It seems like fans and wrestlers alike have enjoyed AEW’s recent stretch of running smaller venues for their TV tapings.
AEW has opted for theaters and other “intimate atmospheres” as part of their weekly touring TV in recent months, shifting away from using larger capacity arenas on a frequent basis.
Some have observed that this change has expectedly brought more energy to the live product. Instead of hosting arena shows where the venue wasn’t always packed, AEW is filling up smaller locations with hot crowds.
Fletcher is among the many who have seen this change as a positive improvement for AEW. He mentioned the noticeable difference it has made to their shows during a recent interview on Q101.
“With wrestling, the crowd makes it,” Fletcher described. “It doesn’t exist without the crowd. I think these venues, it’s really reignited a lot of people’s passion backstage, I want to say. Look, when you’re wrestling in arenas, it’s a different feeling. But when you have these weird, wacky balconies up here and theaters, and all this, it really brings out a different feeling to an arena. Just that atmosphere, you can’t replicate it. It’s really brought alive the wrestler’s passion again, I want to say. Because everyone’s just so excited to get out there, so excited to be in the ring. We’re so blessed to have awesome fans we get to wrestle in front of. Bringing that intimate atmosphere, it makes the experience better for everybody.”
AEW isn’t ditching smaller venues anytime soon. Later this year the promotion is expected to put on a multi-week residency at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, then will head to the legendary 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a stretch of shows this fall.
