Could Minneapolis lose out to Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41?

Minneapolis has been considered to be a heavy favorite to host WrestleMania 41 next year but comments by WWE President and Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway could leave Minnesota's bid for the biggest show in professional wrestling with its shoulders on the mat.

Minneapolis was named as a finalist to host next year's WrestleMania last March and Wendy Blackshaw of Minnesota Sports and Events – the regional sports commission for Minneapolis , St. Paul and Bloomington – also told a Minnesota House committee last month that they were preparing to announce an event for the Twin Cities that was second only in size and economic impact to the Super Bowl.

WrestleMania fits that description after generating over $215 million for the Los Angeles economy during WrestleMania 39 in 2022 and breaking numerous records during WrestleMania 40, which took place in Philadelphia on Apr. 6-7.

While the location of WrestleMania is usually made before the current year's event, no announcement has been made. Speaking at the Sports Business Journal's World Congress of Sports conference earlier this week, Khan dropped some hints about the location and timing of next year's event.

“Going in early April at an outdoor stadium (on the East Coast) ... assume you're not going to see that again,” Khan said. “Going up against the Final Four Saturday night games, assume you're not going to see that again.”

Minneapolis seems safe from the cold weather aspect as the event would likely be held at U.S. Bank Stadium, which is an indoor venue. The timing also wouldn't be an issue as U.S. Bank's primary tenant, the Minnesota Vikings, play in the fall.

But Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp also suggested in his latest newsletter that some within WWE have pushed for Las Vegas to be the host for WrestleMania 41 and Calaway, commonly known by WWE fans as The Undertaker, seemed to suggest a decision has already been made on the Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway podcast.

"I have no idea," Calaway said when he was asked where WrestleMania could be next year. "It's in Vegas next year. That's what I think. I think I heard that. Good lord."

Vegas would be a logical choice for WrestleMania considering its warm weather and would be a destination for wrestling fans traveling both domestically and globally. It would also be a bigger setting for a main event which could involve The Rock and WWE's biggest star Roman Reigns based off current storylines.

Sapp cautioned that no location is official until an announcement has been made, but if Calaway's hunch is correct, it would be another failed attempt for Minneapolis to get WrestleMania after being in the running for multiple years.