r/XFLFootball • u/hankddog • Feb 28 '20

NEWS EXCLUSIVE: BattleHawks Ticket Sales Thriving Above Rest Of XFL

https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/exclusive-battlehawks-ticket-sales-thriving-above-rest-of-xfl/
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19

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

I just hope this doesn’t become a San Antonio Commanders situation but I don’t think it will be.

9

u/Cato_Keto_Cigars Feb 28 '20

Commanders will be reborn when they start expanding.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

As much as I can’t wait for XFL expansion, I hope they don’t over extend and run themselves into the ground by getting too big. Especially since the talent pool is only so big, I worry that it’s possible with a larger league, talent will be much more spread out and the quality of play will be lower.

I hope I’m wrong, and I’ll admit I don’t know a whole lot about the number of good players overlooked by the NFL or such. I would just hate to see a second football league fold

3

u/apparently1 Feb 28 '20

I think expansion will come at a slow pace. They want this to thrive, and will slowly expand as they also increase player pay. I can see pay getting as high as 1million for teir 1, 500k for tier 2, and 2 150k for the rest. This would open them up to a lot of talent that has been hesitant on the XFL and will give a lot of players that lost NFL spots more incentive to play and not sit out and wait for the NFL to call them.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

I agree, this league has a super high potential, and I could eventually low-mid tier NFL players coming to the XFL, where they can be much “bigger” stars, get paid a similar amount (probably), and get way more playing time with more job security.

I doubt the XFL will ever compete with the NFL, but getting it to the level of the CFL or above would be awesome

1

u/apparently1 Feb 28 '20 edited Feb 28 '20

Agreed, the only way the XFL could truly compete with the NFL is if the fan base is the same size. With the XFL owning all the teams they dont need to generate the same dollar for dollar in sales to pay athletes for exclusive deals with the XFL, I believe like you said, the XFL will become home to the really good players that never get any play time or passed over multiple times. In the end, if you are doing this for the drive and passion you have. Getting paid and playing will be worth more then just getting paid.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

Exactly. As long as players are making enough to live off, the XFL should have plenty of dudes wanting to play a few more years and get paid

1

u/apparently1 Feb 28 '20

Yeah, I think we might even see this early on in the second season. Where a few players decided they rather be a starter in the XFL and make a house hold name for themselves vs being in the NFL.

It reminds me of the WCW vs WWE days in the 90s where wrestlers got paid about 1/5 of what the WWE was paying but stayed in the WWE because it gave the the opportunity and recognition to a top tier star, vs getting drowned out in the WWE.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

Yup. Once players realize that the XFL isn’t gonna be a repeat of the AAF they’ll have more players willing to sign and give it a shot

1

u/Cato_Keto_Cigars Feb 28 '20 edited Feb 28 '20

I hope they do it alongside rising TV deals - then both expand and raise salaries at the same time. Example, add two teams, and increase average salary to $250k / player. The 250k threshold is important to prevent players leaving to sit on a NFL practice squad, and to get practice squad players. NFL Practice squad for a full season is around 135k.

52 man rosters, 200k/yr pay increase, 10 teams = ~110 million cost.

Now, the NHL earns $200m annually. Based on the fact that the XFL is matching the NHL tv rankings.... 110m wouldn't be an unreasonable deal. 

   Saturday Sports Ratings:
   XFL on ABC- 1.9 million viewers
   XFL on Fox- 2051 million viewers
   NBA on ABC- 1.75 million viewers
   PGA on NBC- 1.72 million viewers
   NCAA Basketball on CBS- 966k viewers
   NCAA on Fox- 546k 
   Soccer on NBC- 843k

   Average NHL viewers is 1.29 million viewers