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Showing posts with label XFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label XFL. Show all posts

September 19, 2023

XFL, USFL begin talks to merge leagues

And then there was one. Spring league, that is.

The XFL and USFL are merging, per multiple reports. The deal isn’t done, but it’s close.

Obviously, there will be many questions. Who owns the equity? Who televises the games?

How many teams will be in the combined league? Will they play in home markets or hubs?

Who will run the combined league? Which executives will stay, which ones will go?

Most importantly, what will it be called?

The XFL? The USFL? The USXFL? The SUXFL? (I like the last one.)

In 2023, both leagues competed, with a few weeks of overlap. The XFL started one week after the Super Bowl, and the USFL started in April.

The XFL, the 2023 season represented the third crack at making it go. The USFL returned after multiple decades of going dark in 2022.

June 12, 2023

XFL Loses Nearly $60 Million This Season

A group led by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson took ownership of the XFL from Vince McMahon last year and just wrapped up their first full season of the revamped football league. Reports from Forbes indicate that the league lost nearly $60 million this season.

The XFL was largely a football league intended to be for players looking for a path to the NFL. In fact, 67 players who played in the XFL this season earned invitations to workout for NFL teams and 22 of them signed actual contracts. The Arlington Renegades won the championship despite finishing the regular season with a losing record (4-6).

The Rock continues to be adamant that the XFL is not a ‘side hustle’ and there is a clear goal that he remains confident the league can achieve. The Rock said, “This is not just an endeavor that’s going to fill up a portfolio and one day we flip it and we’re out. This is legacy. This is the long game.”

Forbes further indicated that the league expects around $100 million in revenue next season. Nearly 25% of XFL income comes from ESPN, which pays the league $20 million per season for rights to air games on TV.

XFL owners, including chairwoman Dany Garcia, said that the league recently signed sponsorships with national brands such as Progressive and Under Armor. She said, “We’re extremely well-capitalized for the long-term. This is our new WWE. The next massive live property.”

June 20, 2022

Vince McMahon and Oliver Luck Settle XFL Lawsuit

From Cageside Seats:

Settlement talks had broken down between McMahon and Oliver Luck, who had been commissioner of the rebooted XFL football league. Vince claimed the executive had been fired for cause; Luck believed it was a cost-cutting move ahead of shuttering the whole operation at the start of the pandemic.

Luck was suing for the roughly $24 million in compensation he said he was due. McMahon’s counter-claim focused on Luck’s signing of wide receiver Antonio Callaway, whose 2018 legal issues violated the league’s mandate to not sign players with any off-the-field issues. In depositions, Luck’s lawyers brought up McMahon’s own felony charge from his 1994 federal steroid trial, seemingly to demonstrate the mandate was hypocritical.

Last Wednesday (June 15), as we learned the Luck suit was headed to trial in July, the Wall Street Journal’s report on the WWE Board’s investigation into alleged misconduct by McMahon hit. Vince has since stepped down from his roles as CEO & Chairman, with his daughter Stephanie assuming those responsibilities on an interim basis.

Sports Business Journal now says a recent court filing shows that Luck & McMahon have agreed to settle. In a June 17 brief to the court requesting the remaining records in the case be sealed, Luck’s lawyer Paul Dobrowski wrote: ”The parties reached an agreement to resolve this case on June 16, 2022.” McMahon’s lawyer, Jerry McDevitt, does not oppose the motion.

April 6, 2022

The Rock Debuts New XFL Logo And Vision


February 21, 2022

XFL And NFL Reach Partnership Agreement

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s XFL announced it has reached a new innovative partnership agreement with the NFL. The XFL is returning in 2023 after suspending operations in 2020 under Vince McMahon’s ownership. The XFL and NFL partnership comes at a time when alternative football leagues are popping up more frequently.

XFL president Russ Brandon told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert the new agreement will give the NFL a “petri dish” to experiment with proposed rules, test new equipment, and develop prospective officials and coaches.

However, the announcement doesn’t signal XFL’s demotion to a developmental league. The league sees itself as an equal competitor in the football industry. The vision for the future remains the same as always for the XFL.

When asked if the XFL would become a developmental league for the NFL, Dany Garcia replied, “That’s a no. We are a spring league. We will play at the highest level in the spring. There is not the anticipation of any player sharing that changes the dynamic. That’s not how we’re executing our vision.”

The deal is not exclusive because either league is still permitted to work with outside entities. This is about the innovation and development of the game of football because the XFL’s looking to make an impact and change the industry.

“One of the things we made clear starting off is that we were going to take a stewardship position on the game and the game of football, expanding it, and being impactful to the industry.”

The partnership benefits not only both leagues but the game of football as a whole. The official statement from the XFL reads, “The XFL has shown us that innovation is one of its core principles. We are hopeful that this relationship will support further development and improvements in the game of football at all levels.”

credit: ESPN Wrestling Inc

August 3, 2020

Dwayne Johnson Buys XFL for $15 Million With Redbird Capital as Partner

The XFL has been sold to a group that includes former WWE star Dwayne “The Rock’’ Johnson, giving the bankrupt football league the kind of star power that may draw even non-sports fans. Variety’s sister site Sportico first reported the news.

Johnson, an actor and producer who played college football at the University of Miami, teamed up with Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital to buy the league just hours before a planned auction was scheduled to begin.

They paid $15 million, splitting it evenly. Johnson’s business partner, Dany Garcia, who is also his ex-wife, will be a stakeholder as well.

RedBird has made a litany of sports-related investments, including some with ties to the National Football League and its players.

The presence of Johnson, meantime, continues pro wrestling’s involvement in the spring football league, which was founded—and funded—by WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon.

The XFL filed for bankruptcy in April after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancellation of its inaugural season, which got off to a promising start in terms of television audience. The league had a broadcast agreement with Fox.

With live sports a reliable vehicle to deliver ratings, there’s a good chance a number of traditional TV networks—and perhaps streaming companies—would seek to add the XFL to their portfolios. Besides the league, networks would likely seek a tie-up with Johnson, who is the executive producer of “The Titan Games,’’ a sports competition reality series on NBC.

The XFL is the latest sports-related move for Cardinale and RedBird, which recently bought French soccer team Toulouse. In addition, Cardinale—along with Oakland A’s executive Billy Beane—created a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that’ll focus on buying companies in sports, media and data analytics.

The private equity firm is also an investor in the YES Network, the regional sports network that shows New York Yankees games, as well as On Location Experiences, which is partly owned by the NFL, and also OneTeam Partners, a tie-up that includes the unions that represent MLB and NFL players.

In its bankruptcy filing, Alpha Entertainment, the XFL’s parent, listed the league with assets and liabilities in the range of about $10 million to $50 million.

McMahon announced the XFL’s reboot in 2018, and spent two years developing the eight-team league.

The XFL drew more than 3 million viewers in its first week. The audience was about half that number in its fifth and final week before the shutdown.

The original XFL, created in 2001 in partnership with NBC, folded after one season.

XFL President Jeffrey Pollack oversaw the sale process for the league.

source: varity.com

April 21, 2020

Vince McMahon Sued By Former XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck

Former XFL Commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck is suing Vince McMahon for wrongful termination.

Luck has filed suit against the XFL boss and WWE Chairman, claiming he was wrongfully terminated after the league folded due to the coronavirus earlier this month, according to TMZ.

Luck says he received a termination letter detailing why he was being let go on Thursday, April 9, but he denies any wrongdoing and says the allegations against him are not true.

In the suit, Luck says he fulfilled his end of the deal and ran the league from its resurrection in January 2018, only to be wrongfully terminated. Regarding the specific allegations against him, Luck redacted those details in the lawsuit. This is likely due to a confidentiality agreement he had with the league from when he first signed.

Luck is suing McMahon to hold him responsible for paying out a guaranteed portion of his contract. There's no word yet on how much money that is.

The XFL recently folded for a second time and filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy due to losses from the COVID-19 outbreak.

April 16, 2020

WWE owned a piece of the XFL, after all

The resurrection of the XFL was sold as an endeavor bought exclusively by Vince McMahon, with no involvement from his publicly-traded wrestling corporation, WWE. The wreckage of XFL 2.0 says otherwise.

Via multiple reports, WWE owned 23.5 percent of the Class B stock in the XFL, while McMahon owned the other 76.5 percent. McMahon also owned 100 percent of the Class A stock in the XFL. (Typically, Class A stock has greater voting rights than Class B stock.)

April 13, 2020

XFL Files For Bankruptcy

The XFL has filed for bankruptcy.

Vince McMahon's second shot at a professional football league was forced to cease all ongoing operations due to the ongoing global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The league canceled the remainder of the season after the fifth week of play and, while the original plan was for the league to return for the 2021 season, those close to the league said it would not come back for a second season.

The death of the fledgling league seems to be official as a spokesperson for the XFL spoke with a reporter with TMZ Sports and said the league had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

"The XFL quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people who love football," the spokesperson said. "Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Accordingly, we have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

"This is a heartbreaking time for many, including our passionate fans, players and staff, and we are thankful to them, our television partners, and the many Americans who rallied to the XFL for the love of football."

TMZ Sports reported the league lost out on "tens of millions in revenue" due to the rest of the regular season and planned playoff games being canceled and that the filling occurred when it did to maximize the return to investors. Among the creditors listed in the filing include XFL head coaches Bob Stoops ($1,083,333.33), Mark Trestman ($777,777.78), Jonathan Hayes ($633,333.33) and Winston Moss ($583,333.33).

Nathan M contributed to this article.

April 10, 2020

XFL suspends all operations, lays off employees

The XFL suspended operations Friday morning and laid off nearly all of its staff, multiple sources told ESPN. While a handful of executives remain employed, the league currently has no plans to return in 2021.

The league canceled its season last month after five games as part of a nationwide shutdown due to coronavirus concerns, pledging to return next year.

The XFL has suspended all its operations and laid off all its employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Alika Jenner/Getty Images
But XFL CEO Jeffrey Pollack changed course Friday, conducting a 10-minute conference call to inform employees of the news.

Commissioner Oliver Luck, hired in 2018 to guide the most ambitious spring football league in decades, did not speak on the call. It was not immediately clear if he is still with the league.

According to a prominent former XFL staffer who was on the call, Pollack stopped short of saying the league was going out of business. But the strong implication was clear. "It's done," the staffer said. "It's not coming back."

There was no immediate comment from the league.

The XFL is owned by WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, who was making his second foray into professional football. His rowdy 2001 version of the XFL also folded after one year.

McMahon pivoted 180 degrees for XFL 2.0, asking Luck to create a serious football league that would market a new version of the game while avoiding direct competition with the NFL. Luck led a group of staffers through two years of product development, establishing a series of innovations -- from its new kickoff alignment to its three-tiered extra point structure -- that caught the eye of multiple members of the NFL competition committee.

XFL staffers fully believed that the league would resume play in 2021. Players had previously been told they would be paid through the end of the regular season, which was scheduled to end this weekend.

The XFL is the second spring football league in as many years to suspend operations before completing its final season, albeit for much different reasons. The Alliance of American Football (AAF) ran out of money in 2019 and closed after eight weeks of play. The XFL might have been the first pro sports league to fall victim to the economic crisis caused by the global pandemic.

April 4, 2020

Vince McMahon To Be On Donald Trump Phone Call With Other League Commissioners

President Donald Trump is scheduled to have a phone call with all major league sports commissioners today at 12 pm ET, according to The White House.


ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Vince McMahon will be on that call along with the following commissioners: Adam Silver (NBA), Cathy Engelbert (WNBA), Rob Manfred (MLB), Roger Goodell (NFL), Gary Bettman (NHL), Jay Monohan (PGA Tour), Dana White (UFC), John Middlebrook / Jim France (NASCAR), and Don Garber (MLS).

The exact topics weren't given, but will likely involve a timeline for when leagues can start up again due to the coronavirus pandemic that suspended this year's seasons for nearly all of the leagues mentioned above.


UFC's Dana White has maintained UFC 249 on April 18 will go on in a staff-only capacity.

Last week, WWE taped enough footage at the WWE Performance Center through Monday's post-WrestleMania RAW. Although, a report did come out that WWE may consider taking a break after WrestleMania with Florida recently issuing a stay-at-home mandate.

As noted, WWE has also cancelled all of its events in April.

Scheduled participants on call with Trump:

NBA – Adam Silver
WNBA – Cathy Engelbert
MLB – Rob Manfred
NFL – Roger Goodell
NHL – Gary Bettman
PGA Tour – Jay Monahan
UFC – Dana White
WWE & XFL - Vince McMahon
NASCAR – John Middlebrook or Jim France.
MLS – Don Garber

April 1, 2020

Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon And WWE Dismissed

The Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System vs. WWE lawsuit has been dismissed.

The lawsuit, filed in the Court of Chancery in Delaware, was voluntarily dismissed on March 10, 2020, according to Wrestlenomics on Twitter.

"Pursuant to Court of Chancery Rule 41(a)(1), Plaintiff Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System hereby files this Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, dismissing the above-captioned case with prejudice, each side to bear its own costs and expenses," the Notice of Voluntary Dismissal reads.

As noted back in December, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and WWE had been sued on behalf of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System as the pension fund, which owns stock in WWE, claimed there was "a credible basis to believe" that Vince and other senior WWE officials had diverted resources to Vince's XFL football league, which would be a breach of their commitments to WWE shareholders. It was also alleged that WWE's Board of Directors failed to conduct a reasonable investigation to make sure that Vince wasn't engaging in financial transaction for the XFL that would be a conflict with WWE interests. The lawsuit was seeking documents that explained WWE's ties to the XFL.

A fan asked Wrestlenomics if there was any way of knowing what changed with the lawsuit, and if the coronavirus pandemic may have invited a longer and costlier battle in court.

"It's difficult to know because there wasn't really anything filed leading up to this which indicated why they were dropping the case. Likely there was some behind-the-scenes negotiations. Also, the claimed XFL valuation they were using in the case didn't appear to be sound," Wrestlenomics responded.

Vince's XFL league recently canceled the remainder of their 2020 re-launch season, which was considered by some to be a success in the 5 weeks that it ran. The league remains committed to running a season in 2021 and beyond.

March 20, 2020

XFL Issues Statement On Re-Launch Season Ending Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic

Vince McMahon's XFL football league has officially cancelled the rest of their 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was announced back on March 12 that that the season was being suspended, and that all players would still be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season. It was also said that XFL ticket holders would be issued refunds or credit towards future games when play is resumed. This new statement issued today makes the cancellation official.
Stay tuned for updates on the XFL moving forward. Below is the full statement issued to fans this evening:
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the most recent local and state regulations, have left the XFL no choice but to officially cancel the remainder of the 2020 season. This decision has been made with the health and safety of the entire XFL family as our top priority.
While we are disappointed to not complete the 2020 season, our hearts are full of appreciation for your overwhelming support.
Your passion, your commitment to your favorite XFL team and your love of football made our season a success beyond our wildest dreams. We're grateful for the incredible response and look forward to playing full seasons for you -- and with you -- in 2021 and beyond.
When our teams return to the field, we'll make every effort to ensure your faith in us is rewarded with even more fun and excitement. Your passion is our purpose, and everything we do, every day and for every season to come, is For the Love of Football.
We hope you will stay connected to our league and team social and digital channels for news, features, and updates along the way.

March 13, 2020

XFL to allow players to sign with NFL teams immediately

After announcing it is suspending the remainder of its season due to the coronavirus, the XFL announced it will allow players to sign contracts with NFL and CFL teams immediately.

In an interview with NFL Network, XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the remainder of the season, and players are allowed to sign any contract with an NFL or CFL team once they clear a physical.

It’s great news for players like Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker, who was already catching the eye of NFL teams. Walker emerged as the XFL MVP in the first half of the season and will likely receive plenty of interest from NFL teams.

While players originally wouldn’t have been allowed to sign with another team until after the XFL Championship Game, the league’s decision to suspend the season changed things.

Walker likely won’t be the only XFL player to attract attention. Los Angeles Wildcats quarterback Josh Johnson, Roughnecks receiver Cam Phillips and St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta’Amu could also attract some attention.

The XFL plans to return for the 2021 season, and it’s great to see the league do right by all of its players and fans.

source: msn.com

March 12, 2020

XFL Cancels Rest Of Season Due To COVID-19

The relaunched XFL did not get a chance to finish its season. Despite ratings declining, that was not what did it in.

The league joined much of the sports world as it suspended play after five weeks. This is due to the coronavirus that is currently spreading around the world. Several states have banned more than 250 people from showing up to arenas around the country.

The XFL provided a statement that assured that players will be paid their base salary, while also including benefits. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit towards future games.
Prior to everything shutting down, the Seattle Dragons were going to be playinginside an empty stadium against the Los Angeles Wildcats. XFL President and COO, Jeffrey Pollack stated the following during that time:
"Based on the proclamation issued Wednesday by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the Seattle Dragons will host the LA Wildcats this Sunday, as scheduled. The game will take place at 4pm PT at CenturyLink Field without fans in the venue. The game will be broadcast live, also as scheduled, on ESPN2."
Since then, MLB, NHL, NCAA (including the NCAA Tournament), boxing and MMA have all decided to cancel, move or hold events without fans. WWE has been forced to move SmacklDown to the Performance Center, while Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW, among others, have had to alter their schedule to accommodate what is going on.
According to the la test from CNN, the coronavirus has infected over 124,518 people, with 4,607 deaths confirmed.

March 7, 2020

New Lawsuit Against WWE By Stockholders Over Saudi Arabia Ties, Executives Leaving The Company

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced a class action suit against WWEover its relationship with Saudi Arabia and recent moves at the top that caused the stock to plummet, according to Business Wire.

The lawsuit also claims due to a series of events the WWE stock plummeted from $100 per share to $40.24 in early February.

Back in November, there were major flightdelays out of Saudi Arabia that forced WWE to re-write the following SmackDown due to talent not making it back in time. Initial reports said Saudi Arabia owed WWE money, which caused Vince McMahon to cut the live feed until the two sides apparently worked things out. WWE "swiftly denied" these allegations when asked about it in November.

Due to all of this, the rumor was Saudi Arabia then delayed the flight in retaliation for what WWE did. WWE maintained that the delays were due to mechanical failures. The lawsuit mentioned much of this in the Business Wire report.

The abrupt exit of WWE Co-PresidentsGeorge Barrios and Michelle Wilson in late January, followed by poor financial performance report (causing the stock to drop mightily) in early February was also documented in the lawsuit.

As noted, in a separate lawsuit filed by the Oklahoma firefighters pension fund in December, claimed there is "a credible basis to believe" Vince McMahon and other WWE senior officials are not keeping up with their WWE duties as they focus resources towards the XFL, which is run under McMahon's Alpha Entertainment, LLC.

February 25, 2020

XFL TV Ratings Drop Double-Digits In Week 3 While Attendance Continues To Rise

In terms of television ratings, the four weekend games were down 21.8% from the previous weekend, and down 48% from week 1. The four games averaged 1.61 million viewers, compared to 2.06 million viewers the week before.

The drop in viewers is not as drastic as the first incarnation of the league, which saw ratings drop 67% from week 1 to week 3. FOX recently told Yahoo Finance that they see 2 million viewers "as satisfactory" for XFL games. This past Sunday's game on FOX averaged 2.051 million viewers, so it was right at the threshold.

Attendance was up for the third straight week, as the week 3 games posted overall attendance of 81,942, up 9.3% from the 76,285 fans the games drew in week 2. The weekend saw the league garner both its largest attendance with 29,554 fans in St. Louis, as well as its least-attended game with only 12,211 fans in Los Angeles.

February 10, 2020

First XFL Game Pulls In 3.3 million Viewers On ABC


ABC network has announced that the XFL opener between the Seattle Dragons and the D.C. Defenders scored an average of 3.3 million viewers.

Last year, the Alliance of American Football drew 2.9 million viewers for its first game. The AAF never reached anything remotely close to that again and shut down before completing its first season.

It is also interesting to note the rating beat WWE Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.

December 29, 2019

WWE Sued By Stockholder Over XFL Ties

An Oklahoma firefighters pension fund filed a lawsuit on December 26 in Delaware Chancery Court against the WWE, according to Bloomberg Law. The group claims there is "a credible basis to believe" Vince McMahon and other WWE senior officers are not keeping up with their WWE duties as they focus resources towards the XFL, which is being run under McMahon's Alpha Entertainment, LLC.

The lawsuit also claimed that there hasn't been enough oversight on Vince by company board members as he "engages in transactions that are in conflict with WWE's interests" and want a look at WWE's internal records. Vince has previously said he plans on continuing his role as WWE Chairman and CEO for the foreseeable future.

It was reported by ESPN back in 2018 that McMahon had informed insiders that he would spend close to $500 million in the first three years of the XFL's existence. He's sold WWE shares ($100 million in 2017$270 million in 2019) to help fund Alpha Entertainment, LLC.

October 8, 2019

XFL Releases Season Ticket Pricing And Membership Perks

After teasing fans for months, the XFL finally released its season ticket packages for all eight teams. This comes after announcing that the selection process will be taking place today. Fans are now able to choose their location for the 2020 season at 11 a.m. ET.

There will be six tiers plus suite seats for several teams. Prices vary depending on the team and area:

Dallas Renegades: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $80 ($500 for a five-game package).

DC Defenders: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $100 ($500 for a five-game package).

Houston Roughnecks: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

Los Angeles Wildcats: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $85 ($425 for a five-game package).

New York Guardians: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $25 per seat ($125 for a five-game package) to $115 ($575 for a five-game package).

St. Louis Battlehawks: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

Seattle Dragons: From Tier 7 to Club 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

Tampa Bay Vipers: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

Each fan that purchases a season ticket will receive a VIP Field Pass for one home game. Season ticket members will enjoy benefits that include season ticket price locks for the first two seasons, 25% discounts on merchandise, VIP experiences throughout the year, priority status for playoff and season ticket renewals and early access to the XFL's Football Advisory Network. The FAN is an online community that will give fans access to help optimize the team and fan experience.

Fans still have time to secure their depositsfor the season.

In just a few short weeks the XFL Draft will be taking place from Stamford, CT. The relaunched XFL season is expected to start in February of 2020, the weekend after the Super Bowl.

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