|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Wrestling fans flock to WWF AXXESS
By Ross Forman
May 1, 2001
When the doors opened to the public, the fans ran – or better yet, sprinted -- to autograph areas around Reliant Hall (formerly Astrohall). They didn’t know who was signing or for how long. Yet for most fans, it didn’t really seem to matter. Unless “The Rock” or “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was signing at another autograph area. Then they sprinted to those areas.
The World Wrestling Federation’s annual AXXESS: The Fan Festival, held here March 30-April 1, was a pro wrestling smorgasbord with autograph sessions, interactive areas and numerous match-used relics on display. And when the WWF does it, it’s first-class, nothing less.
Where else can you see an actual bus that had been destroyed on a show?!
Where else can you find demolitioned cars and motorcycles from matches, or a well-used electric wheelchair?!
Where else can you admire match-used boots from WWF Hall of Fame members, or see past mat legends like The Fabulous Moolah or Bobby “The Brain” Heenan?!
“The WWF was a great group to be involved with. It really was an honor to be chosen to help work on their AXXESS, then with their corporate sponsorship and exhibit sales, also (for their) local advertising and public relations for AXXESS and WrestleMania,” said Jeff Rosenberg, president of Houston-based Tri-Star Productions, Inc.
More than 40,000 fans attended AXXESS, which had four five-hour sessions ($25 per ticker, per session).
The WWF’s WrestleMania X-Seven, with Austin beating The Rock to capture the WWF Championship in the main-event, was the highest grossing ($3.5 million) live event in WWF history. In addition, the event shattered Reliant Park (formerly the Astrodome) live attendance and box office record, drawing 67,925 fans.
“AXXESS was an unbelievable event,” Rosenberg said. “It offered a very good representation of the sport and was very exciting. I felt the same way at AXXESS that I felt when I went to the NFL Experience or the Major League Baseball FanFest for the first time. As a baseball and football fan, I really was in heaven at those events. Same thing being a wrestling fan.
“The fans were stoked to be there. Me too.”
And why not. In addition to six autograph stages, there were live matches, the McMansion (with each room representing a different WWF Superstar), and a Fantasy Play-by-Play booth. Plus, there was a BodyStars Stage and, of course, XFL displays and interactive events.
Weekend-long events raised $100,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Houston-based education program, Readers Are Leaders.
Rosenberg said Tri-Star’s involvement with the WWF was, “a great resume-builder.” Tri-Star previously had a major role in a minor league hockey fan festival.
And Tri-Star has had numerous WWF Superstars at its shows … and will in the future, too. (Several WWF Superstars will attend Tri-Star’s next show, May 18-20 in Nashville, but names were unavailable as of press time.)
“We had a booth (at AXXESS) and were very successful selling sports collectibles,” Rosenberg said. “We sold a real potpourri of items, from a Roger Clemens-signed jersey and a Terry Bradshaw-signed helmet to countless signed baseballs and signed wrestling photos.
“We know first-hand the impact the WWF Superstars have on our shows, the excitement they generate. We want to bring celebrities to our shows who the collectors want. And they certainly seem to want wrestlers. The WWF Superstars just love being involved in our shows. It’s almost like an honor for them to be there. That’s real nice to see, and rare in this day and age."
Former Chicago Bears sensation William Perry signed free autographs Sunday at Tri-Star’s booth. Perry participated in WrestleMania II.
