Total XFL attendance grew 9.5% to 76,285 in Week 2, driven by the Seattle Dragons’ home opening crowd of 29,172 at CenturyLink Field on Saturday. The Dragons’ win over the Tampa Bay Vipers now stands as the best-attended game of the relaunched league by a wide margin. However, attendance declined for the two teams that played consecutive home games to start the season. The DC Defenders drew 15,031 on Saturday for their game against the N.Y. Guardians (-12.4% from Week 1), while the Houston Roughnecks drew 17,103 fans yesterday against the St. Louis BattleHawks (-4%). The L.A. Wildcats opened their home schedule in front of 14,979 at Dignity Health Sports Park yesterday, the lowest-attended home opener in the XFL so far (Ben Fischer, THE DAILY).
UP & UP: Following the completion of Week 2 yesterday, XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck said the league still has "a lot of improvement we can do," but added, "We're playing pretty good football." Luck: "That's really the only goal we have." In San Diego, Tom Krasovic notes fans "seemed to enjoy" the "spirited but sloppy" Dallas Renegades-Wildcats game yesterday. At Dignity Health Sports Park, "many beverages were sold." Luck said, "The environment was nice, people were loud." He also said that that vibe had "a lot to do with the ticket prices." Luck: "There’s a different attitude when you spend 20 or 25 dollars for a ticket. That’s not a car payment. As a result, I think there’s sort of a more carefree attitude.” Meanwhile, Krasovic notes where the XFL has "succeeded is with its telecasts," which "make football more human to viewers." Asked if it is certain the league will return for a second season, Luck said that decision is ultimately up to XFL Founder Vince McMahon, but he added, "We're already planning for year two" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/17). XFL President & COO Jeffrey Pollack said that he "felt the same good energy" yesterday in L.A. as he had experienced at XFL games in DC, N.Y. and Seattle. Pollack said, “The crowds have been enthusiastic and already seem to be emotionally invested in some way and that’s pretty remarkable for a league that’s just getting its start and for teams that are just getting their start" (L.A. TIMES, 2/17).
RARE ACCESS: USA TODAY's Tom Schad noted as the Guardians on Saturday "stumbled to a 27-0 loss on the road" against the Defenders, ABC's broadcast "checked in early and often" on the Guardians and QB Matt McGloin. McGloin was "interviewed going into halftime," and he was "interviewed minutes after tossing one of his two interceptions." He also was "interviewed after being benched in the final minutes of the game." The frequent conversations with McGloin gave viewers a "rare look behind the curtain" at a starting QB. ABC also "televised a sideline conversation between McGloin, who was mic'd up," and Guardians coach & GM Kevin Gilbride. It was the "kind of conversation that happens all the time in professional sports, but rarely right there, live, on national television" (USA TODAY, 2/16).
