WWE’s “Clash at the Castle” event in Cardiff in 2022 delivered a massive 10:1 return on investment by channelling £21.8m back into the Welsh economy, a new report shows.
Wales hosted the UK’s first major WWE stadium event in 30 years in September 2022. The event, which wowed visitors to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, had many highlights – including a specially designed set that echoed the city’s unique castle.
The event attracted a global audience of millions – taking Wales directly into the homes of WWE fans in all corners of the globe.
The independently generated Economic Impact Study sought the views of over 3,000 respondents. The study found:
- 62,296 attendees to the Principality Stadium;
- 75.3% of spectators came from outside Wales;
- 57% of non-locals indicated the event experience made them want to explore other parts of Wales. Of those that said they wanted to return, they said their experience of the event was the deciding factor;
- The event attracted a diverse audience, with nearly a quarter of spectators being female, and many of the spectators attending as family groups.
Welcoming the findings, Wales’ Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said:
“This is great news. We partnered with a world-renowned events and entertainment company to bring a truly spectacular global event to Wales. It was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase how our cities and venues can help deliver successful and globally-recognised occasions.
“In addition to the direct economic impact the event delivered here in Wales, it provided us with a huge boost to our profile internationally. This included opportunities to showcase Wales’ vibrant language and culture through bespoke content creation shared globally on WWE’s social media channels. Coverage of the event included 9 minutes of premium footage that showcased the whole of Wales and regular references to ‘Cardiff, Wales’ throughout commentary.”
Mark Williams, Principality Stadium Manager, said:
“We were extremely proud that Principality Stadium was chosen by WWE to host this event – their first major UK stadium event in 30 years! Hosting events of this scale are extremely important, and WWE’s Clash at the Castle offered us an unbelievable platform upon which to showcase Principality Stadium as a versatile, world-class venue.”
“Principality Stadium is unique in its position at the heart of the city centre, which undoubtedly offered WWE fans an unrivalled event experience both inside and outside of the stadium and brought great benefit to the wider city of Cardiff too.”
Jennifer Burke, City and County of Cardiff, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, said:
“Major events like WWE bring thousands of visitors and real economic benefits to Cardiff, the importance of which shouldn’t be underestimated. There was a huge buzz in the city centre on the day of the event and, with millions of people across the world watching, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the city to a global audience”.
