Post by bgski on Oct 21, 2019 14:52:30 GMT -8
New Japan looks to expand their US presence.
Today (Oct. 21) New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the establishment of a US based subsidiary. Based out of California, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America will launch operations in November 2019.
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CEO Ohbari gave a presentation detailing the structure of NJPW of America, and the decision making behind its establishment. The creation of the subsidiary, Ohbari explained, is the third phase of NJPW’s expansion into the US and other international markets.
Phase one: discovering new wrestlers in markets outside Japan and developing talent through the LA Dojo.
Phase two: run events in the US, including at Madison Square Garden and Dallas this year, both independently, and with the assistance of other promotions.
Phase three: establish a company within the US, and be ingrained in the everyday fabric when it comes to fans’ wrestling consciousness.
Phase one: discovering new wrestlers in markets outside Japan and developing talent through the LA Dojo.
Phase two: run events in the US, including at Madison Square Garden and Dallas this year, both independently, and with the assistance of other promotions.
Phase three: establish a company within the US, and be ingrained in the everyday fabric when it comes to fans’ wrestling consciousness.
Since they are looking to be do more outside of Japan, here are 5 key areas they intend to hit.
WEST: 6 cities across 4 states
MID: 7 cities across 6 states
TEXAS: 4 cities
SOUTH EAST: 6 cities across 4 states
EAST: 4 cities across 3 states
MID: 7 cities across 6 states
TEXAS: 4 cities
SOUTH EAST: 6 cities across 4 states
EAST: 4 cities across 3 states
They have also released a series of quotes from NJPW of America CEO Takami Ohbari with ones I've added to be alittle more important than the others.
What are your plans in terms of scale of events?
Ohbari: We’re currently running and looking at venues in the 2000 seat range, that may be lower depending on circumstances. We are a live event company, and the first priority of a live event company is to run in more venues. Once people are in those venues, then we can fire them up and have them ready to spread the word to larger and larger audiences. First though, it’s about growing the number rather than the size of venues. The long term plan will absolutely be to run big venues on a regular basis.
Ohbari: We’re currently running and looking at venues in the 2000 seat range, that may be lower depending on circumstances. We are a live event company, and the first priority of a live event company is to run in more venues. Once people are in those venues, then we can fire them up and have them ready to spread the word to larger and larger audiences. First though, it’s about growing the number rather than the size of venues. The long term plan will absolutely be to run big venues on a regular basis.
Can you give any details with regards to television rights?
Ohbari: Up to now we have been working very well with our partners at AXS TV, and plan to continue doing so. As events increase in number in the US, we would like to be able to make more opportunities for fans to watch those events live and in real time on TV, and those are opportunities we’re excited to discuss with TV partners going forward.
Ohbari: Up to now we have been working very well with our partners at AXS TV, and plan to continue doing so. As events increase in number in the US, we would like to be able to make more opportunities for fans to watch those events live and in real time on TV, and those are opportunities we’re excited to discuss with TV partners going forward.
Do you have plans for a certain number of events per year in the US?
Ohbari: This is something that I’m discussing with Chairman Sugabayashi, but with 12-13 events run in the calendar year 2019, I think that we could be in the region of double that next year.”
Ohbari: This is something that I’m discussing with Chairman Sugabayashi, but with 12-13 events run in the calendar year 2019, I think that we could be in the region of double that next year.”
For anyone interested in reading this in it's entirety and where this information came from just go here.
The only downfall to this is this is there seems to be an over saturation of promotions which even during the wrestling boom of the 80's and 90's, I can't recall there were as many choices so it's gonna come down drawing a line in the sand of which promotion or promotions people are going to wanna spend money on seeing live and while tv are very helpful, because we're in a streaming age, there are far more outlets to watch wrestling on which already take up half of the 7 day week if you watch more than just WWE, Impact and, ROH and AEW like the NWA and MLW just to name a few.
ROH hasn't been doing well recently but that could turn around do to who they just crowned as their world champion but their roster is still a bit week, especially the Women Of Honor.
ROH hasn't been doing well recently but that could turn around do to who they just crowned as their world champion but their roster is still a bit week, especially the Women Of Honor.
