Greenwich's Vince McMahon Relaunches XFL To Take On The NFL Again

GREENWICH, CT — World Wrestling Entertainment honcho and Greenwich resident Vince McMahon, who famously took on the NFL several years with the XFL and failed, is at it again, according to a post on his investment company's Twitter page.

McMahon plans to relaunch the XFL, this time "reimagining" the league, which came and went after one season in 2001.

He made the announcement during a Twitter Live press conference Thursday (see the video below). The new league will launch in the winter of 2020 with eight teams, all of which will be owned by the league. Specific cities have not been determined.

"We want really good football, and that's what we think fans want," said McMahon, stressing that it will be faster but also safer. The XFL flamed out quickly, in part due to poor quality of play. The league had national television backing from NBC, but still couldn't hold fan interest.

Bleacher Report previewed the new league earlier in the day, which McMahon is funding in part by selling about $100 million worth of his WWE stock to create the league's parent entity, Alpha Entertainment. The league will have no crossover with the WWE, he added.

This time around, McMahon said his group will listen to fans, experts and others about what they want to see in a new league. He plans for fans to be able to view the games in multiple formats, such as streaming and broadcast.

Players will not be allowed to play if they've been convicted of crimes, and while he stopped short of saying that the league would mandate players to stand for the National Anthem, he feels strongly that all players should stand.

Below is the text of the press release announcing the new XFL:

Professional football will be reimagined when the new XFL kicks off in early 2020, Vince McMahon announced in a live stream event today.

The XFL will deliver a fan-centric, innovative experience, including shorter, fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement.

Plans for the XFL at launch include eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regular-season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.

“The new XFL is an exciting opportunity to reimagine America’s favorite sport,” said McMahon. “As we move towards kickoff, we look forward to listening and implementing innovative ideas from players, coaches, medical experts, technology executives, the media and most importantly football fans.”

McMahon, a visionary and an accomplished business executive, is personally funding this venture through Alpha Entertainment, a new private entity. McMahon will continue as WWE Chairman & CEO.
Relive the full streamed announcement at XFL.com and YouTube (youtube.com/xflofficial). For the latest updates, follow the XFL on Facebook (facebook.com/xfl), Twitter (@xfl2020) and Instagram (@xfl), and be sure to join in on the conversation using #XFL2020.

Photo: Vince McMahon's XFL relaunch on YouTube