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Making it a Grand Slam threepeat this year. Personally I'm excited for it. Have had a blast each of the last two years. Don't see any reason to expect otherwise.
Attendance-wise I absolutely am expecting it'll be another drop from last year.
The drop from 2021 to 2022 was hardly surprising. 2021 benefited from a lot of things. First time in the building and in NYC. Viewed as one of, if not their biggest event ever at the time it was announced. Also right "after" COVID/getting back on the road so for lots of people it was their first big public gathering in a year and a half or longer, so there was lots of energy. Plus by the time the show actually arrived it was in what was generally considered to be AEW's high point so even their late-added sections went quickly.
None of these things were the case in 2022, plus the product was generally considered one of their bleakest periods. Then add in a price increase and yeah. Grossed more than 2021 but clearly a drop in numbers.
This year the prices are up again and while I think there's a lot more optimism around AEW from their fans than this time a year ago and I'm sure they'll try to pack both Dynamite and Rampage with PPV-level matches, I do think the show will suffer from another round of price increases + being right after a double PPV + lots of people feeling burnt out last year from how long of a night it was (didn't end til 12:30 AM, lots of people had to leave to catch trains)
They ARE selling $25 seats along the entire upper deck and in Arthur Ashe these are hardly nosebleeds, it's not a huge venue and it's a really nice view everywhere. $25 is the kind of price where you could go, have a good time, leave before the longass show is done and not feel ripped off. But my best guess is they'll still see another attendance dip (while again beating 2022's grossing number)
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