XFL to return in 2020

FTC Statement: Reviewers are frequently provided by the publisher/production company with a copy of the material being reviewed.The opinions published are solely those of the respective reviewers and may not reflect the opinions of CriticalBlast.com or its management.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. (This is a legal requirement, as apparently some sites advertise for Amazon for free. Yes, that's sarcasm.)

Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Thu, 01/25/2018 - 14:09

From WWE:

STAMFORD, CONN. – Professional football will be reimagined when the new XFL kicks off in early 2020, Vince McMahon announced in a live stream event today.

The XFL will deliver 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.

Plans for the XFL at launch include eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regular-season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.

“The new XFL is an exciting opportunity to reimagine America’s favorite sport,” said McMahon. “As we move towards kickoff, we look forward to listening and implementing innovative ideas from players, coaches, medical experts, technology executives, the media and most importantly football fans.”

McMahon, a visionary and an accomplished business executive, is personally funding this venture through Alpha Entertainment, a new private entity. McMahon will continue as WWE Chairman & CEO.

Commentary: : The return of the XFL has been rumored for a while now. Vince MacMahon had created a new company called Alpha Entertainment, and they had been buying up trademarks for things like the “United Football League.”

I know a lot of people think of XFL as a bit of a joke, but it seems like they have learned from the mistakes of the past and are working on creating something that could really have some legs to it. My brother and I had season tickets for the XFL, and we had a great time at all the Hitmen games. I actually still have my XFL football! Our biggest complaint about the XFL was that Giants Stadium was fricking freezing in February when the games started.

I think this is a great time for Alpha Entertainment to try and push for an alternative to the NFL. Ratings are down, and the NFL often feels real stagnant these days. I especially like that they seem to be actually planning here. Setting a launch date of 2020 shows a real commitment to getting it right. My brother and I are already talking about getting season tickets again if they have a New York or New Jersey team.

One thing I think is important is to keep this separate from the WWE as much as possible. Splitting focus between the two could weaken both brands. I am not saying they shouldn’t do some cross-promotion, but I do think a big part of what hurt XFL the first time was that they tried to inject too much WWE into it, including the over-the-top cheerleaders segments.

If someone wants more of an unbiased perspective of the XFL, I would suggest checking out ESPN’s 30 on 30 about the XFL and episode 28 of Something to Wrestle With podcast. Bruce Prichard tells some hilarious stories about the XFL there.

And hey, if someone with any power is reading this, I would totally love to work for the new XFL… HINT HINT!! Where can I send my resume?