WWE Monitoring Coronavirus Situation Before Heading Into Wrestlemania

As WWE starts to approach Tampa, Florida for Wrestlemania 36, the wrestling company's biggest show of the year, something even scarier than Brock Lesnar is hovering over it. And that's the worldwide spread of COVID-19, more commonly known as the coronavirus.

The possibility of the coronavirus being a huge presence in Tampa is a very real invasion angle here. With wrestling fans coming in across the globe for a week of festivities and wrestling shows, there is growing concern about the spread of the disease. However, Tampa Bay Times reports that WWE's Vice President of Special Events, John Saboor, isn't worried about canceling just yet.

"Given the number of live events that (WWE) does, it's constantly monitoring global events," said Saboor. "There are active and ongoing discussions at play internally, like there are in any sector of American business, and certainly families as a whole. So I think those will continue."

Several WWE officials were on site in Tampa for a meeting with city leaders at Raymond James Stadium where they laid out their plan for the weekend, which includes a 5K and block party.

Last year, it was estimated that 150,000 wrestling fans attended WWE events from Monday Night Raw, to NXT Takeover, to Wrestlemania itself. However for Wrestlemania weekend, it's a Mecca for wrestling fans from all over the world to attend, but with more and more cases of the coronavirus being announced, including two confirmed cases in the bay area as of Monday, WWE and Tampa have to be ready for anything.

Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, said his group is working alongside both Hillsborough County Aviation Authority as well as Tampa International Airport to ensure fan safety for the coming weeks before the show.

"You've got to be nimble, and you've got to be ready," Higgins explained. "I think we just continue to information-gather as much as possible, so that we are as prepared as possible."

"And if necessary, enact those measures," WWE CBO Stephanie McMahon added.

The final Wrestlemania main event card is getting underway with Roman Reigns taking on WCW icon and WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg for his newly-won Universal Championship. Additionally, Drew McIntyre is finally getting his title shot against WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.

Wrestlemania airs live, Sunday, April 5 in Tampa. Come back to GameSpot on that day for live coverage and a review of the show.