WWE has announced that they are moving their company headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut to a new office complex in the same city. A reason for the move hasn't been revealed but it appears as if they're looking to sell the original "Titan Towers" building which was built in 1981 and is obviously somewhat outdated at this point.
The company is set to lease the space for an initial term of 16.5 years and the move will happen early 2021.
That's obviously a long time from now but a move like this isn't simple and WWE has a lot stored at its current headquarters, including its archive of props and costumes which are often spotlighted at events like
WrestleMania Axxess. Here's the press release in full:
STAMFORD, Conn.-- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced that the company will move its global headquarters to a new office complex at 677 Washington Boulevard in Stamford, Connecticut. This move will allow the company to bring together its operations, including its production studios and corporate offices at its new site.
"One of the most important elements necessary to execute WWE's long-term growth strategy is world-class talent collaborating seamlessly to create compelling content. Our workplace initiative will be the foundation to meet these objectives and underpins our ability to deliver long-term value," said George Barrios, WWE Co-President.
The new headquarters will provide the company with work space suited to its growing and evolving workforce. The site in Stamford's central business district provides greater access from various means of transportation, floor plans which are well-suited to producing video content and greater flexibility in workplace design. The Company anticipates that it will move to the new headquarters in early 2021.
WWE will lease the space for an initial term of approximately 16.5 years commencing no earlier than July 1, 2019, with five five-year renewal options thereafter. The lease will be accounted for as a finance lease, with the creation of a lease obligation (equal to the present value of future lease payments, which would result in the recognition of interest expense over time) and a right-of-use lease asset (equal to the lease obligation less tenant incentives, which is depreciated on a straight-line basis through depreciation expense). Accordingly, the accounting for the lease agreement is not expected to have a material impact on Adjusted OIBDA. Depreciation expense associated with the right-of-use asset will be reflected in operating income. The Company's capital expenditure guidance reflects this initiative. That guidance estimated capital expenditures of approximately $70 million to $90 million for 2019 with continued spending in 2020 above the historic range of approximately 4% to 7% of revenue. Additionally, the company expects to sell its owned and operated corporate facility at 1241 East Main Street, exit its leased spaces at 1266 East Main Street, and will evaluate options for its production studio facilities at 88 and 120 Hamilton Avenue based on strategic, operating and financial considerations.