Lucha Underground announces live dates

UPDATE: All three events are free to the public. See Tweets from LU below clarifying the details.

Lucha Underground fans have asked for opportunities to see the promotion without tuning in to El Rey or flying to Boyle Heights for a taping, but outside of an appearance at South by Southwest in Austin, touring rumors have remained just that.

The announcement yesterday that LU will hold live shows in three Southwestern cities later this month and in early November means - at least for some fans - the rumors are becoming a reality. You have to imagine if these events in Houston, Phoenix and San Diego are a success, the promotion would look to expand touring plans.

Here are the details on the first three Lucha En Vivo dates:

Cricket Wireless Brings El Rey Network's Action-Packed Wrestling Series "Lucha Underground" Live to Phoenix, Houston and San Diego

ATLANTA – Cricket Wireless and El Rey Network will present Lucha En Vivo, three action-packed, high-flying "Lucha Underground" live events in three cities this fall. For the first time fans in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego can be ringside for the blood-pumping, chant-starting, fierce Lucha Libre drama and excitement as the masked heroes and villains of Lucha Underground battle it out for wrestling supremacy.

Catch Lucha En Vivo in:

Phoenix – Oct. 23

Houston – Oct. 30

San Diego – Nov. 5

There will be two meet & greets with a Luchador in each city. Fans can stop by a meet & greet at a local Cricket branded retail store. There will also be exclusive meet at greets at the Lucha Live events.

"We look to tap into our customers' passion points, and hosting Lucha En Vivo is just another way to do that," said Tiffany Baehman, vice president and chief marketing officer, Cricket Wireless. "Bringing an event from the small screen to their backyard—and giving them a chance to meet their favorite Luchador—definitely gives Lucha Underground fans something to celebrate."

"Lucha Underground," El Rey Network's addictive, Lucha Libre wrestling series from Emmy Award®-winning producer Mark Burnett, MGM, Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures, airs Wednesdays at 8:00pm ET.

LUCHA EN VIVO! Fans can enter a sweepstakes at participating Cricket Wireless stores in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego. Sweepstakes runs through Oct. 31, 2016.

The grand prize winner gets roundtrip airfare and lodging in Los Angeles for two, $500 in spending money and two VIP tickets to the Lucha Underground experience.

But we're not stopping with a grand prize, 25 first-prize winners will receive one piece of merchandise signed by a Luchador.

"As those who attend our show tapings in Boyle Heights can attest - seeing 'Lucha Underground' live is a spectacular experience and we are so excited that Cricket is bringing this opportunity to 'Lucha Underground' fans in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego," said El Rey Network President and GM Daniel Tibbets.

Excited? Or much ado about a brand that some predict will remain a niche product in the pro wrestling world?