The XFL was expected to make an announcement next week about the locations of its inaugural eight teams, which will begin play in 2020. However, the league inadvertently released the information on its website on Saturday, which was captured in a screenshot by WrestleZone.com and posted on Instagram.
The cities captured in the screenshot are Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C., and included phone numbers for each franchise. In addition to the markets, the sites for each team began trickling out shortly after the leak.
The Tampa Bay franchise was confirmed by Thomas Bassinger of The Tampa Bay Times, which called the number associated with the team and received a recorded message from XFL commissioner Oliver Luck stating:
“Hello, this XFL commissioner Oliver Luck. Thanks for calling XFL Tampa Bay. We’re excited to call Raymond James Stadium home when the league launches in 2020, and we appreciate your support.”
Raymond James Stadium, of course, is the current home of the Buccaneers, who declined to comment on the situation.
The Washington franchise will reportedly play its games at Audi Field, Rick Maese of the Washington Post writes. As the league is expected to kick off its 10-week schedule in February 2020, the field will serve both football and soccer for a time due to the stadium’s main tenants, MLS franchise D.C. United, beginning their schedule in March.
The Dallas franchise could potentially wind up playing its home games at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas Rangers beat reporter Evan Grant writes for the Dallas Morning News. The park will host its final game at the end of the 2019 season, leaving it vacant for a potential XFL team for the following February.
The league has declined comment since the leak.
The original XFL operated in 2001, when World Wrestling Entertainment chairman Vince McMahon partnered with NBC to form the league. The broadcast corporation pulled out after one season and the league folded soon after.
Maybe this is the time that minor league football will be financially successful, but I personally wouldn’t invest in it.
Oliver Luck understands business and football. If there is anyone who can make it work it’s him.
I agree that if anybody can, he can. Still, minor league baseball and the NBA G league don’t draw well. It’ll be interesting to see if minor league football can make a go of it this time, especially in the face of slightly dwindling NFL interest/ratings.
I’ll still say three seasons max.
They decided that the best place to locate their teams is in NFL areas? Do they really not pay attention to college stadiums packed w/90K+ stadiums?
And playing in NY and DC in February weather will be brutal.
I think it will much harder on the fans than the players. I remember back in the late 60s when Bud Grant would not let his Viking teams use heaters on the sidelines in cold conditions. It didn’t seem to bother the Purple People Eaters much.
The Chargers are having a hard time in LA and they are having a good year. Seems like San Diego may have made more sense.
I’d go see the games at the right price. It’s an arm and a leg to just to park let alone get in to see the Cowboys play.
Surprised no team in Chicago
Surprised they are going to LA after the Chargers have had so much trouble getting fans. Especially considering how good the Chargers have been this year. Seems like San Diego would’ve made sense.