ELLERBE, N.C.. (AP) — Andre The Giant, a towering menace in the wrestling ring but a gentle giant on the movie screen, is being honored with a…
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As WWE gears up for WrestleMania this weekend, the biggest annual event for the professional wrestling organization, data shows that its appearance in Las Vegas last year had an economic impact worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Parent company TKO said Wednesday that recent studies conducted by research firm Applied Analysis show that the event had an economic impact of $322.2 million, with wrestling fans traveling from all over the U.S. and abroad to spend money on hotels, restaurants, shops and at other businesses.
AP
As it does with any championship, ESPN is giving WrestleMania the big-event treatment. The network will have coverage on “SportsCenter” beginning Thursday, and “First Take” will originate from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday. WrestleMania 42 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and will be streamed on the ESPN app for the first time. However, the opening hour on Saturday will air on ESPN2, while Sunday’s first hour will air on ESPN. The start time for both nights is 6 p.m. EDT. ESPN began airing WWE premium live events on the ESPN Unlimited streaming service last September. Most major cable, satellite, and streaming services have reached agreements with Disney that include an ESPN Unlimited subscription as a part of their TV plan.