I don't like the fact that Vince is sticking with the early February start of the season. The XFL got crushed in the ratings by NCAA basketball, and no one was interested the XFL during March Madness. The time frame where there is less competition from other sports is late Spring into the Summer (a la, NFL Europe).
That's a good point about March Madness. A lot of people who don't like baseball don't have any sports to follow in the summer, especially after their NBA team is no longer in contention.
But also you need to end the season before training camp starts.
We had the WFL back in '74-'75 (I remember that) the USFL, WLAF, NFL Europe, Arena, and the XFL. Plus a bit of crossover playing, briefly, with the CFL.
Nothing has really worked.
As much as I want more football, and have throughout the years, I am skeptical that the XFL would do any better a second time around.
I love natural grass fields, but I nevertheless feel that covered stadiums should be the rule. Atmospheric conditions are such that the sun is more intense than ever. A different league playing in the NFL off-season would be subject to that. There are already enough safety concerns without throwing that into the mix. Even the current NFL schedule and uncovered stadiums cause problems with heat at times.
Are they really considering open roof arenas for a league that plays in February?
There is a competing spring football league called the Alliance of American Football (AAF) that already did that. They put teams in mostly secondary markets with no NFL team (e.g., Birmingham, Memphis, San Antonio, etc.). As far as secondary markets, there weren't really a lot of significant ones for the XFL to choose from, so they apparently went in the direction of hitting more of the "big money" markets hoping for the spring football niche in those markets to pick up. I honestly like the XFL's approach better. I don't believe there is enough money in the mid-sized markets that the AAF chose to support a professional football league. I think the AAF will be a money pit and certainly tank. Maybe the XFL will turn out no better, but I am interested to watch.I'm surprised how much overlap there is with NFL locations, I expected more college football areas without NFL teams.
I think the AAF will be a money pit and certainly tank. Maybe the XFL will turn out no better, but I am interested to watch.
The XFL in some markets is occupying MLS stadiums, which are probably reasonable for the cost of operating a business in those areas. The AAF is going to spend a lot of money on players and there will never be a return on that investment operating only in the markets they chose. In reality, the XFL will of course also be a money-pit, but in theory their revenue potential is much higher since they went with big markets. If it is at all possible to thread the needle of making a spring football league work, building a brand and fan base in the big markets would be the only way to do it.They are both going to be money pits. Think anyone in MLB/NBA/NHL markets are going to notice the XFL? There's only so many entertainment dollars to go around. Heck, they are going to be competing with two each of MLB/NBA/NHL teams in the New York, Washington DC and LA market. Houston, Dallas is an NBA/MLB market. Tampa is an NHL/MLB market and the Buccaneers aren't exactly a strong draw.
I expect both to fail. AAF has the advantage of rent being cheaper in smaller markets.
The Houston team will be playing in the U of H Cougar stadium, which is a nice stadium. It was built only a few years ago and is nice and new. And very red. Maybe the U of H will make some money off the XFL, which is enough for my support.![]()
Two the XFL's head coaches have been revealed.
https://www.oursportscentral.com/se...1cHP-YLzvHzNumDJELE46DGMDtU8AetWLmNieBlP2qUd8
https://xfl2k.com/news/breaking-pep...dV5VWoEieqcf9ZNODXPvGA73L7XbsvX1obV0rjzcbp0Y8
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