By Hollywood Times Staffer
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/27/26 – Mike Dickinson, operator at Chicago’s Admiral Theatre, is disappointed he is not allowed to show the WWE Elimination Chamber Premium to attendees at his popular venue.
“Along with several other local night clubs and commercial establishments, we got a call from the WWE and was told that we can’t stream the virtual pay per view event, said Dickinson, who is a veteran entertainment nightclub entrepreneur, with several businesses in the mid-western states.
“They have blocked all businesses within a 50-mile radius from doing ‘Elimination Chamber’ watch parties.”
The live event is taking place at the United Center, the largest indoor arena in the United States, on Saturday, February 28th, and will feature a plethora of “Raw” and “SmackDown” stars. The WWE move was created to force fans to purchase tickets for the live event rather than gathering at local night clubs like Admiral, and other bars, restaurants, or hotels.
“It’s frustrating because in person tickets are expensive, and the Admiral is a place where our attendees can see the event this weekend, at a much more reasonable price,” said Dickinson.
Being blocked was not what Dickinson was expecting, given what Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization, had said in a recent press release.
“WWE’s highly anticipated return to the United Center is going to electrify Chicago,” said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Major live events like this showcase Chicago as a year-round destination, filling our hotels, restaurants, and arenas with fans from around the country and broadcasting our energy and hospitality to millions more tuning in. Thank you to WWE for choosing Chicago—this is another win for our city and a testament to why no one does big moments better than we do.”
Dickinson’s frustration is shared by his employees, who were hoping to receive tips from all the patrons that night.
“I feel that it is ridiculous that the WWE are actively shutting down venues and are instead taking advantage of consumers by blocking ways for them to watch the programming. All they want to focus on is boosting in person ticket sales.”
Many industry insiders say that after sports and entertainment company TKO acquired WWE, their business strategy changed, making them want to emulate the UFC’s high ticket prices versus affordability.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the Elimination Chamber event has not sold out yet.
“They’re not sold out in Chicago, actually,” Meltzer said. “Somebody who’s in business from Chicago who wrote me this morning and basically just said, ‘I thought this thing would sell out. You got (CM) Punk, you got the Chamber, WWE pay-per-views are hot, people are willing to spend a lot of money. And, basically, the guy was saying, ‘Look, for one ticket in the two hundreds, it’s going to cost me like $658,’ and he’s like, ‘It’s just not worth it.’”
Dickinson has strong words for the WWE. “Maybe if the WWE had a better, more entertaining product, people would pay to see it. They can’t sell tickets with the same old match, between the same old people, every year.”
“WWE has demonstrated that they are out of touch with regular fans,” he acknowledged.
“Events like ‘Wrestlemania’ and ‘Elimination Chamber’ used to be ‘must see’ TV and fans would not only flock to the venue to watch but also watch online. The organization has fallen flat with programming and storylines. It’s the same old stories, and same old experience–all while nearly tripling the price of the lowest ticket to get in. As a result, sadly, they can’t sell out tickets.”
Dickinson feels it is important for venues like his to air the show, for the fans who can’t afford a ticket come to watch it in person. “This is a last grasp of the WWE to be relevant in today’s entertainment world and force consumers to buy overpriced tickets to a stale product.”
The theatre will still have a wrestling event take place this weekend, with Hollyhood Haley J, star of the Netflix documentary series, “Wrestlers.” “I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans, letting everyone know what I have been up to,” she enthused.
Admiral’s general manager, Raquel Rea, feels strongly that her venue knows the value of a dollar and sees how hard people work to be able to attend events.
“As entertainment evolves, events like WWE continue to grow in scale and price. At the Admiral Theatre, we’ve taken a different approach, focusing on creating an exciting, premium atmosphere that remains accessible to everyday guests. Everyone deserves a place where they can enjoy a first-class experience without barriers.”
