The XFL will Air Games on ESPN, ABC, and FOX

The XFL will Air Games on ESPN, ABC, and FOX May 6, 2019 16:19:12 GMT via mobile Rey Kahuka likes this

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Post by FrankSobotka1514 on May 6, 2019 16:19:12 GMT

May 6, 2019 16:05:21 GMT Rey Kahuka said:

May 6, 2019 15:55:01 GMT masterofallgoons said:

To me, college football appears to be an inferior product, but people seem to love it, quite obviously.

That's clearly something entirely different, since it's so long established, but having fans watch less than the best competitors in the game isn't impossible. But expecting it to be any sort of main stream success in comparison to the NFL is insane. Somehow the MLB, and to some degree the NHL and NBA all have had some level success with a minor league of sorts. But somehow the extraordinary popularity of pro football hasn't left any room for a lower level pro league in a long time.

I think generally that's because everyone has gone about it the wrong way. From the XFL the first time around, to NFL Europe, to the AAF this past year, and seemingly the new XFL next year.

The community has a connection to college football that they'll never have with a pro team (at least in the places college sports are huge). And the product isn't inferior if yours is a powerhouse program. People aren't interested in watching the Memphis Nobodies take on the Birmingham Whositnows, especially when the rosters are made up of washouts from the NFL.

You make a good point with other sports, though. I think the difference is those leagues are marketed as minor leagues whereas the XFLs are trying to compete with the NFL. Even the AAF which said it was trying to become a developmental league, was passed onto audiences with this expectation of top quality football (hence all the big names as coaches). Admit what you are, start small and build your way up.

I lived in Charlottesville for a while, home of the University of Virginia. There are no hometown big 4 franchises less than two or three hours away, so it’s all college all the time. The Cavalier football team is insanely popular there despite not having been good in like 30 years. The rivalry with Virginia Tech is typical of other rivalries. While people there like the Redskins, Cowboys, or Steelers, they live and breathe UVA. As previously stated, no one would give two shits about an XFL team. If Philly gets one of these teams they’d rank way below even the arena league team Philadelphia Soul. That is an entertaining product and the Philly franchise is owned by Ron Jaworski and they’ve won at least one league championship. I couldn’t name one guy on the roster but that’s beside the point. They are what they are and do it well.