WWE just changed the way it handles major event sites

When WWE announced on Monday that it had reached a deal with Indiana Sports Corp to bring three of its biggest events to Lucas Oil Stadium, it wasn't just a great day for wrestling fans around Indianapolis.

The agreement, which will see the 2025 Royal Rumble plus future editions of both SummerSlam and WrestleMania all take place at the home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, marks a fundamental shift in how WWE handles its Premium Live Events. 

Here are some of the ways fans can expect things to be different over the rest of the decade.

WrestleMania sites should be known further in advance

When WrestleMania XL came to Philadelphia earlier this year, there was plenty of time for planning. Lincoln Financial Field was announced as the host stadium back in July of 2022.

That wasn't the case for WrestleMania 41, the first edition of WWE's biggest annual show to be scheduled since the company merged with UFC to form TKO. While Minneapolis had been rumored to be the frontrunner, it was eventually announced that Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas got the nod.

The Indiana Sports Corp agreement suggests that won't be the new normal. WWE hasn't announced if it will be WrestleMania 42 headed to Lucas Oil Stadium, but that's a reasonable assumption. And if there are similar deals made with other sites, people will be able to make more educated guesses at where the event will take place earlier than ever before.

The biggest WWE Premium Live Events now seem like a package deal

It's not unusual for certain cities to host the big three WWE Premium Live Events at various times. But generally speaking, each of the events has been negotiated separately.

What's changed over time? The fact that all three shows are now annual fixtures at football stadiums. That's been great for WWE from both creative and business perspectives over the past few years, but it also narrows the pool of potential venues to the 32 NFL stadiums.

WWE is simply acknowledging that fact now, which allows it to approach the NFL cities and work on long-term (by wrestling standards) arrangements like the one with Indianapolis.

The prospect of more WrestleManias in the Midwest is very much alive

Vegas coming out ahead of Minneapolis for WrestleMania 41 right on the heels of Philadelphia hinted at a WWE preference for locales closer to the two coasts at the expense of the Midwest. 

Obviously, that isn't the case. Lucas Oil Stadium might not be in the biggest market, but one thing it does have is a retractable roof. U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota is fully covered.

It sure feels like the presence of a roof, to avoid weather issues, is the key, with location a secondary consideration. That's welcome news for fans in the Midwest, as well as anyone who simply wants to see the Showcase of the Immortals visit as many places as possible.