XFL (2020) Wiki

The **XFL** is a professional American football minor league consisting of eight teams located across the United States in mid-sized to major markets. Seasons run from February to May, with each team playing a ten-game regular season, and four progressing to the playoffs to crown a season champion. The league is headquartered in St Louis, Missouri.

The league was founded by WWE executive Vince McMahon in 2018, as a successor to the league of the same name he founded in 2001. McMahon founded the new XFL to create a league with fewer off-field controversies and faster, simpler play compared to the bigger National Football League (NFL), and one without the features inspired by professional wrestling or entertainment elements of its predecessor. The league and its teams were originally owned by McMahon's Alpha Entertainment.

The season begun in 2020, after only five weeks, the league was suspended but returned in June 2020

The XFL operates in the winter and early spring months, after the end of the NFL season and before the start of the United States Football League (USFL) season. The league has a player personnel partnership with the Indoor Football League (IFL), with the IFL functioning as the XFL's *de facto* minor league.

## History

### 2018: The Planning

In 2018, the rumors of XFL being made again was looking very likely. It was then confirmed in 2018 that the XFL would return in February 2020. The AFF would of kicked off in 2019.

However the XFL did not make the same mistakes as the AAF did. The AAF was established in 2018 but were already planning to play games as soon as confirmed to play. The XFL however, would give it time to get broadcasting partners, money, teams, coaches, stadiums ect. It was confirmed the season would start on February 8th 2020, 6 days following Super Bowl LIV.

The league released their schedule on January 6th 2020 with the DC Defenders hosting the Seattle Dragons in the season opener. All teams would travel to Houston for training camp, which begun on January 2nd and ended on February 3rd.

### 2020: First Season

In February 2020, the XFL kicked off. It was looking well after 1 Week. Infact the league was looking great about a month in. However, COVID-19 came along and made the XFL cancel the rest of the season after just 5 weeks of play.

However, in June 2020 the XFL made a return, playing all games behind closed doors and the Finals being at TIAA Bank Field. The Battlehawks defeated the Renegades 23-16 in the 2020 XFL Championship.

### 2021: Season 2 and Possible New Ownership

The 2021 XFL Season also went into play behind closed doors for all 43 games. The winners were the Seattle Dragons after they defeated the Battlehawks 33-27 in the 2021 XFL Championship.

### 2022: XFL Players Strike and Shortened Season

The 2022 XFL Season did go ahead and was planned to have a regular 43 game season, however, the XFL Players Union and the XFL could not reach an agreement before the deadline and therefore the players went on strike.

Eventually they came to an agreement and made it in time to kickoff the 2022 XFL Season, however, they decided to shorten the season after possibly going bankrupt, and so they could make the process of Sxm Sports taking over the XFL happen in time.

### 2023: First Season Under New Ownership Group

In 2022, It was confirmed the XFL would return. Sxm Sports made a statement about it. They confirmed the teams on October 31st 2022, out of the 8 2020 XFL Teams, only 5 of them stuck around for 2023. The season begins on February 18th 2023. The league added the original XFL 2001 champions Orlando Rage to replace New York Guardians, former NFL team Houston Oilers to replace Houston Roughnecks (though this could only be for the 2023 season as they only have a 1 year lease on NRG Stadium) and the San Antonio Tigers, replacing the Los Angeles Wildcats.

The 2023 XFL Season kicked off on February 18th 2023, starting with the Houston Oilers at Frisco Renegades at Toyota Stadium. It ended with the Renegades winning 28-27. Week 1 also saw DC Defenders beat the Tampa Bay Vipers 31-21, the San Antonio Tigers beating the Seattle Dragons 38-12 and the Battlehawks defeating the Rage 22-19.

In Week 10, 3 of the 4 playoff births were clinched, with 2 in the East, after DC and St Louis finished 8-2. In the West, the Tigers clinched playoff birth at 7-2, the Dragons were 6-4, and the Renegades were 5-4 going into the final game. The final game was Tigers at Renegades. With roughly 6 seconds left, it was Tigers 22 Renegades 21, with Renegades having a chance to kick the game winning field goal, but missed, and meant that the Tigers finished 8-2 and Renegades finished 5-5, and also meant Dragons clinched a playoff birth. The Renegades had tiebreaker over Dragons so if they won they would clinch a playoff birth.

The Playoffs begun on April 29 beginning with the 8-2 Battlehawks at 8-2 Defenders, for the East Division Championship, both had the same record, but DC had H2H tie breaker, which was 2-0. The game ended 30-30 and going into OT, it finished 38-36 Battlehawks. The next day, April 30, saw the 6-4 Dragons at 8-2 Tigers and ended in a 34-18 win for the Tigers which meant they move on to the Championship.

## Teams

There has been several changes of the XFL over the years. From 2020-2023 there was a East and West Division. From 2024 onwards there will be a North and South

### Former Teams

 Los Angeles Wildcats | Los Angeles, Californa

## Season Structure

Preseason usually begins at the start of the new year, in January and normally ends in early February. Each team practices in areas in St Louis as St Louis is the HQ. There are also preseason scrimmages playing at The Dome At Americas Center.

The XFL has a 10-week season, with each team playing 10 games, 2 times against the teams in their own division and once against each team in the other division. Following the conclusion of the Regular Season. The Top 2 of each division face against each other the week after and whoever wins them games its the XFL Championship.

## Broadcasting

The XFL in 2020 had FOX and ESPN broadcast the games for 2020. It seemed to go well as each broadcasting service had good numbers. The same applied for 2021. However, it was only ESPN in 2022 as FOX signed a broadcasting deal with possible rival spring league USFL.

In May 2022, it was confirmed that Sxm Sports and its networks would be the broadcasting the games for 2023. The deal runs through 2026. The deal allows Sxm Sports and it networks to broadcast all 43 XFL games for each year up until 2026.

Sxm Sports is based in Canada, however it is a popular broadcasting service in most countries. So mostly it will be Sxm Sports and other countries main TV networks. The league released their schedule on January 5th 2023, with Sxm Sports carrying the majority of the games, with International Sports, Sxm Sports 2, SXMTV and FBTV also sharing the rest of the games. Sxm Sports will broadcast the 2023 XFL Championship.

## Seasons

2020 XFL Season

2021 XFL Season

2022 XFL Season

2023 XFL Season

## Championships

2020 XFL Championship

2021 XFL Championship

2022 XFL Championship

2023 XFL Championship

## Finances

The league gets their finances of tickets, TV and merchandise.

Sxm Sports took over the league in August 2022 and invested a maximum of $500 million into the league. Which gave them a massive boost and should last them a while. Sxm Sports also said additional funds can be used if needed.

## References

1. ↑ XFL: The main information you need to know
2. ↑ How the XFL avoided the mistakes the AAF made.
3. ↑ XFL: Kickoff Date is finalised
4. ↑ XFL confirms 2020 Season Schedule, 43 games confirmed, playoff dates confirmed
5. ↑ XFL cancels rest of 2020 season following COVID-19 pandemic in the US.
6. ↑ XFL shuts down operations following COVID-19 issues.
7. ↑ Sxm Sports statement regarding XFL returning.
8. ↑ XFL IS RETURNING IN 2023 AS CONFIRMED BY SXM SPORTS
9. ↑ XFL Team Reveal For 2023: Original Teams and New Teams to make up the new era of the league
10. ↑ Could the Roughnecks return in 2024? XFL News
11. ↑ New team, San Antonio Tigers of the XFL will play at Alamodome
12. ↑ XFL Week 1 Review: What a week as Frisco, DC, San Antonio and St Louis go 1-0
13. ↑ XFL Playoff Race Week 10: The Playoffs are set!
14. ↑ 2023 XFL Championship is SET! Tigers vs. Battlehawks, May 6, 3:00pm ET, The Dome at Americas Center
15. ↑ XFL: St Louis to be the HQ
16. ↑ XFL to hold scrimmages in St Louis
17. ↑ How does the XFL work?
18. ↑ XFL format
19. ↑ XFL and Sxm Sports sign new TV deal until 2026
20. ↑ XFL Sxm Sports deal for TV
21. ↑ XFL 2023: Sxm Sports confirms TV schedule
22. ↑ Sxm Sports to broadcast 2023 XFL Championship
23. ↑ 2020 XFL Playoffs: All games to be played in Jacksonville behind closed doors
24. ↑ 2021 XFL Championship: 5,000 tickets are being sold with limited capacity
25. ↑ SPRING LEAGUE RECORD BROKE: 62,000+ FANS ATTEND 2023 XFL CHAMPIONSHIP
26. ↑ Sxm Sports confirms that they have put $200 - $500 million into XFL and possible additional funds