Game thread: Birmingham Stallions at Michigan Panthers, Sun Apr 7, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN

[Coffeeeyes]

Mike Mitchell says attendance is 7,475.

[Coffeeeyes]

Starting the league during the end of MM, end of NHL season and beginning of MLB season probably wasn’t the best call. Ratings wise I think football will always meet that clear line of 600-700k on a big channel like ESPN or at least Fox/ABC but when you have people in places like Detroit choosing between teams like the Tigers and Red Wings that they have been life long fans of and a new spring league… yeah

[4th&long]

Mike Mitchell says attendance is 7,475.

That looks right.  If you look at the Mich Ticket site, season and single, it looks like they are only offering between 10-11k for sale excluding any club seats.

Here's XFL avgs last year:

LV		6028
Orlando		8931
Houston		11768
Arlington		12054
Seattle		12328
DC		14269
SA		14982
StLouis		35104

[4th&long]

BATES AGAIN 52 yrds!  Keep that guy!!

[MGB01]

Starting the league during the end of MM, end of NHL season and beginning of MLB season probably wasn’t the best call. Ratings wise I think football will always meet that clear line of 600-700k on a big channel like ESPN or at least Fox/ABC but when you have people in places like Detroit choosing between teams like the Tigers and Red Wings that they have been life long fans of and a new spring league… yeah

Further reason I put this on the USFL side, they were the ones pushing Easter--even though they did the week after last year. They get to own it.

The only reason the XFL side bought into it was to have a second partner and avoid the five weeks where they drift into "FX territory", but when you see Vegas owning the three non-BH USFL hubs you ask if this was really worth it.

The Marchand hit seems to have served its purpose after all.

[4th&long]

They played in March because that's the earliest they could do due to the merger.

Why is that a problem?  Ratings were fine last week.

[4th&long]

Good game another down to the wire but Birm secondary really shutdown Mich.  

Birm is the looking good.  Ej Perry got no help with Taco unblocked.

 

[GDAWG]

Taco Charlton had three sacks in one game......that is something unheard of coming from him.  

[4th&long]

Taco Charlton had three sacks in one game......that is something unheard of coming from him.  

Yes - he had a few unblocked rushes to the QB and took advantage.  The notorious spring OL issues.

[XFL Crusader]

Starting the league during the end of MM, end of NHL season and beginning of MLB season probably wasn’t the best call. Ratings wise I think football will always meet that clear line of 600-700k on a big channel like ESPN or at least Fox/ABC but when you have people in places like Detroit choosing between teams like the Tigers and Red Wings that they have been life long fans of and a new spring league… yeah

Further reason I put this on the USFL side, they were the ones pushing Easter--even though they did the week after last year. They get to own it.

The only reason the XFL side bought into it was to have a second partner and avoid the five weeks where they drift into "FX territory", but when you see Vegas owning the three non-BH USFL hubs you ask if this was really worth it.

The Marchand hit seems to have served its purpose after all.

Ratings have been fine. 

Starting right after the Super Bowl only highlights the talent difference between the NFL and spring football.