics and Pistons had to play a Thursday afternoon playoff game due to scheduling conflicts. Either the Lakers/Nuggets would have to play a Sunday afternoon game on ESPN after playing on ABC the night before, play a late morning game on Memorial Day to get the game in and flip the building over for Vince, or have 2 days off, or play Tuesday afternoon (so as not to conflict with TNT broadcasting the East Finals) and then play Game 5 in LA the next evening. Or Vince is going to get a nice check and he can just run a Best of show on a holiday anyway. It's not like anything major has ever occurred on a wrestling program on Memorial Day before ;).
The video of the interview put a few smiles on my face. Jonathan Coachman was falling all over himself to point out the fact that he used to work for Vince McMahon and even said "hi" to him a couple of times. Meanwhile, McMahon didn't even acknowledge him. Seeing how this was an interview via satellite, I wonder if maybe all Vince got on his end was sound. He might not even have known it was Coach. Or maybe even remembered him!
Oh, and Vince holding up the Kobe jersey saying he was gonna give it to the Nuggets owner was classic. Somebody needs to get a screencap of that. Kobe + Vince = too much evil in one place to not memorialize.
I wonder if Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City is available. It can seat about 18,000 people and it might be fun watching RAW take place in a soccer stadium.
What's this "World Wrestling Federation" Vince is referring to? *grin*
In any event, I know Vince is a natural showman, but I wish he'd given an honest straight-up answer as to the conversations the Nuggets have had with WWE regarding the situation.
(edited by ekedolphin on 19.5.09 0341) "I don't want to see this foolishness!" "What kind of foolishness do you want to see?"
--Sam the Eagle and Gonzo, Muppet Vision 3-D
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
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Well, its going to be interesting one way or another next week. I mean a double booked venue just isn't a good thing. It seems like the WWE is in the right even in the contracts were signed late.
I'm hope this debacle gets cleaned up sometime this week because I just can't see Carlito, Primo, Randy, Edge, Rey, and MVP suiting up to play basket ball or the Nuggets in a cage match.
Well, maybe M.V.P but still.
I get the award for double posting this one. *FAIL*
Why does basket ball win on this one and not the wrestling thread? Sad panda.
Originally posted by CajunManIs Coors Field or Investco Stadium available? That's the only idea I can think to give Vince if he is so determined to have the show that night.
The Colorado Rockies host the Dodgers on May 25, so cross Coors Field off the list. It's weird, but aside from a few corporate meetings in the concourses and luxury suites, Coors Field has never held a special event on the field. No concerts or festivals-- MLB functions only (I think they might've used it as the end point of a foot race a few years ago).
Invesco Field is available. Only event I see booked there is a Denver Outlaws (lacrosse) on May 30.
The issue at Invesco would be capacity, though. The Pepsi Center seats about 19,000 at full capacity. Invesco seat about 76,000. It'd be cool to see an open-air rasslin' setting, but the crowd would look pretty thin in a stadium of that size.
I like the Dick's Sporting Goods Park idea. That seats about 19,000 and would fit well. However, the Colorado Rapids (soccer. Ha) have an event scheduled for May 25. From the Dick's Sporting Goods Park website:
Rapids Academy U-10 Center of Excellence May 25, 2009 at 6-7:15pm Fields Complex
For those youth soccer players looking for a competitive edge, the Rapids Soccer Academy is offering a U-10 Center of Excellence program that provides just that!
It's just at the "complex" and may not be taking place at the actual stadium. If so, it could theoretically be moved to any high school field. Although it'd be bad press for Vince to kick (*gasp*) KIDS out of a venue.
DU's Magness Arena and CU's Coors Events Center are both college basketball arenas in the area, but they house less than 10,000 each. The Broomfield Events Center is just up the road and available, but it also appears to seat less than 10,000
The WWF used to run house shows there in the 90's and Nitro ran a few shows there, as well (plus a "Clash of the Champions" in 1996). Move RAW there and it's an instant sell-out.
Meltzer is saying the mostly likely situation at the moment is just two nights of shows in Colorado Springs (they're at the World Arena for SmackDown on Tuesday.)
There's an outside chance they could tape RAW a couple days earlier in Salt Lake City on Saturday, but this sounded like the much less likely scenario.
I realize Vince is a huckster at heart who is attempting to take advantage of the mainstream media attention this will generate, and he *IS* in the right here . . . but wouldn't it still be in his best interest from a casual fan/WWE-hater standpoint to take the high road and simply say they're working with the Nuggets/NBA on alternatives rather than be an a$$ about it (again, even though he is right from a legal standpoint)?
Of course, if this leads to Vince taking over the NBADL and re-naming it the XBA, we'll know it was all a work ;-)
Snarky Sonics fanpoint: BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HA. Great league Stern. Have fun re-arranging your schedule you doofus!! (Never forget - Never forgive)
(edited by DrewDewce on 19.5.09 1041) �You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face.� Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic�s �Manhunter�)
Originally posted by DrewDewceand he *IS* in the right here . . . but wouldn't it still be in his best interest from a casual fan/WWE-hater standpoint to take the high road and simply say they're working with the Nuggets/NBA on alternatives rather than be an a$$ about it (again, even though he is right from a legal standpoint)?
Probably, but would the Nuggets or the NBA do that for him?
I dont have a problem with the Nuggets initially agreeing to allow WWE to use the building back in August 2008. They had just been knocked out of the first round of the playoffs (April '08) for the 5th year in a row, and there was no reason to believe that it wouldn't happen again (They didnt trade for Chauncy Billups until November of that year).
But Vince says the contract for the May 25th use of the Pepsi Center was finalized on April 15, which also happened to be the last day of the Nuggets' regular season. The Nuggets' 1st round playoff series vs. the New Orleans Hornets started 4 days later on April 19. That first round series (which they won, 4 games to 1) ended on April 29, TWO WEEKS after they finalized their contract with WWE.
The Nuggets' 2nd round opponent was the Dallas Mavericks. That series started May 3 and ended May 13 (Denver won 4-1). They officially learned they would be in the conference finals on May 13, but I'm sure they "unofficially" knew much sooner than that, considering they were heavily favored to beat Dallas all along.
HOWEVER, they still didnt know WHO they would be playing against in the western conference finals or WHERE each game would be played. If the Houston Rockets won their semi-finals match-up vs. the Lakers, they would play games 1 & 2 at the Pepsi Center in Denver and games 3 & 4 (game 4 on May 25) in Houston. But if the Lakers beat the Rockets (which they did, w00t), then the Nuggets would play games 1 & 2 in Los Angeles and games 3 & 4 (game 4 at the Pepsi Center on May 25) in Denver.
So the the scheduling conflict didnt become official until the Lakers/Rockets series ended on May 17, but they certainly knew of the possibility by May 13.
LONG STORY SHORT: They had about 2 weeks before May 25 to clear all of this up, but didnt. And THAT'S the part I have a problem with.
Originally posted by DrewDewceand he *IS* in the right here . . . but wouldn't it still be in his best interest from a casual fan/WWE-hater standpoint to take the high road and simply say they're working with the Nuggets/NBA on alternatives rather than be an a$$ about it (again, even though he is right from a legal standpoint)?
Probably, but would the Nuggets or the NBA do that for him?
I dont have a problem with the Nuggets initially agreeing to allow WWE to use the building back in August 2008. They had just been knocked out of the first round of the playoffs (April '08) for the 5th year in a row, and there was no reason to believe that it wouldn't happen again (They didnt trade for Chauncy Billups until November of that year).
But Vince says the contract for the May 25th use of the Pepsi Center was finalized on April 15, which also happened to be the last day of the Nuggets' regular season. The Nuggets' 1st round playoff series vs. the New Orleans Hornets started 4 days later on April 19. That first round series (which they won, 4 games to 1) ended on April 29, TWO WEEKS after they finalized their contract with WWE.
The Nuggets' 2nd round opponent was the Dallas Mavericks. That series started May 3 and ended May 13 (Denver won 4-1). They officially learned they would be in the conference finals on May 13, but I'm sure they "unofficially" knew much sooner than that, considering they were heavily favored to beat Dallas all along.
HOWEVER, they still didnt know WHO they would be playing against in the western conference finals or WHERE each game would be played. If the Houston Rockets won their semi-finals match-up vs. the Lakers, they would play games 1 & 2 at the Pepsi Center in Denver and games 3 & 4 (game 4 on May 25) in Houston. But if the Lakers beat the Rockets (which they did, w00t), then the Nuggets would play games 1 & 2 in Los Angeles and games 3 & 4 (game 4 at the Pepsi Center on May 25) in Denver.
So the the scheduling conflict didnt become official until the Lakers/Rockets series ended on May 17, but they certainly knew of the possibility by May 13.
LONG STORY SHORT: They had about 2 weeks before May 25 to clear all of this up, but didnt. And THAT'S the part I have a problem with.
Whew!
You could actually say they knew about the potential going back to the end of the regular season, as they would be favored against the Hornets and Mavericks, probably a slight dog against a banged up Spurs team just due to reputation, and the Lakers were a heavy favorite to get through the first 2 rounds unscathed. Vince sees mainstream media coverage and there are not any dead bodies around, so the carny instinct kicks in. That can be chalked up to genetics. Also, Game 4 is a competitor to RAW. If it is played head-to-head, the next week they might have to resort to Did You Know Raw was the highest rated show amongst partially blind Albinos who were born on an odd numbered date in an even numbered month?
Man, Vince can never keep his yap shut from gaining more media attention. Putting Vince aside........
I am going to have to side with the WWE on this one. As it has been pointed out, the contract was already signed way before the Nuggets decided to host game 4 on Monday. Negotiations were already underway back in August with the WWE in Denver for the rights to perform. And besides, 10,000 fans have already bought their tickets with a sellout that is expected.
I am going to say this is poor management by Denver. The contract has already been signed so I think Denver should move their game a day or two later.
Originally posted by The GameMan, Vince can never keep his yap shut from gaining more media attention. Putting Vince aside........
I am going to have to side with the WWE on this one. As it has been pointed out, the contract was already signed way before the Nuggets decided to host game 4 on Monday. Negotiations were already underway back in August with the WWE in Denver for the rights to perform. And besides, 10,000 fans have already bought their tickets with a sellout that is expected.
I am going to say this is poor management by Denver. The contract has already been signed so I think Denver should move their game a day or two later.
I place more blame on the NBA and their arrogance over the Nuggets. Heaven-forbid you push the game back a day.
The NBA will win this, I'm sure with a payout to Vince, and maybe even something to the people who bought Raw tickets, and are now being asked to travel to, at best, Colorado Springs.
But, it is yet another highlight of the NBA's horrifically drawn-out playoff scheduling. If there's no travel involved, you don't need 2 days off between first round games. Even if there's travel involved, you can get by with just 1 day off between games, dependent on how much distance you're going. Shave 3 or 4 days off the first round, and this is not a problem.
What really bugs me about the mainstream (RE: ESPN) coverage of this is that everyone seems to think it's no big deal to have the WWE have their show another night, not taking into account that RAW is (usually) a live event, just like an NBA playoff game. I don't know the most recent ratings numbers, but RAW is a show that has been and might now be watched by more people than an NBA playoff game, Conference Finals or not.
Of course, since ESPN is in bed with the league, they're going to seemingly take the NBA's side of things in harping on it not being any big deal for the WWE to move their show, but geez, it is pretty (typically) arrogant where wrestling is concerned.
“You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face.” Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic’s “Manhunter”)
Thread ahead: Los Angeles' STAPLES Center to host 2011 All-Star Game Next thread: 2009 NBA CONFERENCE FINALS - Schedule and YOUR predictions Previous thread: Clippers Win! Chris Webber and the Kings Lose (yet again)!
Just saw this on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network News: The Miami Herald's reporting that Hardaway's services are no longer required (miami.com) when it comes to making media appearances on behalf of the NBA.
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