Kyle Fletcher: AEW running unique venues ‘makes the experience better for everybody’

The AEW locker room has enjoyed the promotion’s new trend of holding more television shows at smaller, unique venues.

It was announced this week that AEW will have a six-show residency this July at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. While speaking with Case Lowe of radio station Q101, AEW star Kyle Fletcher said having shows at intimate theaters like this has helped reignite the passion of the roster. Everyone is excited to compete in the ring in front of hot crowds at these unique locations.

“Obviously with wrestling, the crowd makes it. It doesn’t exist without the crowd. I think these venues, it’s really reignited a lot of people’s passion backstage I want to say,” Fletcher said. “Look, when you’re wrestling in arenas, it’s a different feeling. Like they’re still cool, yes, it’s an arena. But when you have these weird, wacky balconies up here and theaters, it really brings out a different feeling to an arena. That atmosphere, you can’t replicate it. So, yeah, it’s really brought alive the wrestlers’ passion again I want to say. Because everyone is just like — they’re so excited to get out there. So excited to be in the ring. We’re so blessed to have awesome fans that we get to wrestle in front of. And bringing that intimate atmosphere, it makes the experience better for everybody. Absolutely.”

The Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom has a capacity of roughly 5,000 people before production configuration is factored in. There will be three episodes of Dynamite and three episodes of Collision during the residency.

In August-September of this year, AEW will have a residency in Philadelphia with seven shows at the former ECW Arena.

AEW is in the Chicago area tonight with NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois hosting the Beach Break episode of Dynamite. This Saturday’s Collision is also being taped tonight.