COMMENTARY: The fall and rise of the XFL

The XFL is a reinvented new eight-team league striving to fill in the fan void during the offseason waiting period for the next NFL game. Debuting Feb. 8, 2020, the eight teams will play a 10-week regular season and 2-week postseason, which gives fans 79 days of additional football excitement.

The original XFL, which was operated jointly by NBC’s Dick Ebersol and WWE’s Vince McMahon was a bold and fearless challenge to take on the National Football League. In a press conference held July 12, 2000, Vince McMahon referred to the NFL as the “no fun league,” and stated that the XFL is going to be the “extra fun league.” McMahon also stated, “This will not be a league for pantywaists or sissies.”

Making their first and only season debut on Feb. 3, 2001, the original XFL did not make it beyond the XFL championship game on April 21, 2001. The 2001 XFL was a failed attempt of being an NFL alternative. LA Magazine called it “wacky, tacky, and controversial.”

The original XFL did away with the normal pregame coin toss and went with a more feral approach of a “scramble to the ball.” This new approach to an opening play was intended to get the fans excited and lived up to the reputation of not being a league for “sissies.” The league also did away with the no fair catch rule. These changes resulted in numerous injuries.

In 2001, spectators and fans were eager to find out what the XFL was about with high attendance, ratings, and merchandise sales starting off extremely successful. Those quickly died down as the season progressed. Before long the XFL was ridiculed for possessing too many elements of wrestling with gimmicks such as storylines, commentators and skits that have no business being in the football world.

Fast forward almost two decades later, Vince McMahon is back debuting the new and improved XFL with a press conference that took place Jan. 25, 2018. This time, the demeanor is more reserved, and the focus is on the fans.

The Official XFL announcement featuring McMahon can be found on YouTube. The video begins with, “This is the future, this is not the past; this is the future, and the future moves fast.” McMahon is referencing how the new XFL is changing the game of football with their commitment to “less stall, more ball.”

There is a business model approach to this new and improved league, which this time is operated separately from the WWE. The new XFL is owned by Alpha Entertainment, which is established and funded by Vince McMahon.

The most significant change is the quality of recruited talent and time commitment for players and coaches to prepare and practice. McMahon hired Oliver Luck, father of former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck, as the CEO and commissioner of the XFL. Oliver has extensive knowledge of football and experience overseeing numerous sports operations.

The XFL states on its website that the league is built on three core principles:

• Fan-First: “We love our fans and want what they want. The XFL is a league that listens.”
• Ultra-Accessible: “We get fans close to the game in fun and imaginative ways.”
• True to the Game: “We are faithful to the foundations of football. Never different just to be different. No gimmicks. Ever.”

It appears that McMahon has learned the viewers want to see football, so the focus to make the game gimmick-free is an important step. Also, every XFL game will broadcast on either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FS1, or FS2, which allows for more viewership, unlike 2001 when the games were limited to NBC.

Much like 2001, week one of 2020 XFL saw high ratings and attendance, taking a slight dip week two in viewership. Attendance is going to make week three very critical for the fate of this league. Unlike the AAF, the XFL has the finances to remain successful. Ultimately, the success has to be made via ticket sales and television right deals, and the XFL has a big competition coming up with March Madness taking place March 15-April 6, 2020. The tournament has important games scheduled on the same weekend dates as XFL games.

As XFL commissioner Oliver Luck stated this is a “league of opportunity.” The XFL wants to promote itself as a legitimate football league, serving as a secondary league that allows coaches and players to develop such as is offered in other major American sports leagues. With the new branding and approach, the XFL can score a touchdown, ultimately it will come down to if fans stay interested in this NFL alternative.