sports Return Of The XFL?

[Denim&Venöm 19,280]

For those who don't know, the XFL was a joint venture between NBC Universal and Titan Sport's Inc. Owners of the then World Wrestling Federation, to produce an alternative to the National Football League during the off season. It featured different rules that encouraged more action and aggression from players, replaced a coin flip w/ a 1v1 dash for the ball, and made sure games did not end in ta tie. It also allowed for more showmanship and personality form the players both on and off the field, as well as popularizing the use of the sky cam. 

Unfortunately it failed and become one of the biggest business blunders in history, costing NBC and WWF $70 million each. Things got to a bad start when the XFL promotional blimp crashed. Players were NFL castoffs, CFL or Arena Football regulars, or college players who didn't make the cut. Teams only got a months worth of practice before the season. A major game got taken off the air due to a production botch. Play by play coverage was mediocre. And in an attempt to keep it's fan base, resorted to cheap promotional tactics (Ex: getting to see the cheer leaders locker room). One season and the league folded. 

Fast forward 16 years, and co-founder Vince McMahon is now opening his own company 'Alpha Entertainment' and has trademarked the term XFL. Another telling sign is that he just sold over $100 million in WWE shares. All signs point to him relaunching the league or at least announcing it in 2018.

So how would another football league function in 2018? Is there enough of a demand for an alternative in 2018, more so than in 2001? Is there too much football on the air waves, especially if the XFL wants to compete head to head in the autumn? Is it a safer bet to air in the spring and summer, even though interest in football is lower around that time? Is it a good idea at all, w/ football ratings, as well as TV in general on the decline? Or is Vince McMahon (still) insane and should just stop trying to branch out of wrestling? 

 

[Sparklefan1234 172,544]

Why?!

Why would Vince McMahon try this XFL stuff for a second time after it failed so spectacularly on it's first attempt?!

Plus he's also starting up "Alpha Entertainment" after selling one hundred million dollars worth of his WWE stock.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Sparklefan1234

[Megas 27,765]

Oh god if this happens then Vince has truly become senile

[LeafFerret 3,382]

I stop paying attention to Football once the Super Bowl finishes and it doesn't start again in September.

[Sparklefan1234 172,544]

Just now, Chrysalis13 said:

I stop paying attention to Football once the Super Bowl finishes and it doesn't start again in September.

 

I don't know if the XFL can really be considered football.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

I don't know why, but I just have this sneaking suspicion that Vince & co are gonna try and capitalize on the controversy surrounding the anthem & such, and will probably try to use that to woo audiences.

I could be off base, but the timing is uncanny.

[Castle Bleck 19,379]

Reminds me of the beginning of TNA's downfall -- when they hired pretty much everyone involved with WCW's downfall (Hogan, Bischoff, Russo, etc.).

[Denim&Venöm 19,280]

And breaking news!

Vinny Mac is actually going through with this. 

So he's giving himself two years to get things under way. is this enough time? Will $100 million be enough to get this league off the ground? How will this differ from the NFL? Will it work out better now that he's taking a seemingly more cautious approach to things? 

[Prospekt 11,020]

On 12/22/2017 at 4:42 PM, PathfinderCS said:

I don't know why, but I just have this sneaking suspicion that Vince & co are gonna try and capitalize on the controversy surrounding the anthem & such, and will probably try to use that to woo audiences.

I could be off base, but the timing is uncanny.

You are correct. Vince has now stated that the league will silence players who wish to make sociopolitical statements on the field:

"People don't want social and political issues coming into play when they are trying to be entertained," McMahon said. "We want someone who wants to take a knee to do their version of that on their personal time."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22213241/vince-mcmahon-gimmick-free-xfl-return-2020

[Libra 11,691]

On 1/26/2018 at 12:53 AM, Prospekt said:

You are correct. Vince has now stated that the league will silence players who wish to make sociopolitical statements on the field:

"People don't want social and political issues coming into play when they are trying to be entertained," McMahon said. "We want someone who wants to take a knee to do their version of that on their personal time."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22213241/vince-mcmahon-gimmick-free-xfl-return-2020

And that is the main reason for the return of the XFL.

the whole "take a knee" controversy, which resulted in plummeting ratings for the NFL, so now hes coming with an alternative.

[Messy Mane 9,032]

I have a feeling this is going to fail miserably again.