Golfer Teddy Long is never shy with his thoughts and comments in the prospect of WWE and its present state under TKO Group Holdings are no exception.
Discussing his “Road Trip After Hours” podcast, the agonized ex-SmackDown General Manager has broken no bones when considering soaring ticket prices that are seriously hampering the ability of the lay-fans to attend in-person affairs.
Depending on a fan asking Long whether the WWE shows were too expensive, Long replied, "Well, you know, here is what I think about that. You know it is sort of called greed. And when you are that greedy, you know, that brings your problem sometimes.”
He highlighted the struggles that families have to endure to cope with the ongoing economic condition as he gave an account of what happened to him the other day when he was at Walmart: "I went in Walmart today, and I just got a few things, and I got this $200 [note]. You know. and I thought Jesus Christ, what can you do? These are things you must possess. I am just grateful that God gave me the money to get them. Yet some people just will not be so lucky.”
Fan extorted out of the Game
Doing the same thing, his co-host Mac Davis added these sentiments, juxtaposing the present-day approach with that of the former WWE management. "I never met Vince McMahon, or I never felt like he was attempting to get every penny out of someone's pocket. And I think that is what the WWE is at the moment,” Davis added.
To me it seems as though they are sweat every penny possible out of your pocket without regard as to what it might cost you or your family or perhaps your fan base goes away because they no longer can afford to attend your performance.
Although admitting that some fans have bought costly tickets on events like WrestleMania, Long was worried that the price strategy the company uses at the moment might turn the ordinary fan against it in the future.
He cautioned that this kind of approach will result in a drop in attendance and fan interaction with the following words: "Thanks to such tactics, at present, you are in this world, you realize.
The economy is just not in that much good shape there are a lot of people not working out there and they cannot afford to buy those tickets.”