Dany Garcia and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, along with RedBird Capital are the new owners of the XFL.
To: Dany Garcia, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and RedBird Capital,
Congratulations on your purchase of the XFL, which became official last Friday. Most XFL fans are pleased that the league appears to be in capable hands. It certainly doesn’t hurt that you, Ms. Garcia, are such a fan of the XFL.
I’m not going to tell you how to run the league. I’m not going to tell you what to change or improve, when to start the league, or what coaches/players/executives to keep. You put the money in, you did all the background work before making your bid. I don’t believe you threw money at this project and then had to ask yourselves, “now what?” You don’t become as successful as you all are by doing that. I trust your judgment on those issues.
Instead, I’ll look at the big picture. When Vince McMahon created the XFL, he was adamant that the “X” didn’t stand for anything. In effect, the letter could stand for whatever fans wanted it to stand for; the possibilities were endless. After all, the XFL was built on possibilities. Dating back to 2001, the XFL made it possible for its main star, “He Hate Me” Rod Smart, to play in a Super Bowl. The XFL made it possible for a former first-round NFL draft bust Tommy Maddox to revive his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and lead them to a playoff win in 2002.
In 2020, two quarterbacks, P.J. Walker and Jordan Ta’amu, took advantage of the possibilities they were afforded, parlaying their work into NFL contracts. Walker is battling for the starting spot with the Carolina Panthers and Jordan Ta’amu is poised to be a backup with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Fans love underdogs, and that’s what the XFL is about. The players, coaches, and executives are all underdogs, attempting to make spring football work over the long-term when no one else has been able to do that. The league itself is an underdog, now in its third incarnation after failing to advance beyond one season in its two previous runs. If anyone knows about playing football as an underdog, it’s you, Dwayne. I know that resonates for you.
If you find some fans pessimistic, or impatient, don’t take it personally. Many fans have been around since 2001 and have seen the league collapse twice, waiting 17 years for a reboot and then two more after the return announcement. There may be a need to convince some fans to take a third leap of faith. However, the mix of fans are what makes this league unique. While some were fans in 2001 (yours truly included), some came aboard with the 2020 version, others will jump on the bandwagon just now, attracted by the new ownership group or Johnson’s star power. New fans are a must, and the league needs more of them in order to survive.
XFL fans aren’t asking for much. Be thorough. Be thoughtful. Most of all, be committed. And in return, we promise to be there. In stadiums, watching on television, and anywhere else you want us to be. It’s the XFL, after all; imagine the possibilities. We can’t wait to get started.
3 thoughts on “Column: An open letter to the new owners of the XFL”
The new owners of the XFL can still create some excitement in 2020 by playing indoors in a bubble with the CFL for the Grey Cup. It can be paid for by television money.
Dear XFL,
Leave the politics out, and keep the fun in.
I personally love the fact that the XFL is returning next year and with great new ownership with the Rock and Dany Garcia in addition to Gerry Cardinale and RedBird Capital who are both huge American Pro Football fans who love the game and who will endeavor to make the XFL a success and the second major national American Pro Football league here in the United States which is is exactly what we as both American Pro Football and XFL fans want as well. I also equally believe that as to the advice ‘that I would give to the XFL is to keep all eight of the current XFL teams exactly where they are now in their respective XFL Franchise cities such as New York,Washington,Tampa Bay,Dallas,Houston,Seattle,Los Angeles,and my hometown of St.Louis and later by 2022 expand to other major U.S. cities and award new XFL Expansion teams to cities such as Chicago,Baltimore,Miami,San Antonio,Oakland and San Diego and in addition to finally and seriously stepping up their efforts to effectively market and promote the existence and the stars of the league as well in my view.
The new owners of the XFL can still create some excitement in 2020 by playing indoors in a bubble with the CFL for the Grey Cup. It can be paid for by television money.
Dear XFL,
Leave the politics out, and keep the fun in.
I personally love the fact that the XFL is returning next year and with great new ownership with the Rock and Dany Garcia in addition to Gerry Cardinale and RedBird Capital who are both huge American Pro Football fans who love the game and who will endeavor to make the XFL a success and the second major national American Pro Football league here in the United States which is is exactly what we as both American Pro Football and XFL fans want as well. I also equally believe that as to the advice ‘that I would give to the XFL is to keep all eight of the current XFL teams exactly where they are now in their respective XFL Franchise cities such as New York,Washington,Tampa Bay,Dallas,Houston,Seattle,Los Angeles,and my hometown of St.Louis and later by 2022 expand to other major U.S. cities and award new XFL Expansion teams to cities such as Chicago,Baltimore,Miami,San Antonio,Oakland and San Diego and in addition to finally and seriously stepping up their efforts to effectively market and promote the existence and the stars of the league as well in my view.