Post by Amanda Wallace on Jan 24, 2009 3:07:40 GMT -5
2008 was the year of the traveling e-fed known as Global Championship Wrestling. Throughout the year, the GCW Wrestlers entertained fans not only in the entire Continental United States, but through the globe with their brand of exciting, professional wrestling. Yet, as was the case with sporting events everywhere, the diminishing world economy weakened the sales support for venues around the country and world.
Previously in the year, about a month after GCW had started, Amanda Wallace had started a side venture, named Wallace Development, Inc. This venture was responsible for purchasing open land, or abandoned/needing repairs structures, and developing them into premier real estate pieces. Originally, small shopping complexes was the goal, but a plot of land had been purchased outside of Chicago, close to home for Amanda Wallace. This land was set to be developed for an expo-center to house numerous trades shows, from bridal, to sportsman, to auto, to comic conventions, etc. Once the first show that failed to sell out happened, however, Amanda took into account the immense travel expenses her company paid for the GCW Wrestlers, and how the weakening economy could put a strangle on the budget in travel alone. So, plans for "just an expo-center" were scratched and the GCW Arena's concept was born. The arena is set to be finished by January 30th, 2009, which leaves it more than enough time to get ready for it's first show on February 8th, GCW Exodus!
The Arena is only a short drive away from GCW's 21 floor Corporate headquarters on Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago, Illinois. Floors 12-21 house the corporate divisions, ranging from administrative, accounting, maintenance, travel, and management just to name a few. Floor 21 is the Suite and office of Amanda Wallace, housed separately, mind you, as well as her own Physical Rehabilitation center. Floor 20 is set up similar for GCW's General Manager, Kimberly Masters.
The Wrestler's Quarters range from floor 4-11, housing 10 suites per floor. The suites are set up like large, one bedroom apartments, featuring a spacious bedroom with walk in closet and bathroom, a large living room, kitchen set up with full appliances and breakfast bar, as well as a second bathroom. The corporate set up to the building does not allow for a balcony set up, but the expansive windows allow for a beautiful view of the city of Chicago or Lake Michigan, whatever side of the building the wrestler happens to end up on. A key-card activated elevator is the only way to access these floors.
Floor 3 is the fitness center. Among its world Class Gym and Cardio set up, includes an Olympic sized pool, hot tub, sauna, court for various sports including basketball, and wrestling ring.
Floor 2 is the GCW Cafe, it's large, in house restaurant. Visitors are allowed to visit the cafe during the dinner hours, but the wrestlers may stop down there 24 hours a-day. Full meals stop being cooked between 11PM to 6AM, but appetizers and drinks may be ordered at any time of the day.
The ground floor...
This is the portal to the land that is GCW. The elevator open to the public will take anybody to the Cafe or Corporate areas, bypassing the wrestler quarters. The Stairs leading up are blocked by secure doors to the Wrestler's Quarters as well. The windowless door offers visitors no sight into the wrestler's private lives. Proper security clearance is needed from both the receptionist and from security stations on the corporate floors to allow visitors to proceed into the inner workings of GCW.
Amanda Wallace. Co-Founder and CEO of Global Championship Wrestling. She was educated in the USC School of Business, obtaining a Master's Degree in Business Management. It was in school she met a man by the name of Jon Pryor, who would become a future business partner surprisingly after the quick and brutal meltdown of their initial, quick love affair.
Partnering with him, she started Full Contact Wrestling, based out of Detroit, Michigan. Jon Pryor passed away at this time. That venture failed, however. Out of its ashes, and the ashes of a Toronto promotion, GCW was born. Amanda used money gained from Jon Pryor's will to start this venture with Candice Angel, and after a rocky start, year 1 was in the books. Amanda was absent for much of the first year after a drunk driver struck her car, severely injuring her leg. She still walks with a cane, in much pain, to this day.
Amanda is a bit temperamental at times, sometimes overshadowing her extremely developed business sense and demeanor. Dealing with egotistical wrestlers from time to time has a tendency to do that, and as such, she has learned to put them into their place. In her healthier days, she wasn't shy about getting into the ring to teach them a lesson either, having been trained by Jon Pryor to compete in the squared circle.
(Reserved for Kimberly Masters bio)