How the XFL’s Bad Luck Could Be a Blessing
“It may seem like a far fetched idea today but could the XFL-CFL collaboration lead to a league with a third of its teams in Canada, a third on the US and a third elsewhere? A global league, playing opposite the NFL calendar, drawing television revenues and sponsorship from several countries, reinforced by sports wagering interest from around the world?”
The WWE owned XFL (Xtreme Football League) took place back in 2001 and only had one season before ceasing operations. The plan was to continue without NBC but UPN made such demands that ultimately its demise was within.
People wanted more than what the NFL had to offer but there has never been a league that could survive alongside with the NFL. The XFL did get one thing right the first time around and that was how the viewer watched the game. After all sports is entertainment and if you look how you watch the NFL on TV today with all of its fancy camera angles and glamor shots coming across the field on cables, that innovation was inspired by the XFL.
In 2018 the incarnation of the XFL was announced! Vince McMahon setup big plans and emphasized that people were still missing what the NFL couldn’t give them. The moto: “For the Love of Football”.
This time around looked different! The league heavily marketed well and took precautions on everything going forward besides the leap to make a permanent comeback. From the team swag, to a league app for fan interaction, as well as a fast paced style of play.. But most importantly it was on TV!
Everything played out just how the XFL wanted it to. The games looked great, the views were up and the fans found something they have been looking for! But one thing happened…. A pandemic hit… COVID-19 eventually shut down the league before it ever had a chance to play out its season.
The XFL eventually filed for bankruptcy and instead of trying to save what was left of the league, they did the right thing and paid out its organization and its players leaving no future for the league to return.
Fast forward and a familiar face buys the league. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson acquires full asset along with Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital as the winning bidders.
Up until now there has yet to be another football league that could coincide with the NFL, especially for a spring season. Except for one northern league that we tend to forget about. Yes Canadians we tend to forget about you… The CFL (Canadian Football League)!
The CLF has been around longer than you think but had canceled its 2020 season due to the virus. Over the past five years they have struggled with sloped numbers yet have been able to find ways to stay in it for nearly 65 years.
With talks of the XLF & CFL partnership the future XFL season will now be put on hold for the time being.
“Beyond the XFL-CFL merger itself, the new collaboration could be a lunching point to aggressively pursue franchises in places such as Mexico, Germany and other European countries. It’s only a tiny leap of faith to believe that whatever is on the table between the CFL and XLF has a considerable international component to its vision.”
