World Wrestling Entertainment performer The Miz treads water as he’s put through the paces at water survival training at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., during a visit Friday as part of WWE’s “Tribute to the Troops” week in Hampton Roads. (Navy photo by MC1 Molly A. Burgess)
This weekend’s big military sporting event comes Saturday in Philadelphia. But this weekend’s big military sports-entertainment event comes Sunday afternoon in Norfolk, Va., when World Wrestling Entertainment packs the Norfolk Scope Arena with thousands of active-duty service members and their families for its yearly “Tribute to the Troops” event.
Planning to attend? Wondering what your kids have gotten you into? Here’s a quick primer:
1. Tickets still available. Early this week, sailors waited in line, sometimes up to 90 minutes, for free tickets to the event at various locations throughout the Hampton Roads area. Now, the only way to get them is at the Chrysler Hall box office, part of the Scope complex, beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are only available to active-duty members and their families. Bell time is 4 p.m.
2. Want good seats? Wear NWUs. Why are some tickets available? WWE is doing a pre-event ticket swap at 2 p.m. at Chrysler Hall, where sailors in uniform and their families can trade in their general admission tickets for premium seating. Uniforms aren’t required to attend, but a sea of blueberries makes for a more camera-friendly atmosphere, and parts of the event will be on TV twice — USA network on Dec. 19 (two hours) and NBC on Dec. 22 (one hour).
3. Skip the booze. As the Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s website on the event helpfully points out, “Per the Chief of Naval Operations’ NAVADMIN 366/11, the consumption of alcohol while off-base in Navy Working Uniforms (NWU) is not permitted.”
4. Superstar schedule. The WWE tour doesn’t begin and end with the Scope — here’s where you can catch your favorite performers throughout the weekend.
5. Any pictures so far? Sure, from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s Facebook page.
6. Are sailors really excited about all this? This guy is.
