During the Q&A part of the call an investor asked Vince about saving money while taping from the WWE Performance Center instead of filming while touring.
Vince McMahon confirmed that the company has saved a significant amount, but he reiterated that they need an audience. Vince talked about how everything they do depends on the audience, and right now they don’t have that. He then praised the talent for making things work without an audience during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have to give kudos to all of our performers,” Vince said. “They’re working so hard, and when you’re in the ring and you’re normally playing off a live audience, and there’s no one there [now].
“It’s different but our performers are stepping it up, and really, really working hard. We’re trying to produce a great product given the consideration of where we are.”
Vince was later asked about talent morale during the COVID-19 outbreak. He praised the talent for rising to the occasion of being forced to switch up their operations. He also acknowledged that some talent are unable to come to the tapings because it would be a risk to their health, such as Roman Reigns. Vince did not name any of the talents who are unable to work during the outbreak. He ended that answer by commenting on how proud he is of his roster.
“Our only natural resource, obviously, is talent, and our talent have taken this as a challenge, have taken this almost as a duty, which has always happened with us,” Vince said. “And they realize that, you know… people are sitting at home, they’re bored… and the fact that we can entertain families together entertain them like no one else can entertain them. So, I think that they look at this as a challenge and they’ve really risen to the occasion. It’s amazing actually.
“And there are a few that are unable to come down due to certain existings… certain things that exist, but nonetheless, by and large, kudos to them. They are a very, very special people, they’re extraordinary athletes. They love to give. That’s what this business is about, that’s why they got into it, is to give and perform for the audience. There’s no live audience, but that’s another kudos to them because you have to think about that when you’re in the ring, as if the live audience . So, all in all, I’m so proud of them.”
When asked about keeping talent safe, Vince talked about what precautions have been put in place.
“As far as testing is concerned, we do everything imaginable. You can’t even step on the premises if you have a fever. We have this whole form you have to fill out, and you have to do it every week, in terms of whether you’ve been exposed. It’s a whole long form. We’re doing everything we can for safety and making sure the environment is as good as it possibly can be. Not only monitoring our talent but our employees as well. Anyone who’s been at the training facility, and we’re very careful as to how many people are in and out at one time.”
Vince continues by confirming some aspects we’ve heard about WWE’s safety policies. Talent is sequestered in hotels during tapings, and the ropes and turnbuckles are changed out between matches. He describes a frequent “pandemic cleaning” that goes on throughout the facility. Triple H then stepped in to expand on what exactly that means.
“It’s a company called Applied Bioscience that we work through. They have a spray that, through a process, makes it cling to surfaces. Once it’s coated, it lasts for 90 to 120 days. How it was explained to me it, it acts like a sword that punctures the cell wall of what causes the virus and kills it on contact.”
Main topics discussed during First Quarter 2020 Financial call – Quick links
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