The XFL is an American professional football league owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital. As a new professional sports league, the XFL has several key stakeholders who have vested interests in the success and operations of the league.
League Owners
The biggest stakeholders in the XFL are the league’s owners – Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital. Johnson and Garcia initially acquired the XFL in 2020 after the previous iteration of the league folded. They then brought on RedBird Capital as an investment partner to help fund the relaunch of the league. As owners, Johnson, Garcia, and RedBird have provided the necessary capital to get the new XFL up and running. They have a strong financial interest in seeing the league become a long-term success.
Broadcast Partners
The XFL relies heavily on its broadcast partners to air games and provide exposure for the league. In 2022, the XFL signed major broadcast deals with ESPN and ABC to air weekly games during the season. Disney Streaming Services will also stream some games. These broadcast deals are a crucial source of revenue for the fledgling league. Having strong national TV exposure is also important for attracting fans, sponsors, and players. The broadcast partners want the XFL to attract solid ratings and build a loyal audience over time.
Host Cities
The XFL has established team franchises in 8 host cities across the US – Arlington, Houston, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. The local governments and venues in these cities have a vested interest in the success of their local XFL teams. Hosting an XFL team brings increased economic activity, ticket sales, concessions, sponsorships, and exposure to the city. The league has worked out favorable stadium deals with venues like Globe Life Field in Arlington and Audi Field in Washington D.C. The host cities are counting on their local teams to provide a positive impact.
Coaches and Football Operations Staff
The XFL has assembled an experienced team of coaches, administrators, and football operations personnel to manage the league and its teams. This includes head coaches like Wade Phillips, Bob Stoops, Hines Ward, and Jim Haslett. There are also several key executives and administrators with experience in the NFL, CFL, and college football. These coaches and football ops personnel have a direct stake in building competitive XFL teams, implementing strong policies, attracting talent, and operating a league that can grow and thrive over the long term. Many have multi-year contracts and equity stakes tied to the success of the league.
Players
Over 550 players will get an opportunity to play in the XFL in its inaugural season. These players include many who were cut from NFL teams and are trying to prove themselves. Other players will use the XFL to keep their football dreams alive after college. The average XFL player salary will be around $60,000 per season. While lower than NFL salaries, this still represents a significant opportunity for many players to continue their football careers. If the league succeeds over time, player salaries and benefits are likely to increase – giving current and future players a strong incentive to want the XFL to grow its fan base and revenues.
Business Partners and Vendors
The XFL relies on an array of business partners, vendors, and contractors to operate its teams and put on games. This includes stadium operations crews, equipment manufacturers, medical providers, travel vendors, catering firms, merchandise producers, technology partners, and more. Many of these vendors have signed lucrative multi-year deals with the league. They are eager to leverage the platform of the XFL to showcase their services. Corporate partners like Gatorade also see the XFL as a unique marketing opportunity to engage with football fans. Business partners have a shared interest in the league becoming a popular success.
Fans
Ultimately, the long-term viability of any sports league comes down to its fans. The XFL aims to offer an exciting and affordable fan experience as an alternative to the NFL. The league is focused on engaging hardcore football fans, families, and young audiences. Ticket and concession prices are designed to be accessible. Interactive elements like sideline interviews aim to add fan appeal. The league’s unique rules are also engineered to create an up-tempo, fast-paced style of play. If the XFL puts out a good product, fans will buy tickets, merchandise, and watch games. Strong fan support is crucial for driving broadcast ratings, sponsorships, and revenues that will allow the league to expand.
Media
The media plays an important dual role in the XFL ecosystem. Major national outlets like ESPN, USA Today, Fox Sports, and more provide vital coverage that gives the league credibility and exposure. This coverage helps attract fans, corporate sponsors, and broadcast dollars. At the same time, the media acts as an independent watchdog. Critical coverage of any missteps or issues can negatively impact perceptions. The league must provide good access and building working relationships with key reporters. Maintaining strong media coverage is essential for the XFL to grow its profile as it seeks to find a long-term place in the football landscape.
Conclusion
Reviving an entire professional sports league requires having stakeholders align across the board. For the XFL to be successful, it needs owner investment, strong broadcast deals, supportive host cities, experienced football ops, talented players, robust business partnerships, avid fans, and positive media coverage. All of these groups have skin in the game and want to see the new XFL prosper over the long run. By creating shared value for its key stakeholders, the XFL can continue to build momentum and cement its status as a viable new entrant in pro football.