Arsenal v World Wrestling Entertainment
Sunday, 24 May 09, 04:56 AM · Comments(2)
by Joel Abraham
This one seems to have slipped under the radar of the British press, but it's huge news in America. Stan Kroenke, major Arsenal shareholder and US sports tycoon, has found himself engaged in an all-out media war with Vince McMahon and the WWE.
WWE were booked into Kroenke's Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, for next Monday. The booking was made in August, with tickets going on sale the following April. Then, Kroenke's basketball team, the Denver Nuggets, made it to the Conference final against the Los Angeles Lakers, which would take place on the same night. Kroenke subsequently dumped the WWE from his venue at short notice in favour of the NBA game, leaving them and thousands of fans in the lurch.
Kroenke is definitely in the wrong here, and has made a complete fool of himself. Whatever you might think about professional wrestling, it's not fair that the company and the fans were given the boot with such short notice. The WWE have since pulled all events from Colorado, moved them to the Staples Center in LA (home of the Lakers) and started an full-scale mudslinging contest through the press.
McMahon is milking this for all it's worth. Leaving aside the inevitable messy legal fallout, the WWE are getting buckets of free publicity, with the effervescent McMahon labelling Kroenke a "chicken nugget", challenging him to a steel cage fight (no, seriously) and offering to give him a Lakers shirt.
Should Arsenal fans be worried by all this? It's a clear sign of Kroenke's ruthless business acumen. He thought he could make more money from the NBA game, so the WWE and its fans were out on their arse. Maybe Kroenke is a seasoned businessman who knows how to make the most money possible, yet the shocking disrespect he's shown a huge industry and all of its followers is certainly a cause for concern. If he decides to hike up ticket prices, will he even think twice about the thousands of diehard Arsenal fans who would no longer be able to afford to go?
This is all speculation, but Kroenke's philosophy is clear - money talks.
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2 Comments · Add yours
Whenever you want to see an example of faulty logic and gleeful muckraking, just trun to a sports blog I always say. The writer may not realize this but Kronke and the Nuggets have legal contractual obligations with the NBA as well. NBA playoff games have to be played in a certain timeframe and teams have no choice regarding whrn the home and aways are played.
Vince McMahon is a world-class goof who has only the WWF to fall back on, as he won't be remembered for his charm, philanthropy, or intellect. He's certainly a formidable circus ringmaster but I suspect there's some contractual language about game conflicts and priorities that McMahon hasn't bothered to mention in his "press war." Also, frequently seen in such contractual language is the right for venues to cancel events with notice for certain reasons.
McMahon will be back in Colorado and Denver, because he's about the money and it's there. That someone thinks there's something to be learned about Kronke from the way in which he smacked down a buffoonish carnival promoter like McMahon is amusing (and a bit sad). This Arsenal fan is heartened to know Mr. Kronke has some steel when it comes to his teams, one of which are the lads at the Emirates Stadium.
Wasn't aware of the contractual obligations Kroenke had - you're saying he had no choice but to host the NBA instead of WWE? Couldn't have been scheduled for another night? Admittedly I've been taking info from the WWE press releases, because frankly, those coming from Kroenke are utter misinformation. The only press release I could get hold of from Kroenke Sports was intended to be a joint release with WWE had the two sides agreed to hold the Raw event on Sunday night in Denver. "By all accounts, Mr. Kroenke is one of the most respected professional sports team owners in the world, and the professional way he and his staff good-naturedly handled this conflict gives further testament to the type of business leader he is." Doesn't that strike you as rather odd? Also, this could just be hot air from Vince, but if WWE are to sue, Kroenke isn't liable?