the big difference is that it has now come out that the AAF had 17 mil in funding at launch the XFL will have 500 mil

500 Mil that we know of... vince has sold stock a few times in the past year, and there is talk of a few other investors. we publicly know of about 500 Mil, i was reading an article just the other day that thinks it's much closer to 1 Bil...

Looking at how quickly the AAF went down; the XFL will need those cities in existing NFL markets to really perform well. I think you'll see a few of those franchises make a quick relocation if they don't penetrate those NFL market.
San Diego & San Antonio will be favored relocation markets.

OKC could very well be on XFL relocation radar. The situation where OKC will have a stadium with potential expansion plays a lot different into the equation than did the old USFL.

OU just might be willing to lease Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium on an interim basis since this wouldn't be a long-term commitment with an OKC soccer specific stadium stadium on the MAPS 4 ballot; contingent upon the initiative being passed.

That's a lot of 'ifs,' however it's more of a reason to have a soccer specific-American football stadium ready.

Money certainly helps for investments. At the very least, there is more money to loose before investors get frustrated and pull the plug. The core audience of the NFL getting frustrated may help XFL.

Bigtime

XFL Strikes TV Deals With Fox and Disney
Deals are expected to give visibility to Vince McMahon’s reboot of NFL rival nearly 20 years after initial launch.

All of the league’s 43 games will be televised either on broadcast or cable, the companies said. More than half will be split between Disney’s ABC network and the Fox network, while Disney’s ESPN and Fox’s Fox Sports 1 will be the cable homes. The majority of games will be played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/xfl-strikes-tv-deals-with-fox-and-disney-11557146700

The XFL is far more advanced than the failed AAF. I assume the AAF wanted to jump ahead of the XFL and they were working on a shoestring budget. The XFL has other backers besides VM so they are on a much stronger footing. Now they have the TV contracts with major networks. All the teams are in big cities to start and that should bring in more eyeballs for tv ratings. I think this league has a shot to be around a while.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football

Interesting. Sounds like the AFL never did have a chance because it was being overshadowed by the arrival of the XFL in a year. I wonder why Dundon gave them a chance if he thought the financials were terrible. I guess he was in love with the idea.

Another title for this article would be "Living out your dads dream and still failing".

The XFL needs to get in more cities where the NFL doesn't have a stronghold.


Dallas – Globe Life Park: 25,000; Option 2 - Toyota Stadium (Frisco) 20,500
Houston - TDECU Stadium: 40,000
Los Angeles – StubHub Center: 27,000
New York – MetLife Stadium: 82,500
St. Louis – The Dome at America’s Center: 66,965
Seattle – CenturyLink Field: 69,000
Tampa Bay – Raymond James Stadium: 65,618
Washington, DC – Audi Field: 20,000

True, New York, Los Angeles & Dallas are current NFL markets where the XFL could survive. St. Louis & San Diego are defunct NFL market where the XFL has tremendous potential.

San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland, Raleigh, Louisville & Memphis (in that order) are markets the XFL should target for future expansion or relocation.

The XFL needs to get in more cities where the NFL doesn't have a stronghold.


Dallas – Globe Life Park: 25,000; Option 2 - Toyota Stadium (Frisco) 20,500
Houston - TDECU Stadium: 40,000
Los Angeles – StubHub Center: 27,000
New York – MetLife Stadium: 82,500
St. Louis – The Dome at America’s Center: 66,965
Seattle – CenturyLink Field: 69,000
Tampa Bay – Raymond James Stadium: 65,618
Washington, DC – Audi Field: 20,000

True, New York, Los Angeles & Dallas are current NFL markets where the XFL could survive. St. Louis & San Diego are defunct NFL market where the XFL has tremendous potential.

San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland, Raleigh, Louisville & Memphis (in that order) are markets the XFL should target for future expansion or relocation.


XFL getting ready to release team names and colors soon. Wish OKC was getting a team since I believe this is a league that will make it. I bet OKC would support building a stadium for a football team downtown. 50K stadium that could be dumbed down for minor league soccer on the CO-OP site would be cool. A downtown jewel.

XFL getting ready to release team names and colors soon. Wish OKC was getting a team since I believe this is a league that will make it. I bet OKC would support building a stadium for a football team downtown. 50K stadium that could be dumbed down for minor league soccer on the CO-OP site would be cool. A downtown jewel.

Would love to see OKC in the XFL; University of Oklahoma might support use of Memorial Stadium's lower bowl as a temporary home if OKC were building a venue to house a franchise. They don't want to get stuck with an OKC branded franchise competitive toward their long-term program needs.

We're at a time where MAPS public support has shifted its focus toward investments in community-neighborhood oriented programs & projects.

MAPS 4 will pass as a single voter initiative if you focus the proposal on 12 - 15 projects where 70% of the budget supports the neighborhood theme.

I seriously doubt that OU would want us to get an XFL team.

Speaking of XFL

The XFL’s First Signed Player is a QB Star You Probably Forgot About (https://fanbuzz.com/xfl/landry-jones-xfl/)

I seriously doubt that OU would want us to get an XFL team.

why wouldn't they? it plays at a time when OU football isn't playing, and so it doesn't affect the product at all... as they don't compete... and it would give use to a large building that isn't generating revenue during that time...

why wouldn't they? it plays at a time when OU football isn't playing, and so it doesn't affect the product at all... as they don't compete... and it would give use to a large building that isn't generating revenue during that time...

I'm guessing the lack of stadium concerts over the years is proof OU is not keen on using Memorial Stadium for much other than OU home fb games. I can think of only 3 concerts there since the 1980's.

Would love to see OKC in the XFL; University of Oklahoma might support use of Memorial Stadium's lower bowl as a temporary home if OKC were building a venue to house a franchise. They don't want to get stuck with an OKC branded franchise competitive toward their long-term program needs.

We're at a time where MAPS public support has shifted its focus toward investments in community-neighborhood oriented programs & projects.

MAPS 4 will pass as a single voter initiative if you focus the proposal on 12 - 15 projects where 70% of the budget supports the neighborhood theme.

While fans think of the opposing teams on the field as the team's rivals, generally for sports with significant revenue generating capability it is really the other local teams management considers rivals and especially at the pro level the other teams in the league are considered business partners.

I'm guessing the lack of stadium concerts over the years is proof OU is not keen on using Memorial Stadium for much other than OU home fb games. I can think of only 3 concerts there since the 1980's.

concerts are completely different animal... i think they might consider... i mean wasn't there a Chiefs preseason game at memorial stadium back in like 1998?

granted... i have been one of the people saying we aren't getting an XFL team, probably ever... because Vince seems to want to be mostly in much larger markets, so i don't really think there is much reason to talk about it...

concerts are completely different animal... i think they might consider... i mean wasn't there a Chiefs preseason game at memorial stadium back in like 1998?

granted... i have been one of the people saying we aren't getting an XFL team, probably ever... because Vince seems to want to be mostly in much larger markets, so i don't really think there is much reason to talk about it...

If this catches on and is supported you can bet there will be a lot of expansion. Like anything else though,you have to have the big money folks get involved. There's no reason why OKC couldn't get in line for a team IF some of the local rich folks want it. Most of these folks are too busy hoarding their millions I assume. There's no question that OKC could easily support the NBA and XFL

If this catches on and is supported you can bet there will be a lot of expansion. Like anything else though,you have to have the big money folks get involved. There's no reason why OKC couldn't get in line for a team IF some of the local rich folks want it. Most of these folks are too busy hoarding their millions I assume. There's no question that OKC could easily support the NBA and XFL

except that Vince McMahon is treating this completely different. he isn't selling franchises like the NFL or other leagues have done... all of these teams are owned by one ownership group, the ownership of the XFL... all the teams are league owned. and thus, i think expansion will be much slower, and not involve many local people. they aren't finding local owners to bring in, for the most part... they are looking at the best locations for their teams, and just putting them there, and sometimes getting someone local to do some day to day operations with a small portion of shares of the total ownership group... he is doing this completely different than most leagues. go and look. the owner ever every team is listed as Alpha Entertainment, LLC, which is the ownership group of the XFL itself... and it's a very intriguing idea

except that Vince McMahon is treating this completely different. he isn't selling franchises like the NFL or other leagues have done... all of these teams are owned by one ownership group, the ownership of the XFL... all the teams are league owned. and thus, i think expansion will be much slower, and not involve many local people. they aren't finding local owners to bring in, for the most part... they are looking at the best locations for their teams, and just putting them there, and sometimes getting someone local to do some day to day operations with a small portion of shares of the total ownership group... he is doing this completely different than most leagues. go and look. the owner ever every team is listed as Alpha Entertainment, LLC, which is the ownership group of the XFL itself... and it's a very intriguing idea

Oh I think you are wrong. They have investors in that group and could /will add more big money investors if this catches on. Eventually (again, assuming this catches on) I would bet percentages of these franchises will be sold off to local ownership groups and more teams added on. They are just trying to get this up and running but they have money behind this venture other than VM.

Oh I think you are wrong. They have investors in that group and could /will add more big money investors if this catches on. Eventually (again, assuming this catches on) I would bet percentages of these franchises will be sold off to local ownership groups and more teams added on. They are just trying to get this up and running but they have money behind this venture other than VM.

they do have investors in there, and they are invested in the whole entity, not just one team... but i'm just going from the exact words of Vince himself when he said one of the problems with the XFL in 2001 was lack of control of the whole product... so i don't think he is going to part with it anytime soon

Oh I think you are wrong. They have investors in that group and could /will add more big money investors if this catches on. Eventually (again, assuming this catches on) I would bet percentages of these franchises will be sold off to local ownership groups and more teams added on. They are just trying to get this up and running but they have money behind this venture other than VM.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerrybarca/2018/06/30/with-500-million-and-a-football-leader-the-xfl-is-being-built-to-last/#28de4e0619fc

from this conversation with forbes

"A chance to do it with no partners, strictly funded by me, which would allow me to look in the mirror and say, 'You were the one who screwed this up,' or 'You made this thing a success,'" he told ESPN.

Vince wants to do it his way... which is why the investors are all in Alpha Entertainment, LLC, and Vince is clear majority owner of it, and will stay CEO...

so Vince McMahon thinks i'm right... do you have something that says it differently?

here is an article talking about the second time he sold off stock to prepare for this

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2019/04/25/vince-mcmahons-sale-of-his-wwe-shares-saved-him-a-fortune/#f3216bc76a99


In March, Fox reported that WWE chairman Vince McMahon sold more than 3.2 million shares of WWE’s Class A common stock at a price of $84.87 each—worth roughly $272 million total—to help fund the relaunch of the XFL.

and then this


McMahon's sale of WWE stock in March was on top of the $100 million of WWE stock he sold in December 2017, according to a story by Darren Rovell, who wrote at the time regarding McMahon's investment in the XFL: "The WWE chairman, who began funding the league by selling approximately $100 million in WWE stock and putting it into his wholly owned subsidiary Alpha Entertainment, has informed insiders that he expects to spend closer to $500 million in the league's first three seasons. The XFL is scheduled to reboot in February 2020."

yes, there are other investors... but Vince is without a doubt the largest shareholder of this LLC.. and if he runs it like he does WWE, he only owns 37% of the stock, but 80% of voting stock.. i have a feeling, as a businessman who is already doing things a certain way, he will continue to build this enterprise in a similar fashion.. it wouldn't surprise me if most of the new investors that came in had little to no voting shares in the LLC

Anyone watching preseason NFL games? The players playing in the fourth quarter of the first preseason games will be the top tier players in the XFL, if they can even get talent that good. The on field product is going to be terrible. McMahon is certainly a top notch showman and may have a chance to make it work. It will be a huge upset if this version of the XFL makes it to season two.

Anyone watching preseason NFL games? The players playing in the fourth quarter of the first preseason games will be the top tier players in the XFL, if they can even get talent that good. The on field product is going to be terrible. McMahon is certainly a top notch showman and may have a chance to make it work. It will be a huge upset if this version of the XFL makes it to season two.

i'm not going to say it will be terrible... but it defiantly won't be of the caliber of the NFL, or possibly even the power 5 conferences of the NCAA... i would be willing to put it just above the level you see in the AAC, Mid_american and Mountain West conferences... one of the biggest problems you see in NFL preseason, is some of these guys still don't even get a lot of time in practice doing actual plays... mostly it's just drills. so they never get to build as a cohesive unit. if they are able to spend a month or two getting ready, i bet it will be up to the level of those college conferences in terms of play, and that can be enjoyable football to watch.

Hope you're right as it would be great to have some legitimate football to watch in the spring. I just think the chances are pretty slim that it works out.

except that Vince McMahon is treating this completely different. he isn't selling franchises like the NFL or other leagues have done... all of these teams are owned by one ownership group, the ownership of the XFL... all the teams are league owned. and thus, i think expansion will be much slower, and not involve many local people. they aren't finding local owners to bring in, for the most part... they are looking at the best locations for their teams, and just putting them there, and sometimes getting someone local to do some day to day operations with a small portion of shares of the total ownership group... he is doing this completely different than most leagues. go and look. the owner ever every team is listed as Alpha Entertainment, LLC, which is the ownership group of the XFL itself... and it's a very intriguing idea

I am sure that VM wants to control this startup. But if it does well I don't think there's any doubt that they will want to expand and take on more investors. It just makes sense. They will put out a good product. The AAF was pretty decent and they were working on a shoestring budget. The XFL will be able to attract some decent talent and if it takes off who knows what it will look like 5 years down the road. But VM has to be able to control the startup for sure and he is putting his money where his mouth is,almost. These will be Pro teams and I seriously doubt that any college team would be able to hang with them.

I am sure that VM wants to control this startup. But if it does well I don't think there's any doubt that they will want to expand and take on more investors. It just makes sense. They will put out a good product. The AAF was pretty decent and they were working on a shoestring budget. The XFL will be able to attract some decent talent and if it takes off who knows what it will look like 5 years down the road. But VM has to be able to control the startup for sure and he is putting his money where his mouth is,almost. These will be Pro teams and I seriously doubt that any college team would be able to hang with them.

i would put the 2001 Miami Hurricanes up against any XFL team...

concerts are completely different animal... i think they might consider... i mean wasn't there a Chiefs preseason game at memorial stadium back in like 1998?

granted... i have been one of the people saying we aren't getting an XFL team, probably ever... because Vince seems to want to be mostly in much larger markets, so i don't really think there is much reason to talk about it...
Agreed as to different animal. I was commenting on the general idea of revenue producing usage. However the 6A championship game in HS FB has never been held there even though their is a provision for the game to be alternated between East and West/Central on a yearly basis. You would think OU would be offering this up in the interest of possible recruiting.

Agreed as to different animal. I was commenting on the general idea of revenue producing usage. However the 6A championship game in HS FB has never been held there even though their is a provision for the game to be alternated between East and West/Central on a yearly basis. You would think OU would be offering this up in the interest of possible recruiting.

i think the difference is HS FB is during the season... and the difference in money... that's probably why a NFL Preseason game was allowed... the money

Hope you're right as it would be great to have some legitimate football to watch in the spring. I just think the chances are pretty slim that it works out.

There is already a successful spring/summer league, the CFL. They have been around longer than the NFL, they have American talent, and while the rules while different they are closer to what the NFL has than the proposed rules of this minor league.

i think the difference is HS FB is during the season... and the difference in money... that's probably why a NFL Preseason game was allowed... the money
The 6A championship is usually played at he end of the regular Big 12 schedule. They don't want to have the fans choose. Last year it was Dec. 4th. As to the money factor, there are always stadium concerts .

XFL would be a good fit for expansion into some smaller markets like Louisville (UL), Omaha (TD Ameritrade), Little Rock (War Memorial) and Oklahoma City (Gaylord Family MS).

Lower bowls of some of the larger facilities (excess of 40,000) like GFMS would make a great venue where 30,000-40,000 seat max needed.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr08zXTpjX8
Outdated video, hope you can envision the potential the XFL could become.

American football would have the venues available (spring) to absorb the players to supply a new league. XFL would not be a direct competitor, but a nice alternative.

Tulsa, let's not overlook, it would be a city you could add to those cities in the XFL YouTube markets.

Now, we need to see how the resurrection of the XFL will turn out. It doesn't hurt to talk about expansion; however one guy puts OKC on his list for XFL expansion:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbXBxayrKI

What! Jim Traber is not on the list?
https://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/photo/gallery-ou-osu-and-tu-players-in-the-xfl-draft/collection_18b7f58f-dace-5c1e-bd6f-1fd94d002f4d.html#1

Even though Vince claimed to have the money to weather 3 seasons of losses, he couldn't make it through one.

XFL suspends operations and lays off employees, no plans to return in 2021
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29021347/xfl-suspends-all-operations-lays-employees-amid-coronavirus-pandemic%3fplatform=amp

^

Example of a business not reopening after Covid-19.

There shall be plenty more.

I'm sure Vince was anticipating having some cash flow coming in the second half of the season. Plus, he probably see's a lot less low hanging fruit for the next 2 or 3 years at least.

I'm sure Vince was anticipating having some cash flow coming in the second half of the season. Plus, he probably see's a lot less low hanging fruit for the next 2 or 3 years at least.

also his core business WWE is not generating the same revenue as 2 months ago .... so his "net" is not longer around

Even though Vince claimed to have the money to weather 3 seasons of losses, he couldn't make it through one.

XFL suspends operations and lays off employees, no plans to return in 2021
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29021347/xfl-suspends-all-operations-lays-employees-amid-coronavirus-pandemic%3fplatform=amp

Yeah he probably didn't forecast a global, economy crippling pandemic shutting him down halfway through the first season.

Yeah he probably didn't forecast a global, economy crippling pandemic shutting him down halfway through the first season.

That is true. However he was not getting any tv revenue this year at all and he claimed to have 500m to operate over 3 years. One would have thought the losses were greater the first year than anticipated but not so crippling as to close the doors completely.

also his core business WWE is not generating the same revenue as 2 months ago .... so his "net" is not longer around

I wasn't thinking about the other parts of his business where he lost money. He's also smart enough to know there isn't going to be a V shaped recover. At least not for the people that buy tickets to his events.

I wasn't thinking about the other parts of his business where he lost money. He's also smart enough to know there isn't going to be a V shaped recover. At least not for the people that buy tickets to his events.

exactly... this is probably the biggest factor. and now that the NFL is possibly talking about a shift in their schedule if needed this year, as well as the fact they are going to be adding more games. led a lot of unknowns about when you could start your schedule. i don't think it's the last we have seen of the XFL. but i think they are going to regroup and wait a year or two before coming back again.

for example they proved there is a need for some more football, but also proved there isn't enough talent for 8 whole teams. i wouldn't be surprised if they came back with only 6 teams, and moved a couple of them. with attendance so great in places like St Louis and Seattle and so awful in New Jersey, DC and florida... i could see them trying to find some better markets

So, what things are folks hoping might make it into NFL? I think the XFL had some good innovation this year, and had the potential to be really great football. It's a shame their timing was so bad.

I like the new kickoff style a lot. I also like the changes with the extra point, but honestly I'd be fine if these didn't get picked up. I liked the double forward pass a lot but I know it's more of a novelty.

The mics on the coaches and the coach interviews in games can die as far as I'm concerned. That didn't seem to work well.

Oh, and I liked the team colors on the balls but this is not needed, but it doesn't hurt anything.

So, what things are folks hoping might make it into NFL? I think the XFL had some good innovation this year, and had the potential to be really great football. It's a shame their timing was so bad.

I like the new kickoff style a lot. I also like the changes with the extra point, but honestly I'd be fine if these didn't get picked up. I liked the double forward pass a lot but I know it's more of a novelty.

The mics on the coaches and the coach interviews in games can die as far as I'm concerned. That didn't seem to work well.

Oh, and I liked the team colors on the balls but this is not needed, but it doesn't hurt anything.

the replay communication

the replay communication

Oh yeah. I loved seeing inside the replay booth and getting some insight into that. Seeing some of the decision making might help the NFL replay booth.

I loved the kickoff. I was totally shocked, but I did love it.

The replay communication.

The mic'd up coaches.

The transparency that went on with replay communication and coaches really upped the commentary game too. Everybody could be like Romo at that point, or be exposed as frauds.

So this in an interesting development -

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/xfl/2020/08/03/xfl-gets-new-part-owner-dwayne-the-rock-johnson/5571640002/

Oh, how I wish we could be having spirited discussions about the viability of spring football. Now I'm just hoping we can have football.

Oh, how I wish we could be having spirited discussions about the viability of spring football. Now I'm just hoping we can have football.Yeah. Priorities have definitely changed sports wise. I was over the moon that baseball started. But my Cardinals have 7 games of the first 12 postponed already.

" Fairytales can come true ..."

PRO FOOTBALL CFL, XFL explore partnership

The Canadian Football League and the XFL are exploring a potential partnership as they seek to return to play in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The leagues announced Wednesday that they “have agreed to work together to identify opportunities for the leagues to collaborate, innovate, and grow the game of football,” though they did not offer specifics about what such a patnership would entail.

The XFL also said it is putting its plans for the 2022 season on hold as discussions continue. The CFL canceled its 2020 season but is hoping to return to play June 10.

Wire reports

PRO FOOTBALL CFL, XFL explore partnership

The Canadian Football League and the XFL are exploring a potential partnership as they seek to return to play in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The leagues announced Wednesday that they “have agreed to work together to identify opportunities for the leagues to collaborate, innovate, and grow the game of football,” though they did not offer specifics about what such a patnership would entail.

The XFL also said it is putting its plans for the 2022 season on hold as discussions continue. The CFL canceled its 2020 season but is hoping to return to play June 10.

Wire reportsCould be an interesting partnership. I guess whatever happens Bob Stoops won't be coaching since he has another job now. Even if the seasons don't overlap I don't think he wants to be that busy.