WWE has announced their new state-of-the-art viewing experience – WWE ThunderDome.
The new viewing experience will debut this Friday on FOX with the SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown, kicking off SummerSlam Weekend. ThunderDome will feature a new set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, graphics and drone cameras. This will also go along with WWE’s new longterm residency at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE ThunderDome will be used for RAW, SmackDown and pay-per-view events. Fans can register for their virtual seats beginning tonight at WWEThunderDome.com, or via WWE’s Facebook pages.
“WWE has a long history of producing the greatest live spectacles in sports and entertainment, yet nothing compares to what we are creating with WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Vice President, Television Production. “This structure will enable us to deliver an immersive atmosphere and generate more excitement amongst the millions of fans watching our programming around the world.”
WWE has also announced their schedule for August, seen below. It was noted that the residency at the Amway Center will continue for the foreseeable future. WWE will continue to operate on closed-sets with essential employees present, and with COVID-19 protocols in place.
Below is WWE’s full announcement on ThunderDome, with comments from Dunn and Brian Flinn, WWE’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer:
WWE introducing new state-of-the-start viewing experience with WWE ThunderDome
WWE ThunderDome, featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras, will take WWE fans’ viewing experience to an unprecedented level starting this Friday, Aug. 21 on FOX, kicking off SummerSlam Weekend.
“WWE has a long history of producing the greatest live spectacles in sports and entertainment, yet nothing compares to what we are creating with WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Vice President, Television Production. “This structure will enable us to deliver an immersive atmosphere and generate more excitement amongst the millions of fans watching our programming around the world.”
With the debut of WWE ThunderDome, WWE will take residency at Amway Center in Orlando and virtually bring fans into the arena via live video on massive LED boards, in conjunction with The Famous Group and its proprietary technology, for every Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and WWE pay-per-view event. Starting tonight, fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming shows via www.WWEThunderDome.com or at WWE’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.
“As WWE takes residency at the world-class Amway Center, we have reimagined our live event experience for today’s environment,” said Brian Flinn, WWE Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “In partnership with The Famous Group, we will virtually bring our fans back into the show and recreate the interactive in-arena atmosphere that has been a staple of WWE events for decades.”
WWE Event Schedule for August:
Friday, August 21 – Friday Night SmackDown®, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX
* Saturday, August 22 – NXT TakeOver XXX, Full Sail Live, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
* Sunday, August 23 – SummerSlam, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
* Monday, August 24 – Monday Night Raw, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network
* Wednesday, August 26 – NXT, Full Sail Live, 8 pm ET on USA Network
* Friday, August 28 – Friday Night SmackDown, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX
* Sunday, August 30 – Payback, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
* Monday, August 31 – Monday Night Raw, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network
WWE’s Amway Center residency will continue for the foreseeable future and Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view programming will be produced on closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance. WWE will continue to administer its health and safety protocols for talent, crew and employees in conjunction with each production, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks.
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