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To paraphrase the owner of the league: “Finally, the XFL... HAS COME BACK... to playing.”
Via new league owner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Twitter account this morning:
XFL returns SPRING 2022
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 1, 2020
As owners, we’re proud to champion our XFL players, coaches, cities and fans into an electrifying 2022 season!
It’s an uphill battle - but we’re hungry, humble and no one will outwork us.
A league of culture, passion & purpose. #XFL✊ #Spring2022 pic.twitter.com/jY0VWGj33Y
It’s been an active few weeks for the box office megastar. He endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris via social media, and now the league he, alongside his business partner Dany Garcia, acquired from his old boss Vince McMahon has announced they’ll be back on the field.
There were rumors the technology and branding that came with the league was more valuable than playing the games themselves, but it appears that Johnson’s company Seven Bucks Productions will look to compete on the field.
The XFL got through five weeks of the 2020 season before being shut down due to Covid-19, but appeared to be promising. The attendance numbers were strong in markets such as St. Louis and Washington DC, and the product on the field got mostly positive reviews from football fans.
It was also beloved by gamblers because of the league’s friendly view towards wagering, including having the pregame spread on the scoreboard graphics, and updating the in-game betting sides and totals during the broadcasts.
We’ll see if all eight markets return, or if there is an expansion or retraction of teams involved, but it appears we’ll have a quality football product after the Super Bowl in 2022. How’s that ever a bad thing??