Wrestlemania 24 Location Confirmed: Orlando

It's official: WrestleMania, professional wrestling's Super Bowl, is coming to Orlando next spring.

The flagship event for WWE will be March 30, 2008 at the Citrus Bowl.

"Bringing the Super Bowl of sports entertainment to our community is something that the City of Orlando and the Central Florida Sports Commission have been building towards for the last six months," John Saboor, president of the Central Florida Sports Commission, told the Sentinel. "We are tremendously proud to have attracted the WWE's iconic event. It promises to be an exciting year in Orlando leading up to WrestleMania 24."

WrestleMania has grown into a global sensation. In less than two weeks, on April 1, WrestleMania 23 at Detroit's Ford Field will host fans from 23 countries, all 50 states and nine Canadian provinces. Millions more in 90 countries will watch it on pay-per-view.

According to figures generated by the Central Florida Sports Commission, WrestleMania 24 is expected to pump an estimated $25 million into the local economy, while creating jobs and generating the type of excitement that a world- class event brings to a world-class city.

Wrestling isn't in its heyday anymore, but millions of fans still watch the television shows and attend events to see their favorite stars such as John Cena, the Undertaker and Batista, among others.

"Orlando is the premiere vacation destination in the world," said Kurt Schneider, executive vice president of the WWE. "People go there to relax, let loose and have fun. That is why it is the perfect place for WrestleMania 24, the pop-culture extravaganza that guarantees a memorable experience, just like the city of Orlando."

SOURCE: The Orlando Sentinel