Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2019 0:19:41 GMT
www.pwinsider.com/article/125181/the-xfls-competition-may-be-folding.html?p=1
THE XFL'S COMPETITION MAY BE FOLDING
By Mike Johnson on 2019-03-27 15:04:00
USA Today reported this afternoon Charlie Ebersol's new Alliance of American Football (AAF) is in danger of folding after launching right after the Super Bowl a few months ago. The league's majority owner Tom Dundon told the newspaper that should they not work out an agreement with NFL Players' Association to use young players from NFL roster, they cannot be a developmental league for the NFL and would look at a number of potential options, including folding.
The league was launched in the wake of Ebersol, the son of McMahon's longtime confidante Dick Ebersol (who helped forge WWE's relationship with NBC in the 1980s and later helped develop and co-own the XFL for its one season on NBC) directing an ESPN 30 For 30 documentary on the original incarnation of XFL. Ebersol pursued purchasing the name and rights to revive it. When Vince McMahon instead decided to announce plans to revive the XFL himself in response to Ebersol's plans, the AAF was instead announced.
The AAF launched in February, one year before the XFL's planned 2020 kickoff. Despite having a broadcast agreement with CBS, the AAF League almost immediately ran into cash flow difficulties, requiring a new $250 million investment, which made Dundon to new majority owner. A decision on the AAF's future will come over the next few days, according to Dundon. The league is currently in week 8 of its initial 10 week season.
Should AAF shut down, it opens the door for the XFL to pursue an alternative football league unencumbered but also provides a crystal ball into how hard such a project might be for McMahon's Alpha Entertainment to get off the ground.
Vince McMahon's plans for the new XFL, which he is personally funding, calls for "a fan-centric, innovative experience, including shorter, fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement." The current XFL relaunch calls for eight teams playing in the following locations:
*New York, playing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
*Washington, DC, playing at Audi Field.
*Los Angeles, playing at the StubHub Center.
*Houston, playing at TDECU Stadium.
*St. Louis, playing at The Dome at America's Center.
*Seattle, playing at Century Link Field.
*Dallas, playing at Globe Life Park.
*Tampa, playing at Raymond James Stadium.
The XFL website is already selling merchandise branded for each city and Twitter accounts for each XFL market have been officially launched. The XFL has statted it intends to be a compliment, not opposition to the NFL and college football. The first XFL season will launch the week after the 2020 Super Bowl. VInce McMahon during a press conference last year, pushed the idea that technology and the landscape of TV has changed in the "20 years" since the initial XFL was announced and that there is long-term financial backing as well as lots more opportunities for live sports programming on television compared to the early 2000s. The XFL's plan is to speed the gameplay up, to minimize "idle time" during the game and use technology to improve the safety of those playing for the XFL's teams. They pushed the XFL will be "family friendly."
There will be 45 players on each team with 10 weeks of regular play and two weeks of playoffs. Each team will have a practice squad of seven players as well. The XFL website is already selling season tickets, has named Oliver Luck League Commissioner and is in the process of hiring Coaches and staff for each team.
Thanks to Jim Quigley.