/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/EGKSKFLYJJHMNGSNVQ22N2YU4A.jpg "The first WWE broadcast from Tropicana Field was the Friday Night SmackDown show on Dec. 11, shown here. The dome was transformed into the WWE ThunderDome, which combined a special effects-heavy set full of lasers, pyrotechnics and drones with a virtual fan experience.")
TAMPA — The WWE, which has produced its live events in the Tampa Bay area for the past six months, announced Friday that it will soon be hitting the road again.
The company’s residency at the Yuengling Center — where WWE’s Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and pay-per-view events have been held since WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium on April 10-11 — will end with the July 12 Raw show.
WWE plans to resume hosting full-capacity shows across the country, something it hasn’t been able to do since the pandemic started in March 2020. A 21-city summer tour will include a SmackDown show on Aug. 6 at Amalie Arena.
The tour also includes nearby stops in Fort Myers (Aug. 7), Gainesville (Aug. 8), Orlando (Aug. 9), Jacksonville (Sept. 3) and Miami (Sept. 6).
Beginning in December, WWE relocated its ThunderDome set, which allowed fans to attend events virtually through video conferencing, to Tropicana Field until the Rays’ season began. After WrestleMania, which was attended by 25,675 fans for each of its two nights, the set was moved to the Yuengling Center on USF’s campus.
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/eb37a45b-a545-427b-a048-a4eed8cf9584.png "Eduardo A. Encina - Lightning Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Red0jktz7IH_z5S0Ye-4Bp7YyuM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CCGCAXRDHFCOFP6Q4GO5VTRKYU.JPG "How to force yourself to have holiday cheer")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/A8Gb7Dhrh1ZuIO_WsBIiAG4M9wM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YF3MCGV3WJD3BOWUDIGM5JPYTI.JPG "Drivers will see major progress on the Howard Frankland in 2024")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/t8qtStwEPWUmkAF7sE0Co660xqA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HYY5MYME5NDEVLETDJGICVALQY.JPG "DeSantis seeks to spend Hillsborough transportation sales tax funds")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/KADohIaS-ZMX7KuioNxda1Eza70=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PET7U7AFUNEFNNOX4GYG2C66EU.jpg "Gnomes are a Christmas hit. They’re spreading to other holidays too.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Xvr0_7lvM5BFUUL8d5ypvWO2OIE=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MQADJSMG6XPTQJ3VTMFU53WCWE.jpg "The college football playoffs vs. the future of democracy | Letters")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/tseSgdQar3KFZJdPhxUwS7ojHQ8=/1200x675/filters:focal(2335x1495:2345x1485)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2EA2FTE52RGRTAR2LB4KGO4BLE.JPG "Despite struggles, Bucs gearing up for first-place showdown in Atlanta")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/haUC3IIRU2LJgyq6p_ZfF2utpDs=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KPEMYRLLAFFDTJBPK7YS7OODFY.jpg "Florida appeals court upholds DeSantis’ congressional redistricting map")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/VqBfM8fglETq89KKo59tPG1RvNA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DYKS6ZJS2BGWXGMQSTN7KUSCUE.JPG "Clearwater Central Catholic heading back to state final")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/oPiMFJT0leAccQ7t1USMRgja6BM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VJBCWZGJFYI6TAOPPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and DEI in Florida | Column")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/m28BkaDCmK6r5prZg0NE8bjShaM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VINOVQSUWBBVTJI4YGLOTF72TY.JPG "Good grief, are we now having a petty argument over the St. Pete Rays?")