https://apatheticsportreport.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/9a7b2-1518017043-800.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECggntpXkAAv2Nx?format=jpg&name=900x900
https://fanbuzz.com/xfl/xfl-teams-2020/




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdaQpJYeeh4

Those first 2 games were wildly successful. Both stadiums looked absolutely packed, and there was a real aura about the games the AAF absolutely did not have. I am so excited for this league.

Let's start working now for an OKC expansion team

Extreme Football League Attendance:

Washington DC drew 17,163 fans to Audi Field (Capacity: 42,822 )
Houston drew an announced crowd of 17,815 to TDECU Stadium (Capacity available: 20,000)


NBC Sports: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/09/xfl-draws-small-but-enthusiastic-crowds-at-first-two-games/

Extreme Football League Attendance:

Washington DC drew 17,163 fans to Audi Field (Capacity: 42,822 )
Houston drew an announced crowd of 17,815 to TDECU Stadium (Capacity available: 20,000)


NBC Sports: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/09/xfl-draws-small-but-enthusiastic-crowds-at-first-two-games/

Audi Field seats about 20,000.

Other than that, a pretty successful first day for the XFL.

Let's start working now for an OKC expansion team

Oklahoma City has been mentioned on one website for potential expansion with Wantland Stadium, Edmond & Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, Norman as playing sites.

https://primecompany.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/UCO-Wantland-Football-Stadium.jpg

Wantland Stadium, capacity listed 10,000

http://footballstadiumdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/OKU.jpg

Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, capacity listed 80,100

How about Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater as a venue that would attract fans from both Tulsa & OKC.

https://www.caddetails.com/CompanyContent/975/ProjectImages/1511/Boone-Pickens-Stadium-Outdoor-Team-Sports%20Facility-Project-By-Airfield-Systems-Inc-1.jpg

Boone Pickens Stadium, capacity listed 55,500

You would draw nothing less than 20,000 in Norman or Stillwater with an Oklahoma name attached to the team--Stillwater, you would get a mix of fans from Oklahoma City & Tulsa (2 largest cities) with Dallas & Houston as instant rivals.

Honestly I think Tulsa is the more likely candidate for XFL expansion, Skelly Field would be a perfect venue. That being said, I'm still not convinced that the league is going to last long enough for expansion to come into play.

Tv game today is kind of dull, sorry to say. It needs more .... something. Maybe just seasoning.

I enjoy the transparency of upstairs and the coaches. It makes it seem like the commentators deserve to be there. Also in field interviews were sweet too. Also liked the rules to make the game go faster and encourage going for it on 4th.

I tried watching..... My time is worth a little more so I'll leave it at that.

Tv game today is kind of dull, sorry to say. It needs more .... something. Maybe just seasoning.

Talent perhaps?

It's early in the season; so I'm not going to harp on the XFL other than to say that they should have included some markets without pro football like San Diego, San Antonio, Portland with a small market like Birmingham or Tulsa); these cities would have appreciated a franchise more-so than the NFL markets where the NFL has a stranglehold.

Extreme Football League Attendance:

Washington DC drew 17,163 fans to Audi Field (Capacity: 42,822 )
Houston drew an announced crowd of 17,815 to TDECU Stadium (Capacity available: 20,000)


NBC Sports: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/09/xfl-draws-small-but-enthusiastic-crowds-at-first-two-games/

Audi Field only holds, like, 21,000. It looked mostly full

Audi Field only holds, like, 21,000. It looked mostly full

In a perfect situation OKC would be building a brand new state of the art 25k seat MLS soccer/XFL stadium.

Doesn't look like that situation will be forth coming anytime soon.

Tv game today is kind of dull, sorry to say. It needs more .... something. Maybe just seasoning.

All the games I watched came off as low intensity to me. Even the coaches were calm on the sidelines. No one ever even raised their voices. It just seemed very... businesslike.

I did like a lot of what I saw. I was hoping to able to watch the Dallas game with Stoops coaching but it wasn't on OTA tv, so missed that game. The New York game Sunday was the most enjoyable of the games I caught.

It's early in the season; so I'm not going to harp on the XFL other than to say that they should have included some markets without pro football like San Diego, San Antonio, Portland with a small market like Birmingham or Tulsa); these cities would have appreciated a franchise more-so than the NFL markets where the NFL has a stranglehold.






Why Tulsa vs Oklahoma

1. They will grow after they stabilize the initial startup

2. Having in football havens like Dallas is smart. It captures an existing market of fans. Going to new city have to market the metro to find sustainable fans which is higher gamble.

I loved what I saw. Keep in mind it was like a pre season week 1 NFL game they will get better.

As to OKC, I say never will it happen. Dallas is too close. And most of OK is Dallas fans due to Bob coaching. In a startup league no way will they put a team here or Tulsa it would dilute market.

In a perfect situation OKC would be building a brand new state of the art 25k seat MLS soccer/XFL stadium.

Doesn't look like that situation will be forth coming anytime soon.

OKC will be fine; we have $37.5 million for a nice starter venue with expansion potential.

So many factors involved in getting a new league started; just think the XFL should have avoided an all NFL market structure; those fans who felt the void for pro-football would have given the new league a good look with a mix of fresh markets.

St. Louis and San Diego (defunct NFL markets) may be ready for a reset. Keep your eye on St. Louis' embrace of the XFL--Dallas drew a dismal 17,000 at Globe Life, WOW.

My preference, XFL would be in a position to test summer league; then go head-to-head with the NFL as the old AFL did before the merger. I would have used these 8 cities as test summer league markets then challenge the NFL:


EAST: New York, Orlando, Raleigh, Birmingham
WEST: St. Louis, San Diego, San Antonio, Tulsa (Chapman) or OKC (GFMS)

Summer league may work if given time to build brand and reputable players.

1. They will grow after they stabilize the initial startup

...Going to new city have to market the metro to find sustainable fans which is higher gamble.

In a startup league no way will they put a team here or Tulsa it would dilute market.

Same was said about the NBA in Oklahoma City.

You know what Dallas fears the most--is a nearby market like Oklahoma City or Tulsa becoming a viable football option to Dallas. XFL will not work in Dallas--it's too heavily NFL Cowboy branded.

That's why Mark Cuban voted against relocation of Supersonics to OKC--feared that now those relocated Dallas Okies will tune in to an Oklahoma franchise that will take a bite out-of the Dallas base as evident by the Thunder.

Quit feeding Dallas--Ft. Worth's greedy fat sister is about to burst.

XFL has *no* hope of competing with the NFL on its own terms. They didn't even build themselves up as a *competitor* to the NFL; they were "football in the absence of football." That's how they're marketed and that's how they're going to live. If they try to compete on par with the NFL, they'll lose.

Not meaning to be a Debbie Downer, but they're just not even designed to be competitors. I think they made a conscious decision in that vein.

OKC will be fine; we have $37.5 million for a nice starter venue with expansion potential.

So many factors involved in getting a new league started; just think the XFL should have avoided an all NFL market structure; those fans who felt the void for pro-football would have given the new league a good look with a mix of fresh markets.

St. Louis and San Diego (defunct NFL markets) may be ready for a reset. Keep your eye on St. Louis' embrace of the XFL--Dallas drew a dismal 17,000 at Globe Life, WOW.

My preference, XFL would be in a position to test summer league; then go head-to-head with the NFL as the old AFL did before the merger. I would have used these 8 cities as test summer league markets then challenge the NFL:


EAST: New York, Orlando, Raleigh, Birmingham
WEST: St. Louis, San Diego, San Antonio, Tulsa (Chapman) or OKC (GFMS)

Summer league may work if given time to build brand and reputable players.

Whoa. 17k is not dismal at all. You've got to remember, this league isn't trying to directly compete with the NFL, its just trying to create a money making, competitive, professional league during the lame duck period of the NFL. And if they manage 17k per game at each stadium, that's fantastic.

These are first game attendance figures. People were interested in what the XFL rebirth would look like. We have to see what the numbers look like for the rest of the season for an indication of longterm success. Even on this thread, there are 1 or 2 posters who seemed bored with what they watched.

Same was said about the NBA in Oklahoma City.

You know what Dallas fears the most--is a nearby market like Oklahoma City or Tulsa becoming a viable football option to Dallas. XFL will not work in Dallas--it's too heavily NFL Cowboy branded.

That's why Mark Cuban voted against relocation of Supersonics to OKC--feared that now those relocated Dallas Okies will tune in to an Oklahoma franchise that will take a bite out-of the Dallas base as evident by the Thunder.

Quit feeding Dallas--Ft. Worth's greedy fat sister is about to burst.

XFL is not competing with NFL its another league in the number 1 sport in America.

Dallas XFL is smart. Existing football fanbase and huge metro to draw from.

Goal of league is to sustain and get ad revenue from TV deals. All games are currently shown on TV but they are not paying XFL revenue yet that will come in future if it sustains. Big money behind it.

I think it will have staying power. And as they sustain its a good place for almost NFL talent to improve and get there. Love all the modifications. Love the seeing play calls in booth and miked up coaches. On field camera. All plays reviewed in real time and they show how its done not hidden.

I also don’t see it working in summer too many people on vaca and other sports. This only goes up vs NBA.

Attendance 69,818

The XFL’s first week is coming to an end and let’s be honest it is fun to watch. I was surprised and the fans are pretty darn amazing. The fans have been pretty supportive and every game broke 17,000 fans for the first week.

St. Louis Battlehawks v. Dallas Renegades – 17,206

Tampa Bay Vipers v. New York Guardians – 17,634

Houston Roughnecks v. LA Wildcats– 17,815

Seattle Dragons v. DC Defenders – 17,163

https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2020/02/xfl-attendance-6/

Whoa. 17k is not dismal at all. You've got to remember, this league isn't trying to directly compete with the NFL, its just trying to create a money making, competitive, professional league during the lame duck period of the NFL. And if they manage 17k per game at each stadium, that's fantastic.

The first version of this league, 6 out of 8 teams averaged more than 20k in attendance. The NY team averaged more than 28k. The league failed after 1 year. 17k ain't squat.
XFL (2001) - Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFL_(2001)

The first version of this league, 6 out of 8 teams averaged more than 20k in attendance. The NY team averaged more than 28k. The league failed after 1 year. 17k ain't squat.
XFL (2001) - Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFL_(2001)

That league was set up to fail. Nicknames like He Hate Me and too gimmicky plays like the rushing to midfield to get ball to determine start (vice coin toss) meant it was geared to WWE not football.

Keep in mind USFL had success. If managed right and good money backers and TV it has a good chance. And XFL has all of them.

TV is showing games. AFF was on sub channels like NFL network too, doomed from start.

The first version of this league, 6 out of 8 teams averaged more than 20k in attendance. The NY team averaged more than 28k. The league failed after 1 year. 17k ain't squat.
XFL (2001) - Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFL_(2001)

That iteration of the league had to pay larger payrolls too. It was trying to challenge the NFL. This is not. This league doesn't need 20k to sustain its payroll. 17k is plenty to make a team work. That's not the point of this league. I get 17k doesn't compete against the 80k the NFL pulls, and so does the XFL. They get it, they aren't worries about that.


And besides, go read up on fan experiences. DC and Houston fans absolutely LOVED how intimate it was. Dallas and New York left a lot to be desired because they are in stadiums they will never fill. But St. Louis is talking about already having 30k tickets sold for next weekend.

Anyway, the point is, with its payroll and expenses, something between 15 and 20k makes this league completely stable and doable. I hope they can move NY out of Metlife and into the RedBulls stadium. And move Dallas to Frisco at the Dallas FC facility. Those would both be much better and create a much better atmosphere.

^ Not so much on the salary point you made. Average salary in 2001 was 45k. This version it's 55k.

XFL Salaries: How Much Money Do XFL Players Make? | Fanbuzz
https://www.google.com/amp/s/fanbuzz.com/xfl/xfl-salaries/amp/

I agree that there’s no comparison with the NFL. And I’ve had NO interest in any alternative pro football leagues before. But there’s something about this one that’s interesting. The games this last weekend were pretty good football.

That iteration of the league had to pay larger payrolls too. It was trying to challenge the NFL. This is not. This league doesn't need 20k to sustain its payroll. 17k is plenty to make a team work. That's not the point of this league. I get 17k doesn't compete against the 80k the NFL pulls, and so does the XFL. They get it, they aren't worries about that.


And besides, go read up on fan experiences. DC and Houston fans absolutely LOVED how intimate it was. Dallas and New York left a lot to be desired because they are in stadiums they will never fill. But St. Louis is talking about already having 30k tickets sold for next weekend.

Anyway, the point is, with its payroll and expenses, something between 15 and 20k makes this league completely stable and doable. I hope they can move NY out of Metlife and into the RedBulls stadium. And move Dallas to Frisco at the Dallas FC facility. Those would both be much better and create a much better atmosphere.

Great points, and I’ve been to a DFC game in Frisco its perfect.

Another thing its much cheaper than NFL and families can afford it plus have more fun with a faster flowing game.

And a last point, soccer has more than 1 league look at OKC having basically a triple A team still here. Same with baseball, AAA is sustainable and fun. Football is the biggest sport and yet has no sub league. If done right I think it can sustain.

Football has no sub league because college football is also wildly popular, unlike college baseball or college soccer. Really think the XFL still has an uphill climb to succeed long-term.

Football has no sub league because college football is also wildly popular, unlike college baseball or college soccer. Really think the XFL still has an uphill climb to succeed long-term.

College has baseball and other sports too but I see your point.

However, this league is playing after NFL season so not head to head

On the plus side, tickets for the washington game went for more than tickets to see the redskins.

On the plus side, tickets for the washington game went for more than tickets to see the redskins.

Cheapest tics for the Stl Battlehawks opener are around $70.00 and they are playing in a a 65k seat stadium but only using the lower bowl. I think it's around 38k and they expect close to if not a sellout.

But from what I understand the XFL has a tv contract that should keep them going as long as folks keep tuning in. I think the play will get better as the season goes on. They didn't have any preseason games and I heard they only had one live tackling practice.

With only 8 teams right now it leaves plenty of room for expansion if they can sustain. Don't see any reason why OKC couldn't get into the mix for a future team. If they are using 20k average then I don't see that as competing with Dallas. 20k is a drop in the bucket.

Cheapest tics for the Stl Battlehawks opener are around $70.00 and they are playing in a a 65k seat stadium but only using the lower bowl. I think it's around 38k and they expect close to if not a sellout.

But from what I understand the XFL has a tv contract that should keep them going as long as folks keep tuning in. I think the play will get better as the season goes on. They didn't have any preseason games and I heard they only had one live tackling practice.

With only 8 teams right now it leaves plenty of room for expansion if they can sustain. Don't see any reason why OKC couldn't get into the mix for a future team. If they are using 20k average then I don't see that as competing with Dallas. 20k is a drop in the bucket.

Yup, St. Louis is already right in the borderline of a sell out, and Seattle announced yesterday that they've opened up more of their stadium for tickets with a higher turnout than they expected for their home opener this weekend.


They actually had several scrimmages before the season started. As in, joint practices that ended in a half (half of a game) of a full scrimmage between team a and team b.

Man, I'm 100% behind building our Maps stadium PRONTO, building it immediately with around 20k capaticy and going to Vince McMahon with "we are here, let's expand and do this". It's not that I feel the XFL will turn into some mega billion dollar company, but if it can sustain prime time, over the air broadcasts on Fox and ABC and ESPN of their games, and OKC can get in relatively cheaply, why the hell would we NOT jump all over that?

The TV viewership ratings for all 4 XFL games were pretty damn good. Nothing compared to the NFL, no. But again, we're talking primetime TV. Guaranteed every week. That's more exposure than the Thunder will receive by the end of the year, or at least until the playoffs.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/st-louis-draws-xfl-s-best-tv-rating-in-the/article_5cb85ec4-7ef3-57be-911e-c85985b5492d.html


There's a good national and local perspective/look on that Week 1 ratings.

Still perplexed on why they went to certain cities rather than others.

No idea why they went to LA. Rams and Chargers still have not gained any traction there. Seems destined to fail.
No idea why they didn't go to San Antonio over Houston. Tampa and DC are questionable at best.
St. Louis was a perfect fit.
Milwaukee, San Diego, Memphis, Louisville, Tulsa, Salt Lake City are all cities that you would think would work. Football crazed states in cities with stadiums that would work with no NFL competition.

i have to say the MLS size stadium set up is great.
That is why i do not understand why they do not play at the Red bull stadium in Jersey or toyota park in Frisco.
Audi field looks great with steep stand.

Still perplexed on why they went to certain cities rather than others.

No idea why they went to LA. Rams and Chargers still have not gained any traction there. Seems destined to fail.
No idea why they didn't go to San Antonio over Houston. Tampa and DC are questionable at best.
St. Louis was a perfect fit.
Milwaukee, San Diego, Memphis, Louisville, Tulsa, Salt Lake City are all cities that you would think would work. Football crazed states in cities with stadiums that would work with no NFL competition.

I think they went into the larger markets first to get TV ratings country wide. Notice how the teams are scattered out? If this catches on I would assume expansion is the next step. I do agree about LA. That area is just not a strong Pro Football market.

L.A. opens their new stadium (SoFi) next season and you'll see a big up-tick in attendance then.

Rams were already doing well in the colosseum; 11th best in the league. Chargers have been playing in a small soccer stadium since their move. Both teams will play in SoFi next season.

L.A. opens their new stadium (SoFi) next season and you'll see a big up-tick in attendance then.

Rams were already doing well in the colosseum; 11th best in the league. Chargers have been playing in a small soccer stadium since their move. Both teams will play in SoFi next season.

La will get a lot of fans from visiting teams. I watched a few Rams games last season and it looked like the visitors outnumbered the home team. But La has been a soft NFL market for years.

L.A. opens their new stadium (SoFi) next season and you'll see a big up-tick in attendance then.

Rams were already doing well in the colosseum; 11th best in the league. Chargers have been playing in a small soccer stadium since their move. Both teams will play in SoFi next season.

But percentage wise they were 26th at 92.8%. And that is paid attendance. Just like the thunder, we know it's "sold out" but there are a thousand or so actual empty seats most nights. Like the chargers down the road (and future attendance in Las Vegas) I would bet that a huge chunk of that was opposing fans. Which is fine, but long term it has to have them worried a bit. I do agree though, once the new stadium opens up it might breathe new life into the fan base.

The Colosseum is a horrible place with a ton of bad seats with nothing else around, and was always meant as temporary anyway.

I bet both teams draw well in their new home, which should be pretty amazing.

I think they went into the larger markets first to get TV ratings country wide. Notice how the teams are scattered out? If this catches on I would assume expansion is the next step. I do agree about LA. That area is just not a strong Pro Football market.

Exactly. A 3% OKC TV market share is less than a 1% Dallas market share. Regardless how many fans go the ultimate money is in TV deals.

Here’s what most don’t understand. Right now TV is paying $0 to XFL!

“Terms of the three-year deal weren’t disclosed, but people familiar with the matter said no cash is changing hands. Disney and Fox will keep all the television advertising inventory for the games and cover production costs while the football league will sell sponsorships, the people said.”

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

This is to get viewers which is why they picked big markets. Once it sustains then they will get new TV deals with money (proof of concept).

Its smart. It doesn’t cost TV to show which means TV won’t cut games off due to lack of enough viewers. If TV had paid for initial rights then they would need lots of viewers to make the cost work. And if it lacked viewers they would move to sub networks. This approach is brilliant by XFL. Don’t charge TV a dime but get them to only commit to showing your games. If TV can make good profits and grow the sport then future deals can net both money.

Exactly. A 3% OKC TV market share is less than a 1% Dallas market share. Regardless how many fans go the ultimate money is in TV deals.

Here’s what most don’t understand. Right now TV is paying $0 to XFL!

“Terms of the three-year deal weren’t disclosed, but people familiar with the matter said no cash is changing hands. Disney and Fox will keep all the television advertising inventory for the games and cover production costs while the football league will sell sponsorships, the people said.”

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

This is to get viewers which is why they picked big markets. Once it sustains then they will get new TV deals with money (proof of concept).

Its smart. It doesn’t cost TV to show which means TV won’t cut games off due to lack of enough viewers. If TV had paid for initial rights then they would need lots of viewers to make the cost work. And if it lacked viewers they would move to sub networks. This approach is brilliant by XFL. Don’t charge TV a dime but get them to only commit to showing your games. If TV can make good profits and grow the sport then future deals can net both money.

what should be noted is that the AAF had to pay their own production costs ..

I watched almost all of the games. I'm not too proud to say that I am a slug for any pro football played on a full sized field. I thought the week one offense was better than AAF got to by the end (5-6 weeks?). I think the uniforms look better than AAF did, and the choice of cities is good. I think this is a well planned league. The best since NFL Europe was at the end.

I think they have money and a plan to move slow. I like it and will keep watching.

I just wish Landry Jones had played. I think it is a bad look that he was a healthy scratch. Makes me wonder if he isn't sold on the protection, or doesn't have "it" anymore. I think he has something to prove if he wants to continue in football.

The Colosseum is a horrible place with a ton of bad seats with nothing else around, and was always meant as temporary anyway.

I bet both teams draw well in their new home, which should be pretty amazing.

That new LA Stadium looks absolutely incredible

I watched almost all of the games. I'm not too proud to say that I am a slug for any pro football played on a full sized field. I thought the week one offense was better than AAF got to by the end (5-6 weeks?). I think the uniforms look better than AAF did, and the choice of cities is good. I think this is a well planned league. The best since NFL Europe was at the end.

I think they have money and a plan to move slow. I like it and will keep watching.

I just wish Landry Jones had played. I think it is a bad look that he was a healthy scratch. Makes me wonder if he isn't sold on the protection, or doesn't have "it" anymore. I think he has something to prove if he wants to continue in football.

With Landry it just sounds like they were being overly cautious and giving him another week to heal.

With Landry it just sounds like they were being overly cautious and giving him another week to heal.

I'm sure you are right. And I cannot argue with that reasoning. But, there is a part of my mind that thinks he could have played in order to help support the start of a league that will give many more employment opportunities in the game that has given him so much in life. And then another part of mind says to me "okay boomer".

I watched almost all of the games. I'm not too proud to say that I am a slug for any pro football played on a full sized field. I thought the week one offense was better than AAF got to by the end (5-6 weeks?). I think the uniforms look better than AAF did, and the choice of cities is good. I think this is a well planned league. The best since NFL Europe was at the end.

I think they have money and a plan to move slow. I like it and will keep watching.

I just wish Landry Jones had played. I think it is a bad look that he was a healthy scratch. Makes me wonder if he isn't sold on the protection, or doesn't have "it" anymore. I think he has something to prove if he wants to continue in football.

You've nailed my thoughts on this league. I've liked what I've seen so far.

XFL Attendance Report after two games in week 3 is already over 40k; https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2020/02/xfl-attendance-17/

XFL Attendance Week[/b] 1: 69,818:

Los Angeles Wildcats at Houston Roughnecks — 17,815
Seattle Dragons at DC Defenders — 17,163
Tampa Bay Vipers at New York Guardians — 17,634
St. Louis Battlehawks at Dallas Renegades — 17,206

XFL Attendance Week 2: 76,285

New York Guardians at DC Defenders — 15,031
Tampa Bay Vipers at Seattle Dragons — 29,172
Dallas Renegades at LA Wildcats — 14,979
St. Louis Battlehawks at Houston Roughnecks — 17,103

Total Attendance Leaders (As of XFL Week 2)

1. HOU: 34,918 (2 games)
2. DC: 32,194 (2 games)
3. SEA: 29,172 (1 game)
4. NY: 17,634 (1 game)
5. DAL: 17,206 (1 game)
6. LA: 14,979 (1 game)
7. TB: Home opener on Feb. 22: Week 3, where Tampa Bay had 18,117 fans for their first home game.
8. STL: Home opener on Feb. 23

BattleHawks tickets selling for more than Rams averaged in St. Louis: https://kmox.radio.com/articles/news/battlehawks-tickets-selling-for-more-than-stl-rams-averaged

"BattleHawks tickets selling for more than Rams averaged in St. Louis: https://kmox.radio.com/articles/news...-rams-averaged"

Keep in mind though that unlike the Rams the upper decks were tarped off.

TV ratings dropped 34% from week 1 to week 2. Ratings dropped another 23% from week 2 to week 3. Ratings for week 3 dropped 52% from week 1. Keep in mind these are slow weeks for sports. When the NCAA and NBA playoffs start there will be even more of a reason for the sports fan to watch something else.
I know how folks love an underdog, but......
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/xfl-sees-further-double-digit-drops-in-viewership-in-week-3/ar-BB10nWjl

I notice how the news stories emphasize the ratings drop, yet never mention what the projections from XFL and the TV providers were.

I am convinced the XFL, ESPN/ABC and Fox all expected a big ratings drop and marginal attendance. The never said they were making a major league or attempting to become a spring/summer competitor to the NFL. They have always said there is a group of football junkies (like me) who would watch the games on TV. It is doing okay for a start up, IMO, and I wonder why nobody wants to know how it compares with CFL viewership and attendance, since that would be a better yardstick. Even though the CFL is almost 100 years old.

I notice how the news stories emphasize the ratings drop, yet never mention what the projections from XFL and the TV providers were.

I am convinced the XFL, ESPN/ABC and Fox all expected a big ratings drop and marginal attendance. The never said they were making a major league or attempting to become a spring/summer competitor to the NFL. They have always said there is a group of football junkies (like me) who would watch the games on TV. It is doing okay for a start up, IMO, and I wonder why nobody wants to know how it compares with CFL viewership and attendance, since that would be a better yardstick. Even though the CFL is almost 100 years old.

The XFL only leased the lower bowl in St. Louis and they are talking about opening up more seats since demand was heavier than what they thought. Seattle the same. It's a good thing that XFL has a great TV contract. I'm sure they didn't expect numbers to stay where they were from week one but they are still getting respectable numbers for a start up. We shall see as the season goes on but the numbers for the OTA networks will always be higher than cable networks. The FS1 has brought the numbers down since many people don't get that channel. But the networks must be happy with the numbers because there isn't anything else they could put on this time of the year that would be better.

By comparison, week three games in last year’s Alliance of American Football averaged a 0.31 and 515,000 (San Antonio-San Diego) and a 0.29 and 491,000 (Memphis-Orlando). Those games aired on NFL Network.

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Saturday’s Dallas-Seattle XFL game averaged a 1.3 rating and 2.05 million viewers on FOX, down 13% in ratings and 11% in viewership from the same window the previous week (Tampa Bay-Seattle: 1.5, 2.32M) and down 32% and 38% respectively from week one (Los Angeles-Houston: 1.9, 3.29M).

Earlier in the day, ABC averaged a 1.2 (-8%) and 1.91 million (-11%) for Houston-Tampa Bay. It was the first XFL window on broadcast television with fewer than two million viewers (eight telecasts).

On Sunday, ESPN averaged a 0.9 and 1.47 million for New York-St. Louis — down 40% in ratings and 39% in viewership from last week on ABC (Dallas-LA: 1.5, 2.40M) and down 57% and 56% respectively from week one on FOX (Tampa Bay-New York: 2.1, 3.39M).

FS1 brought up the rear with a 0.6 and 1.00 million for DC-LA, down 25% in ratings and 26% in viewership from the previous week on the same network (St. Louis-Houston: 0.8. 1.36M) and down 57% and 60% respectively from week one on ESPN (St. Louis-Dallas: 1.4, 2.50M).

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2020/02/xfl-ratings-decline-week-three-abc-espn-fox-fs1/

The St. Louis BattleHawks beat the New York Guardians 29-9 in the sold-out home opener at the Dome at America's Center. FOX 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne says that there 29,554 fans in attendance, filling the lower half of the stadium to see the team's first game in St. Louis.

Full stadium XFL capacity; 67,277 available for games if the upper deck is needed.

The XFL only leased the lower bowl in St. Louis and they are talking about opening up more seats since demand was heavier than what they thought. Seattle the same. It's a good thing that XFL has a great TV contract. I'm sure they didn't expect numbers to stay where they were from week one but they are still getting respectable numbers for a start up. We shall see as the season goes on but the numbers for the OTA networks will always be higher than cable networks. The FS1 has brought the numbers down since many people don't get that channel. But the networks must be happy with the numbers because there isn't anything else they could put on this time of the year that would be better.

The networks have a great deal because they aren't paying anything for broadcast rights. I don't believe they pay production costs either.

The networks have a great deal because they aren't paying anything for broadcast rights. I don't believe they pay production costs either.

the networks are paying 100% of the xfl production costs

the networks are paying 100% of the xfl production costs

Thanks for the clarification.
TV broadcast rights are the major revenue source for the NFL and probably all major leagues.
Last year the NFL made 7.2 B for broadcast rights. The NBA 2.7 B. MLB 1.5B. NHL 200M. MLS 90M.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_professional_sports_leagues_in_the_United_St ates_and_Canada)
With the ratings declining for the XFL and basketball(NBA &NCAA) and hockey playoffs on the horizon I see a continued decline in ratings. The league is not sustainable without infusions of cash from broadcast rights.
Ticket sales and merch are inconsequential.

One thing I noticed locally. At the couple of bar/grills I frequent week 1 XFL was on, week 2 you had to ask for XFL games to be put on, week three they would put them on one TV if you complained enough.
I had hopes for this non-NFL league but they are fading fast.

One thing I noticed locally. At the couple of bar/grills I frequent week 1 XFL was on, week 2 you had to ask for XFL games to be put on, week three they would put them on one TV if you complained enough.
I had hopes for this non-NFL league but they are fading fast.

i have noticed this as well... luckily, at the bar i usually frequent on the weekends, they now plan to have them on going forward. when the manager was asking me how things are going and i asked him why they weren't showing them, he was surprised to find out they weren't (he usually works in the kitchen on the weekends) and told me that he would let to bartenders know that they needed to make sure they were shown.

I think the XFL is doing fine. They spent years putting it together and did not panic when the AAF tried to jump in front of them without proper financial backing. Seems to me that putting teams in known pro football cities with stadium options; top notch companies designing uniforms, naming and logos; realizing that the most well known players are "4A" talents like Landry Jones will make hiring famous coaches the biggest attention getters (regardless if they are retired, washed up or disgraced, at least they have name recognition); paying for (and owning) their TV deals; and having full control of costs and cost management means they are prepared to execute a multi year launch effort.