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Update: 9:30 p.m ET
Dave Meltzer reports in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE was trying to secure the RP Funding Center for Friday, June 24 and Monday, June 27 for SmackDown and RAW.
WWE may end up pushing the shows back until August, but Vince McMahon was adamant to be one of the first to run a show with a live audience.
Last word is that may be pushed to August, but the July dates were originally set to be announced this coming week because Vince McMahon was determined to be the first person to run a live indoor sports event with a crowd.
Original Report:
WWE is planning on running a live event with real fans outside the Performance Center and Full Sail University.
According to Fightful Select (subscription required) WWE has been planning for weeks to run an event with actual fans in an arena.
The report states that Lakeland, FL is the likely location of their first event, at the RP Funding Center, a venue which holds 8000 people. Ring Of Honor has used this venue several times.
According to state guidelines, arenas can run at 50% capacity during Stage 2 two of its coronavirus economic recovery plan.
If the company does move forward with the plan, social distancing protocol will be in place.
As of right now, WWE has plans to do a weekend taping sometime in July, but due to the fluidity of the health crisis, that timeframe may change.
It should be noted that Florida reached a new one-day record, with close to 9000 COVID-19 cases.
As this is a developing story, more information will be reported as it’s known.