On Wednesday, the XFL held a live press conference at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to formally announce the cities and stadiums that will be part of the league’s upcoming relaunch. The second season of the XFL kicks off the second weekend of February, 2020.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy kicked off the press conference by acknowledging the passing of President George H.W. Bush. He spoke about the history of of MetLife Stadium, having hosted the Super Bowl, WrestleMania, music shows like Bruce Springsteen and more. MetLife plays host to two football teams already (the NFL’s NY Giants and NY Jets) and will be the home of the XFL’s New York team. He introduced Vince McMahon.
Vince McMahon welcomed everyone in attendance, including representatives from the 8 XFL host cities, members of the media and WWE/XFL business partners. He said it’s been nearly 20 years since the XFL’s initial launch and the hunger for a football alternative still exists. The XFL kick off during the second weekend of February in 2020 (February 8th/9th), the weekend after the NFL’ Super Bowl LIV.
XFL Commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck game out and spoke about what will be different about the new XFL. In planning the new incarnation, they established a Football Reimagined Committee to determine the best course of action to redefine the game. They came up with 4 major areas to focus on:
- Speed: The goal is for the XFL games to be crisp, fast paced and lasting 3 hours or less.
- Meaningful on-field action: Rule changes affecting punts, punt returns, kickoffs and play clock.
- More “in-game rhythm and flow”:Â Limiting gameplay time outs, TV time outs and simplifying the rules so there are fewer interruptions.
- Player Safety. Extensive health and wellness program with input from an expert medical board.
Commissioner Luck said there will be a focus on affordability and accessibility. The XFL app will be the hub of the league which will give fans unprecedented access to players and coaches. The league is in talks with ‘all of the big players’ in the media world, but are not yet ready to announce any deals. Luck assured everyone the games would be widely distributed across multiple platforms.
XFL Cities and Stadiums
New York
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Capacity:Â 82,500
Dallas, Texas
Globe Life Park (Arlington, TX)
Capacity:Â 49,115
Houston, Texas
TDECU Stadium (at the University of Houston)
Capacity:Â 40,000
Los Angeles, California
StubHub Center (Carson, CA)
Capacity: 27,000
St. Louis, Missouri
The Dome (at America’s Center)
Capacity:Â 66,965
Seattle, Washington
Centurylink Field
Capacity:Â 72,000
Tampa Bay, Florida
Raymond James Stadium
Capacity: 65,890
Washington, D.C.
Audi Field
Capacity:Â 20,000
Commissioner Luck thanked everyone for joining them for the press event. Team names, Presidents, logos/colors and players will be announced in the coming months. He assured everyone this new XFL is “build for fans and built to last” – describing it as fast paced, affordable, family-friendly and interactive.
Watch the XFL ‘Cities and Stadiums’ Press Conference here:
