Unless you live in large cities like New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago, chances are you have to do some traveling if you plan on attending wrestling’s biggest events. I’m fresh off a trip to the 2019 Royal Rumble so I got to thinking about just how much goes into attending a pay-per-view that isn’t in your city. Whether your trip involves planes, trains, automobiles, or some combination thereof, here are a few tips to help your next wrestling trip go smoothly!
Book your accommodations, flights, trains, etc in advance. This is fairly common knowledge, but this stuff is usually cheaper the further out you book it. The closer you get to the dates, the higher the prices tend to jump. Occasionally, the opposite is true and costs go down as hotels and airline companies try to fill unsold rooms and seats but try that at your own risk. I’m most fond of the sites Expedia and Kayak.
Set a realistic budget. When I plan for my wrestling trips, I try to give myself a decent spending budget, my BS money as I affectionately call it. This is money that I set aside specifically for stores, concession stands, merch tables, and the like. Because it’s set aside for this purpose, I tend to feel less guilty for splurging on a new shirt. Also think about your transportation, accommodation, and food costs. Leave some room for unexpected snafus.
Get your tickets early. I’m a huge proponent of buying tickets pretty much as soon as they come on sale. I like having flexibility with both cost and location. The last two trips I went on, I bought the tickets about an hour after they went on sale and ended up with fantastic seats for the prices I was willing to pay.
Create an itinerary, but be flexible. Itineraries are great. They help you keep track of when and where you’re supposed to be. But they shouldn’t be treated as the bottom line. Sometimes things come up that result in changes to your itinerary. For example, I had much of Royal Rumble Axxess planned out, but they added a few wrestlers that hadn’t previously been mentioned and that meant changing a few things around. Have your plan, but understand that sometimes the plans might change.
Pack (and dress) for the occasion. Most of the wrestling trips I’ve gone on have seen me travel from one climate to a vastly different one. This can create some stress when it comes to packing. My best advice is layers for travel so that you can add and subtract as you go. Obviously you’ll be sporting some nice wrestling merch for the shows, but be sure to bring other items that might be necessary, whether it be a pair of sunglasses or a jacket.
Don’t overload your luggage. This is geared more towards people who have to fly to their destinations. A lot of airlines have baggage restrictions so this is not the time to bring every one of your action figures, all of replica your title belts, and that one replica of Head you got signed by Al Snow. Be reasonable in what you are going to transport to and from the location, unless you’re willing to pay those ridiculous baggage fees.
Protect your items. If you’re going to bring some of your collection to display at the events or get autographed by the performers, make sure it travels safely. Luggage isn’t always treated the best once it’s taken from you. If you have delicate items like title replicas or really old figures, make sure they are cushioned well inside your bag. I like to layer my title belts with other items so that they fit snugly inside my suitcase and don’t move around during travel.
Leave space for new stuff. We all know that go home with more stuff than we arrived with. Make sure you have some room in your bag for your nifty new wrestling merch. I ended up leaving Rumble weekend with three new shirts, two cups, a pair of gloves, and a doll. It all fit, but was a bit of a tight squeeze. Don’t be like me. Leave some room.
Wrestling trips are a fun experience. You get to attend awesome events, see your favorite wrestlers live, and meet lots of other fans that are just as passionate as you. Hopefully this list of tips helps your next wrestling trip go smoothly.
-Wynter
