WWE ThunderDome Launching Tonight

Last week, reports noted WWE was considering introducing virtual fans for future broadcasts at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

The wrestling behemoth has decided to press ahead with those plans as WWE ThunderDome will launch tonight ahead of Friday's episode of SmackDown. Similar to the Premier League, fans will be shown in the arena from the comfort of their own home using "massive" LED boards.

The company issued the following press release:

"WWE ThunderDome™, featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras, will take WWE fans' viewing experience to an unprecedented level starting this Friday, August 21, kicking off SummerSlam® Weekend.

"WWE has a long history of producing the greatest live spectacles in sports and entertainment, yet nothing compares to what we are creating with WWE ThunderDome," said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Vice President, Television Production. "This structure will enable us to deliver an immersive atmosphere and generate more excitement amongst the millions of fans watching our programming around the world."

With the debut of WWE ThunderDome, WWE will take residency at Amway Center in Orlando and virtually bring fans into the arena via live video on massive LED boards, in conjunction with The Famous Group and its proprietary technology, for every Monday Night Raw®, Friday Night SmackDown® and WWE pay-per-view event. Starting tonight, fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming shows via www.WWEThunderDome.com or at WWE's Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

"As WWE takes residency at the world-class Amway Center, we have reimagined our live event experience for today's environment," said Brian Flinn, WWE Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. "In partnership with The Famous Group, we will virtually bring our fans back into the show and recreate the interactive in-arena atmosphere that has been a staple of WWE events for decades."

 WWE Event Schedule for August:

• Friday, August 21 – SmackDown, Amway Center, BT Sport 1 HD from 1 am
• Saturday, August 22 – NXT TakeOver® XXX, Full Sail Live, 12 am on WWE Network
• Sunday, August 23 – SummerSlam, Amway Center, 12 am on WWE Network
• Monday, August 24 – Raw, Amway Center, BT Sport 1 HD from 1 am
• Wednesday, August 26 – NXT®, Full Sail Live, BT Sport 1 HD from 1 am
• Friday, August 28 – SmackDown, Amway Center, BT Sport 1 HD from 1 am
• Sunday, August 30 – Payback®, Amway Center, 12 am on WWE Network
• Monday, August 31 – Raw, Amway Center, BT Sport 1 HD from 1 am

WWE's Amway Center residency will continue for the foreseeable future and Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view programming will be produced on closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance. WWE will continue to administer its health and safety protocols for talent, crew and employees in conjunction with each production, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks."