New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority Reportedly Using Pandemic Relief Funds to Help Secure WWE SummerSlam 2025

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority reportedly has set aside over $7 million in Federal pandemic relief funds to help secure next year’s WWE SummerSlam event in their state, according to the Bergen Record and the Sports Business Journal.

It was reported that the NJSEA recently approved $7.25 million to be used to help assist MetLife stadium in Easter Rutherford with securing next year’s two-night WWE SummerSlam event. This money reportedly is coming from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-19 Stimulus Package) that New Jersey received from the federal government during the COVID pandemic. Under the terms of the federal plan, this 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.”

In regards to the economic impact for the region, the NJSEA current expects WWE’s SummerSlam 2025 to generate over $80 million in total economic impact for the region.

It was reported that NJSEA spokesperson Brian Aberback stated that they are currently in the process of finalizing their funding application to the state’s Department of Community Affairs.

It was also reported that in 2023, the NJSEA had used $3.5 million of the American Rescue Plan funds so that the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey could host UFC’s UFC 288 event. This money reportedly was “for use in support of sporting events, attractions and promotions.”

It was also reported that new Jersey was given $6.24 billion in federal pandemic relief funding in May of 2021 and these funds must by allocated by the end of 2025 and must be spent by the end of 2026.