The XFL "remains a powerful brand," but when Vince McMahon brings the league back in '20, it "doesn’t mean the new XFL will work," according to Dan Bickley of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. This is "not a product re-launch." Bickley: "This is the DeLorean coming back as a station wagon" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/26). In Las Vegas, Alan Snel wrote McMahon is a "brilliant entertainment marketer with WWE." But his eight-team, 10-game schedule football league in '20 "will fail again" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 1/25). ESPN's Mike Golic said, "I want players to have opportunities, but I almost put a better percentage on this league never getting off the ground, let alone being successful" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 1/26). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said McMahon "wants to sell some white-washed, idealistic brand of something to the country and I don’t think people are going to buy that" ("PTI," ESPN, 1/25). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "The XFL is supposed to be dangerous. We don't want a diluted NFL, we already have a diluted NFL. It’s the NFL" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/26). FORBES' Scott Andresen wrote if McMahon has "any hopes that the rebirth of the XFL will be anything other than another bug flying towards the NFL’s windshield, McMahon will have to address a shopping list of missteps that caused its predecessor to fail" (FORBES.com, 1/25).
LOOKING FOR EYEBALLS: McMahon said that a reason he believes the new XFL will succeed 19 years after the league first failed is because "television ratings no longer dictate success." McMahon: "The landscape has changed in so many different ways. Just look at technology and companies like Facebook and Amazon bidding for sports rights. Even if ratings go down, there's no denying that live sports rights continue to be valuable and continue to deliver." ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted one of the ways McMahon "envisions enticing major media partners is to offer them something the NFL hasn't: more creative feeds of the same game." McMahon said, "I don't think people want to see the same thing when they're streaming as they see on television. That's boring. I think fans want it shot in a totally different way" (ESPN.com, 1/25). The NATIONAL POST's Scott Stinson writes the new league will "need some way to make money from viewership." But how eager would Amazon or Facebook be to "buy up the streaming rights of the successor to a football league that McMahon himself once called a 'colossal failure'?" (NATIONAL POST, 1/26).
SOMETHING NEW HERE: McMahon said that other than the name, this version "will have little in common with the old XFL" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26). DEADLINE's Dade Hayes notes McMahon was asked if organizers "considered another name besides the XFL, given its baggage." McMahon said, "We did. We think it’s a cool name" (DEADLINE.com, 1/25). In N.Y., John Healy notes McMahon wants a "faster game and believes he can cut it down to two hours, mentioning the possible elimination of halftime" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/26).
WHAT ABOUT CONCUSSIONS? In terms of player safety, McMahon said that the XFL "would 'listen to medical experts' but offered no further specifics about concussions" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/26). In Cleveland, Bud Shaw writes, "If you care more about whether players kneel than get well compensated for risking life-changing injuries such as concussions, this league could be for you" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/26). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said, "Does anybody in today’s world, with all the data that we have with concussions, think that is a good idea, to have a football league that is even more violent and even looser with the rules. Are you kidding me? This is a terrible idea" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/25).
HOME SHOPPING: McMahon said the XFL will place teams "where fans want us to go" and added the league was "nowhere near" selecting any of the cities what will be home to franchises. USA TODAY's A.J. Perez notes there were "eight teams" in the original XFL: N.Y./N.J., S.F., Orlando, L.A., Las Vegas, Memphis, Birmingham and Chicago (USA TODAY, 1/26). In San Diego, Tom Krasovic notes there is not a local venue that "seems a match" for the XFL. Petco Park "doesn’t loom as a great option." Padres Exec Chair Ron Fowler said, "Based on the current configuration of Petco (Park), the answer is No." But Fowler noted that the ballpark "may become home" to the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/26). In Miami, Jordan McPherson wrote while the city was not a part of the original XFL, it does have a "history that involves experience with leagues that would rival the NFL and the hometown Dolphins." In '74, the Dolphins were "impacted by the creation of the World Football League," and in '83, there was a USFL team in the market (MIAMI HERALD, 1/26). In Cleveland, Troy Smith writes under the header, "Could Vince McMahon's XFL Bring A New Football Team To Cleveland?" The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission confirmed that it has "not been contacted by anyone associated with the XFL." The Pro Football HOF in Canton "said the same thing" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/26).
HAPPY TO HELP: In Orlando, Roger Simmons notes the city, which "fielded one of the more successful franchises in the original XFL," is "already expressing interest in a reunion." The Orlando Mayor's Press Secretary Cassandra Lafser said that city officials have "not spoken with the XFL" about a team in the market. However, she added, "This is something we would be interested in learning more about" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/26). Also in Orlando, David Whitley writes under the header, "Orlando Should Give XFL A Second Look." Camping World Stadium is "home to mostly pigeons in the spring" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/26).
