The American wrestling event WrestleMania could be held in London under Sadiq Khan’s plans to bring more big sporting events to the capital.
He has also pledged to campaign for the return of NBA basketball games to “fully cement London’s reputation as the undisputed sports capital of the world”, and has a “longer-term ambition” to bring the Superbowl to London for the first event outside of the US.
WrestleMania, which often attracts celebrity fans, is in its 40th year but has never been held in the UK. Its stars include Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest and Becky Lynch.
Mr Khan will set up a taskforce to attract more US sports if he is re-elected mayor next week.
He will explore a partnership with the Women’s Super League to grow the audience for women’s football in the capital. Arsenal Women regularly sell-out Arsenal’s 60,000-seat Emirates stadium, such is the popularity of their matches.
Mr Khan said: “I believe that London has the potential to host the first international WrestleMania.”
The Labour mayor has already announced his intention to try to bring the Olympics back to London in 2040 should he win the election on May 2.
However he previously said he wanted the Olympics to return to London in 2036 and that came to nothing.
Mr Khan also said he was committed to restoring Crystal Palace national sports centre to its former glory.
He wrote in his manifesto: “I will complete its renovation, turning it into Britain’s first zero carbon major sports centre, and I’ll also work with partners to deliver the restoration of the famous Crystal Palace athletics stadium.”
