WWF & XFL Chair Vince McMahon participated in a Q&A with Doug Segrest of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS and discussed the XFL's "chances, his dislike of the established NFL and Birmingham's chances to succeed" in the league. McMahon, on possible expansion: "It's interesting that we haven't played our first game yet and there's so much talk about the XFL in cities that don't have franchises. We just came from the United Kingdom last week and there was so much talk over there [about the league]." McMahon, on differences between the NFL: "You'll watch the NFL. You'll experience the XFL. There's a huge difference there. We'll present, on television, a reality show inside that game. And you will feel the excitement and passion of these players and coaches and fans. We'll make stars of our fans" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 12/12). Segrest wrote that while the S.F. and N.Y./NJ franchises have combined to sell 27,000 season tickets so far, the Birmingham Thunderbolts "are noticeably lagging behind." 'Bolts GM Tim Berryman said the team has sold 1,500 of its 6,000 season ticket goal (BIRM. NEWS, 12/12). FIRST YEAR GAINS? BLOOMBERG NEWS' Kim Chipman cited the WWF as reporting that the XFL "is expected to generate" $80M in revenue in its first season. Merrill Lynch analyst Jonathan Goldfarb said that the WWF and NBC "will split" any XFL profit, with costs estimated at about $113M in the first year (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/12). Bear Stearns analyst Marina Jacobson, on the XFL, "When we first heard about this venture, it looked risky. Now, there is a lot of substance behind it" (CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS, 12/11 issue).
