XFL is Back

[GKJ]

So, it was an interesting story from Wrestling Observer Radio last night. As mentioned before, the XFL did their launch first because Vince caught wind that Charlie Ebersol was getting the AAF ducks in a row. Turns out, Vince found out - from Charlie Ebersol! What happened was that Ebersol, for whatever reason, wanted to purchase all the properties and whatnot of the XFL from Vince and NBC. Ebersol was going to be the one to re-launch the XFL. So they had a meeting. Instead of selling, Vince decided that since someone else was starting a league must be a good idea, so he rushed around to launch his league first. So, that's why we have 2 leagues. Essentially because of Vince's ego. He obviously convinced himself it was all his idea as well.

 

[Voight]

 

[John Price]

In announcing the reformed XFL, McMahon stated that while it would share its name and trademark with the previous incarnation, it will not rely on professional wrestling-inspired features and entertainment elements as its predecessor did, instead aiming to create a league with fewer off-field controversies and faster, simpler play compared to the NFL.

Lot of talk about how you can't have a startup football league in America well I don't buy that. The AAF would have been fine and was trending well before Dundon took his ball and went home. Vince is a committed owner and this league doesn't seem to have the issues that the hastily rushed AAF did. I look forward to XFL in 2020 and if the gimmicks are gone and this is just football without the controversy I'm fine with that.

Guys you all know I'm a big sports fan who'll watch anything XFL is perfectly fine with me

 

[John Price]

Good podcast about the plan for the Xfl in 2020

NFL Clubs Can't Worry About Conservative or Liberal
Bloomberg Business of Sports
Duration: 31:11
Published: Thu, 02 May 2019 15:44:00 -0000
Media: http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/BLM5958298413.mp3
Podcast: Bloomberg Business of Sports Podcast Republic
San Francisco 49ers President and Elevate Sports Ventures Chief Executive Officer Al Guido joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the...
Subscribe to this podcast: http://feeds.bloomberg.fm/BLM3800589526
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San Francisco 49ers President and Elevate Sports Ventures Chief Executive Officer Al Guido joins Scott Soshnick, Michael Barr and Eben Novy-Williams to discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including Elevate's two-year deal to sell tickets and advise on business operations for Vince McMahon's XFL, a spring football league scheduled to begin play next season. Guido discusses why he believes the venture will succeed, and how the league intends to bring fans much closer to the game. Guido also discusses 49ers draft pick Nick Bosa, his politics, and social media mistakes, and why there won't be any problems for the conservative-leaning player in San Francisco.

 

[John Price]

XFL games to air on ESPN, ABC, FOX properties

Already more accessible than AAF was. AAF had their games either on CBS Sports Network most of the time, or BR Live. Every week, there will be a game on FOX and ABC, with the rest on ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and FS2. More people get those networks than CBS Sports Network.

 

[GKJ]

Sounds like it's a revenue sharing deal with the networks picking up production costs.

 

[Mightygoose]

Looking at the proposed broadcast schedule, more than half of the games will be on the OTA channels so they will be available in Canada and likely other parts of the world.

XFL Watch - XFL.com - Official home of the XFL

Strange, that one of the 2 playoff games plus the championship match will be on ESPN. I would think Vince would want a larger reach. Perhaps TSN could simulcast those ones?

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Any word on season ticket sales for the franchises?

 

[GKJ]

So it’s not a revenue sharing deal, the networks are simply taking on production costs with the hope that the next TV deal will be a paying deal. So, Vince is getting nothing out of TV for the first 3 years, only whatever he can make in merchandising and local advertising.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Are they gonna do what JBA (LaVar Ball's short lived pro league for teens) and have all teams use the same name (XFL St Louis, XFL DC etc...)?

 

[Voight]

Are they gonna do what JBA (LaVar Ball's short lived pro league for teens) and have all teams use the same name (XFL St Louis, XFL DC etc...)?

Dont believe so, they will likely have the fans vote on a name closer to next year.

 

[GKJ]

Houston team hired June Jones

 

[BostonBob]

Interesting OT rules.

from barstoolsports.com:

The XFL will look to put its own twist on football with rules variations that were hinted at Monday during an PTF PM podcast. In the interview XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said 44 players would be on the field simultaneously during a shoot-out style overtime. Each team’s offense and defense would be on opposite ends of the field in an overtime that would last as little as four minutes in order to keep the game within a three-hour limit.

Luck said each team will have five opportunities to convert a two-point conversion in the overtime session. The defense would score one point with a turnover.

 

[GKJ]

From Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

"The XFL has put in a bid of $375,000 to get the assets of the AAF, which includes 1,000 helmets, 300 shoulder pads, tackling dummies, shields and other equipment. They’ve put down a $37,500 deposit to the bankruptcy court according to the San Antonio Express-News"

 

[SniperHF]

From Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

"The XFL has put in a bid of $375,000 to get the assets of the AAF, which includes 1,000 helmets, 300 shoulder pads, tackling dummies, shields and other equipment. They’ve put down a $37,500 deposit to the bankruptcy court according to the San Antonio Express-News"

So in a way the AAF could be subsidizing the XFL if they can pick those up at auction well below market value

 

[GKJ]

So in a way the AAF could be subsidizing the XFL if they can pick those up at auction well below market value

Imagine if Vince took the $50M back in December, he would've gotten it all back for pennies.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

So in a way the AAF could be subsidizing the XFL if they can pick those up at auction well below market value

How much did AAF purchase them originally for?

 

[BostonBob]

Houston team hired June Jones

Rest of Head Coaches named:

Dallas - Bob Stoops
New York - Kevin Gilbride
Seattle - Jim Zorn
St Louis - John Hayes
Tampa Bay - Marc Trestman ( Jerry Glanville is the Defensive Coordinator )
Washington - Pep Hamilton
Los Angeles - Winston Moss

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Wonder how this single ownership model is going to work. How is firing coaches going to work?

 

[John Price]

 

[Unholy Diver]

Johnny Football is supposedly trying out as well, or at least he wants to

 

[GKJ]

Robert Meachem? Dear lord, he's been out of the league for 4 years

 

[Unholy Diver]

Robert Meachem? Dear lord, he's been out of the league for 4 years

And he was pretty lousy his last few years as it was

 

[DoyleG]

Hiring Zorn for Seattle shows more of a PR move.

 

[John Price]