WWE just got a big win $4.2 million in film tax credits for putting on WrestleMania 41 and other wrestling events in Las Vegas.
According to a report from Nevada Current, the Governor’s Office for Economic Development and the Nevada Film Office approved WWE’s application earlier this month. On top of that, WWE also got a $5 million sponsorship from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority back in May 2024.
The $4.2 million in film tax credits covers about 12% of WWE WrestleMania 41’s total production costs, which were around $33.7 million. WrestleMania 41 took place over two nights at Allegiant Stadium, with three more wrestling events at T-Mobile Arena which includes RAW, SmackDown and NXT.
WWE said it planned to spend $2.6 million on paying Nevada workers and $17 million on talent from out of state. They also planned to spend $5.3 million locally on things like hotels and catering. All of this spending helped WWE qualify for the tax credits.
WWE’s application was filed by its subsidiary, Event Services LLC, and was approved by Nevada officials on April 3. WrestleMania 41 and the other events were recorded for TV and streaming, making them eligible for the film tax credits.
The weekend also featured WWE World, a five-day fan experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center. WWE WrestleMania 41 brought in a lot of direct money for the state through tourism.
Budget breakdown for WWE WrestleMania 41 revealed
The report states “WrestleMania application, which is dated early March, the company estimated a total budget of $33.7 million, including:
- $2.4 million for Nevada stagehands
- $2.7 million for non-resident “below-the-line” labor
- $17 million for non-resident “above the line” talent (wrestlers, executives, etc.)
- $5.3 million in Nevada expenditures
- $8.6 million in non-Nevada expenditures
- $260,000 for Nevada security workers
WWE estimated their five taped events would hire 450 Nevadans for 22,100 hours. That works out to an hourly wage rate of $121.71.
As for non-Nevadan labor, they estimated 300 “above the line” people — those are the executives, directors, and top-billed performers like John Cena and Cody Rhodes — earning $17 million and 450 “below the line” people working 10,800 hours for $2.7 million.
The $5.3 million in non-labor in-state spending is further broken down:
- $3 million on miscellaneous expenses,
- $855,000 in freelancer hotel expenses,
- $369,000 in hotels for talent,
- $323,921 in equipment rental,
- $106,000 for catering, and
- $40,137 for props, stunts & gags.
WrestleMania 41 draws a huge crowd, with an estimated 125,000 fans packing Allegiant Stadium. As a result, WWE brings a massive show to Vegas, spends a lot of money in the city, and, in return, gets some of that money back from the Nevada government.
