By Phillip Martinez
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Following weeks of speculation, WWE confirmed that they are moving production of its weekly shows out of the Performance Center in Orlando to another venue for the time being.
In what the company is calling ThunderDome, wrestling fans will be able to watch this week's Friday Night SmackDown, SummerSlam and Monday Night RAW as it takes place live from the Amway Center--home of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
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According to the official WWE press release ThunderDome will feature a "state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras." The new presentation will also allow virtual fans to be in "attendance."
"Like the NBA, we're doing virtual fans, but we're also creating an arena-type atmosphere," Pete Dunn, WWE executive vice president of television production, told Sports Illustrated on Monday. "We won't have a flat board, we'll have rows and rows and rows of fans. We'll have almost 1,000 LED boards, and it will recreate the arena experience you're used to seeing with WWE."
Similar to the NBA, the WWE will allow fans to register to be one of its virtual fans for its tapings in the Amway Center. Here are the final August dates in WWE's schedule, with the shows in the Amway Center in bold.
- Friday, August 21 – Friday Night SmackDown, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX
- Saturday, August 22 – NXT TakeOver XXX, Full Sail Live, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
- Sunday, August 23 – SummerSlam, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
- Monday, August 24 – Monday Night Raw, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network
- Wednesday, August 26 – NXT, Full Sail Live, 8 pm ET on USA Network
- Friday, August 28 – Friday Night SmackDown, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on FOX
- Sunday, August 30 – Payback, Amway Center, 7 pm ET on WWE Network
- Monday, August 31 – Monday Night Raw, Amway Center, 8 pm ET on USA Network
HOW TO SIGN UP TO BE A VIRTUAL FAN
Virtual fans will be shown live via video on massive LED boards. This technology will be used for Friday Night SmackDown, Monday Night RAW and the two August pay-per-views, SummerSlam and Payback.
Fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming shows via the official ThunderDome website. Currently only registration for the August 21 episode of Friday Night SmackDown is being taken.
Potential virtual fans will need to enter their first and last names, and their email address. The next page shows the terms and conditions for being a virtual fan in the ThunderDome.
Aside from the usual, "fans allow WWE to film and photograph you" as you would when attending a show you will also have to meet certain criteria at all times. Some examples include:
- Behavior must "appear to be, appropriate and respectful at all times"
- No smoking or appearing to be smoking any substance, which includes making gestures imitating smoking. Also if you appear intoxicated or under the influence the WWE can refuse your participation.
- Fans can't "say or do anything" during ThunderDome that:
And finally, your attire must be "appropriate" and on at all times.
You can read the full terms and conditions, here.
Are you excited to become a virtual fan? What do you hope the ThunderDome will look like? Let us know in the comments section.
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