TKO held a Zoom meeting with its staff on Wednesday to go over updates on WWE, UFC, Zuffa Boxing and On Location. Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported that each division briefly gave an update on its business.
Mark Shapiro emphasized that everyone’s safety was the most important thing when he talked about the upcoming events in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
The call took place before the Crown Jewel venue change was announced. As a result, the move wasn’t mentioned to employees.
Shapiro made his comments after a report that employees and talent were unhappy about the show being held in Saudi Arabia.
Shapiro previously addressed the possibility of a schedule change for safety reasons. While appearing on Power Players with Brian Sozzi in May, he said TKO was “going to monitor the situation” and would make a change if it needed to.
Under the State Department’s travel advisory, U.S. government employees need special permission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia. The advisory also warns that debris from intercepted drones and missiles can be dangerous.
Crown Jewel is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, in Riyadh, with a 12 p.m. ET start time.