Want the chance to see Hulk Hogan rip out of his shirt in the ring one final time?
The Metroplex might get that opportunity at WrestleMania 32. The Dallas Cowboys and WWE announced Tuesday that AT&T Stadium will host the flagship event April 3, 2016.
CEO Vince McMahon said that the WWE expects to break its 28-year-old attendance record of 93,173, set during WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.
Hogan had a career highlight match at WrestleMania III, body slamming Andre the Giant to retain the then-WWF championship. A sentimental Hogan said Tuesday that April 2016 might be a good time for a return to the ring.
“As I look at AT&T Stadium, I picture the ring on the 50-yard line and I picture the whole football field filled with seats,” Hogan said. “I think the WWE is going to break the old indoor attendance record, which fast-forwards me to being a politician and thinking that I haven’t had a retirement match yet. I can’t think of a better place than out there to have it.”
Joining Hogan and McMahon at Tuesday’s news conference were Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, WWE star John Cena, Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones Anderson, WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon, and former Cowboys players Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Randy White.
WWE is expected to host entertainment and philanthropic events across North Texas in the week leading up to WrestleMania 32.
WrestleMania Axxess will highlight the festivities. The fan festival will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Other events include the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the American Airlines Center and Monday Night Raw.
Cluck said officials expect WrestleMania to generate more than $100 million for North Texas.
“AT&T Stadium — it’s like sacred ground,” Hogan said. “It’s like in the stratosphere of sports entertainment. We needed to be here.”
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