Over $7 million being used to bring the event to New Jersey.
There’s a story up on the Bergen Record via Katie Sobko, which has to do with the two-night WWE SummerSlam 2025 event(s) emanating from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It is noted in the write-up that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority have approved $7.125 million to be used to assist MetLife with securing SummerSlam. The money is from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-19 Stimulus Package) that New Jersey received from the federal government during the pandemic. The money can be used to ‘respond to the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency by providing aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality.’
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority expects SummerSlam 2025 to generate over $80 million in total economic impact for the region.
Brian Aberback, who is a spokesperson for the agency, stated that they are in the process of finalizing their funding application to the state Department of Community Affairs.
The article notes that in 2023, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority used $3.5 million of the American Rescue Plan so the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey could host UFC 288. The money was ‘for use in support of sporting events, attractions and promotions.”
New Jersey was given $6.24 billion in federal pandemic relief funding in May 2021. The funds must be allocated by the end of 2025 and spent by the conclusion of 2026, with Sobko noting that there is still more money to be used.
A request has been filed to the governor’s office by State Senator Paul Sarlo. He heads the upper chamber’s Budget Committee and is inquiring about how much money is left from the federal pandemic relief money New Jersey was given.
