Both Raw and Smackdown Live turned out to be quite good shows, this week. The flagship show was able to create the final hype up for the No Mercy PPV. Smackdown, on the other hand, took the storyline angles forward for the Hell in a Cell PPV. But, despite putting up great shows, there’s a headache for the WWE officials.
Full House? Almost. @SAPCenter #RAW #WWESanJose pic.twitter.com/0WGWn1nkuu
— Alex C. (@TheEvolutionWWE) September 18, 2017
For two consecutive weeks, Smackdown Live witnessed low attendance. WWE has a good record of selling out the arenas wherever they host shows. But, the tradition seems to have changed in recent times, as the flagship show of Monday Night Raw also suffered the same fate.
This is the Smackdown crowd…… it’s so depressing to look at…. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/RbgovdVcaJ
— ?Jジェームス? (@SashaAndSami) September 20, 2017
As reported by wrestlingINC.com, many seats were vacant for the entire shows as the company failed to sell out all the tickets at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
Those who watched the taped show could not understand whether it was packed show or not, as the cameras did not focus on the empty seats. Most of them needed to be tarped off so that it can’t recognise in empty eyes.
@WWERoadDogg As much as i love smackdown How come the like Of Aj Have to Wrestle tonight in front of a crowd less then a TNA Taping pic.twitter.com/386Ey1R1Ry
— Nathaniel (@soldierofthewwe) September 20, 2017
@WrestlingSoup The SmackDown crowd is again half empty, this is embarrassing and sad. pic.twitter.com/939sC0eNlS
— #Canada150 (@MauriceBear21) September 20, 2017
Furthermore, the fans in attendance were forced to move to one particular area so that the gathering can be shown, whereas, the other part remained to be vacant for the entire show.
The main concern for the creative team is that this happened for two weeks in a row. Despite last week being a special Sin City edition and Vince McMahon appearing on the show, the Thomas and Mack Arena failed to sell out all the tickets.
The Maharaja meets his fans… or lack thereof! #SDLive #WWEOakland pic.twitter.com/2SfCBRbGNi
— Alex C. (@TheEvolutionWWE) September 20, 2017
Reasons for the same can be that the audience is not interested in the WWE products in this offseason now that the Summerslam PPV is over. Plus, the recent hurricane attacks in certain areas in the United States might also be the reason for the same. Whatever the issue is, WWE needs to fix it quickly by diagnosing the problem.