Steve Carrier on April 23, 2026
High prices tied to WrestleMania weekend are now being blamed for the overwhelming number of fans crowding the MGM Grand, as new claims suggest many people showed up at the hotel simply because they were priced out of official WWE fan experiences.
During a recent episode of The Dirty Sheets Wrestling Informer Podcast, Billi Bhatti pointed directly at rising ticket and meet-and-greet costs as the driving force behind the chaos that unfolded throughout WrestleMania week in Las Vegas.
He explained that many fans who normally would have attended paid autograph sessions instead gathered at the hotel, hoping to meet WWE Superstars without spending hundreds of dollars.
“I think overall the main people to blame as to why the hotel engagement and why there were hotel issues with fans and WWE wrestlers throughout the week… basically came down to the fact that TKO are massively greedy. TKO's massive greed and the increase in ticket prices and the increase in meet and greet prices has led to more fans going to the hotel than ever.”
Bhatti also claimed that a large portion of the crowd inside the MGM Grand wasn’t even staying there, describing the situation as one fueled by desperation from fans who felt shut out of official WrestleMania access points.
“These were not fans who could afford to stay at the MGM… they just found their way towards the MGM… out of desperation because they have been priced out of autographs and photographs.”
He went on to describe how the situation changed as the week progressed, saying WWE talent became increasingly difficult to spot inside the hotel as crowd sizes grew and frustration mounted.
According to Bhatti, wrestlers eventually began using alternate entrances and exits to avoid heavily packed public areas filled with fans hoping for interactions.
“From the very beginning this week, the wrestlers were very, very standoffish. In fact, by the end of the week, you didn't even see them because they'd found a way to use different doors in and out of the hotel and therefore the experience wasn't great.”
He added that some of WWE’s biggest stars had access to restricted areas and private entry options, making it easier for them to avoid the growing crowds that filled common areas.
“By the end of the week they were finding all of the other doors. The top stars had the option to stay at the MGM Mansions… and the stars… had keys that let them in from the front for the sky lounges.”
Those claims line up with separate backstage reports from, which indicated that security concerns became a serious topic among WWE talent as fan encounters increased throughout the weekend. Some talent reportedly expressed frustration about the level of protection available during the busiest days of WrestleMania week.
Several incidents added to the tension, including situations involving fans getting too close to WWE talent in crowded areas, reinforcing concerns that the overwhelming hotel presence created safety and privacy issues for wrestlers and staff alike.
With WrestleMania continuing to grow into a larger destination-style event each year, rising costs and limited access opportunities appear to be pushing more fans toward shared public spaces like hotels, creating a situation that is becoming harder to control.
As WWE expands premium experiences and pricing structures, the pressure to manage fan expectations — and protect talent — may only continue to increase during future WrestleMania weekends.
Do you think rising WrestleMania prices are pushing too many fans into hotel spaces, or is this just part of how massive events operate now? Drop your thoughts below and let us know your feedback.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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