The sports entertainment world was rocked by the news of Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE, resulting in the creation of a new publicly traded company, TKO. While Vince McMahon will continue to oversee WWE’s operations, Endeavor’s President, Mark Shapiro, expressed plans to implement the “UFC playbook” in running the company.
In an interview with Sports Business Journal, Shapiro highlighted the potential value generated by combining the creative forces of Vince McMahon, Dana White, and Ari Emanuel. Endeavor plans to capitalize on WWE’s media revenue while pursuing sponsorship, licensing, hospitality, and ticketing revenue growth. The company hopes to develop new stars for WWE through non-scripted series, films, and endorsements.
Shapiro emphasized the success of the UFC’s strategy over the past six years, stating, “People thought that price was crazy. Now, it is valued at $12.1 billion. I mean, what a story. We hope to do the same thing with the WWE.” Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE presents a unique opportunity for growth, and the company is eager to take full advantage of it.
With Endeavor’s resources and proven industry expertise, WWE fans may witness a new era of growth and innovation. Only time will tell if the implementation of the “UFC playbook” will result in the desired explosion of popularity for WWE.
