SummerSlam is an annual PPV event organized by the WWE and is considered to be the second biggest event in professional wrestling after WrestleMania. Also known as The Biggest Party of the Summer, the event was first held in 1988 and has since taken place every August, with the exception of 2022 where it was held in July.
The SummerSlam was introduced when WWE decided to capitalize on the success of WrestleMania and wanted to increase its PPV presence. Over the period of one year, it introduced the Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and then SummerSlam in August, which all have since been an annual affair for the company. After WrestleMania, SummerSlam is the one event that usually takes place in huge stadiums, and thus holds a few records in terms of attendance in WWE events.
List of SummerSlam with the most attendance
| Year | Attendance | Location | City |
| 1992 | 78927 | Wembley Stadium | London, England |
| 2023 | 51477 | Ford Field | Detroit, Michigan |
| 2022 | 48449 | Nissan Stadium | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 2021 | 45690 | Allegiant Stadium | Paradise, Nevada |
| 1994 | 23300 | United Center | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1998 | 21588 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York |
| 1997 | 20213 | Continental Airlines Arena | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| 1988 | ~20000 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York |
| 1989 | ~20000 | Brendan Byrne Arena | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| 1991 | ~20000 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York |
| 1993 | ~20000 | The Palace of Auburn Hills | Auburn Hills, Michigan |
| 1990 | 19304 | Spectrum | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2005 | 18176 | MCI Center | Washington, D.C. |
| 2000 | 18128 | Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 1995 | 18062 | Civic Arena | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | 17739 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 2004 | 17640 | Air Canada Centre | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 2012 | 17482 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 2010 | 17463 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 2007 | 17441 | Continental Airlines Arena | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| 2011 | 17404 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 1999 | 17370 | Target Center | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 2014 | 17357 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 2009 | 17129 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California |
| 1996 | ~17000 | Gund Arena | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 2019 | 16904 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 2018 | 16169 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York |
| 2006 | 16168 | TD Banknorth Garden | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2017 | 16128 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York |
| 2003 | 16113 | America West Arena | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 2008 | 15997 | Conseco Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2016 | 15974 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York |
| 2015 | 15702 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York |
| 2001 | 15293 | Compaq Center | San Jose, California |
| 2002 | 14797 | Nassau Coliseum | Uniondale, New York |
| 2020 | 0 | WWE Thunderdome at Amway Center | Orlando, Florida |
How many people were at SummerSlam 1992?
SummerSlam 1992 holds the record for the most attended SummerSlam, at 78,927. This was the actual attendance of the event, and the marketed number stood at 80,355. The event took place at the famous Wembley Stadium in London, England. For 24 years, this was the highest-paid crowd that ever turned up to a WWE event, although disputed by the numbers of WrestleMania III. The number was anyway broken by WrestleMania 32.
FAQs on largest SummerSlam
A. WrestleMania 32’s attendance of 80,709 is the highest in WWE history. The event’s marketed attendance was 101,763.
A. Reportedly, a total of 81,035 tickets were sold for AEW All In while 72,265 was the actual attendance.
A. SummerSlam 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota is announced to be two nights long. It is not known whether the event will continue in this format or not.
A. Yes, SummerSlam will air on Peacock in the USA and on the WWE Network elsewhere.
