XFL SUSPENDS OPERATIONS
One month after canceling the regular season, the XFL has suspended operations and laid off all of its employees because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Per ESPN’s Field Yates, XFL COO Jeffery Pollock said employees were informed of the decision on Friday.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo added the XFL will pay employees through Sunday, but beyond that, it’s unclear when or if the league might return.
When the XFL canceled the remainder of its 2020 season, the league’s official statement said it was “committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years.”
Vince McMahon, best known as the chairman and CEO of WWE, relaunched the XFL this year. He was expecting to spend around $500 million through the first three seasons on employee salaries at all levels and to build the brand.
The XFL was made up of eight teams that were expected to play a 10-week regular season, with the top two teams in each division advancing to the playoffs. The championship game was scheduled to be played on April 26.
(Bleacher Report)
And so it ends as does any speculation of a merger with the CFL. All but one XFL team played in NFL markets so the idea of a merged league playing July through October head to head with the NFL when camps start there & sharing facilities was a no-go from the start. The idea of the CFL playing 18 games in a merged league starting in January to accommodate the XFL was even sillier. Hopefully this is the end of these experiments for awhile.
The CFL would do mighty fine long term in Grand-Forks, Fargo, North Dakota. These two cities boast First Class Major League dome football facilities. If ole CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie reads this blog site and is serious, take my advice and look into these two locations to CFL expansion immediately. Start with some exhibition games there, forget Atlantic Canada. I’m telling anyone and everyone, Grand-Forks, Fargo = CFL prosperity and stability.