As of Friday at noon the XFL ceased to exist as it held a conference call with coaches and executives from all eight teams and told them they were being terminated.
All league personnel that worked at the main office were also terminated and the league said that they will have a skeleton crew in place at the office for now.
The XFL canceled its season on March 12th after five weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but said at the time it was planning to come back and have a full season in 2021.
The XFL did announce in March when the season was cancelled, that they would continue to pay the players through the end of the season. This would have been the last weekend of the regular season.
There was no mention of starting up in 2021 on Friday’s call.
The XFL started strong with good TV ratings and better than expected attendance.
The Tampa Bay Vipers finished 1-4 with their only win a 25-0 win at home against the DC Defenders.
The Vipers played two games at Raymond James Stadium and averaged just over 15,000 per game.
In speaking with the Tampa Bay Times via social media, Vipers center Jordan McCray said “The whole situation does really suck for everyone. But I’m just working out now hoping for another opportunity to play elsewhere or hoping the XFL does somehow come back.”
Right now the odds are not looking good for a return in 2021 for the XFL.
The XFL was innovative in how it played the game Some of the rules were different from the college game and the NFL.
The rules for the kickoffs were the most noticeable difference as the players on the kickoff teams could only move once the ball was touched by the returner.
The point after was interesting as there was no kicking PAT’s. teams were required to go for one, two, or three points from the three, five or ten yard line.
The one foot in bounds for a catch, the continuous run of the clock, the transparency of the penalties and the challenges. All these innovations made the game fresh and interesting and the NFL should take a look at some of these innovations.
The AAF shut down after eight weeks. The XFL didn’t even make it to eight weeks, canceling the season after week five.
Perhaps its safe to say after two consecutive years of spring football failing, that the NFL is king when it comes to football. It will always be king. And to try to tap into some of that revenue that football generates does not make good business sense.
