Report: FOX Pushing WWE To Let Live Crowds Return

FOX officials have reportedly been pushing WWE to let live crowds return to the product as soon as possible. 

WWE has been without live audiences for the majority of their agreement with FOX. Friday Night SmackDown has been on their network since October 2019 but fans have been unable to attend shows due to the COVID-19 Pandemic since March 2020. 

WrestleVotes is reporting that, as the world returns to some levels of normality, FOX have been privately pushing for a return to live audiences at WWE shows for a number of weeks, with the broadcasting company regularly requesting updates from the promotion in terms of timeframes and plausibility. 

FOX are eager for live crowds to return to SmackDown because, per the report, they want their investment in the WWE product to be on a similar level to the NBA and MLB, both of which have been permitting at least some attendance for live fans in the past few weeks and months. 

It has been suggested in previous reports that WWE could look to resuming live attendances in time for Money In The Bank, in July. Initially, it appeared the company would resume to their normal schedule in time for SummerSlam in August and, while that may still be the overall plan, it appears tentative foundations are in place for at least some live spectators heading into July's pay-per-view.