With the XFL 2023 regular season ending in two weeks, the league’s fans are excited about spring football’s future. Alt-Football fans love to talk about expansion. It is almost a lock that in 2024, we will see the same eight XFL teams in the exact locations as we are in 2023. 2025 however, could be a different story.
Currently, teams like the Defenders, Vipers, and Guardians are already putting out notifications for season ticket packages for the 2024 season.
The league marketing had a late start to promote the 2023 XFL season. But that won’t be the case in 2024, as staffing is ready to go. That is why team-wise, the league will be status quo for 2024.
The main storyline for the 2024 season will be if the XFL can build on their numbers (TV Ratings, Attendance) in season two. If those metrics improve, we could see changes in 2025, including adding new teams.
Considering the market size, existing fan bases, and available facilities, this article will examine San Diego, San Jose, Charlotte, Nashville, and more as prime locations for XFL expansion. We will also look at locations the XFL should stay away from in 2025.
XFL Expansion Cities In 2025
San Diego, California
San Diego is another city that has been without an NFL team since the Chargers relocated to Los Angeles. With a population of over 1.4 million, San Diego offers a sizeable market for the XFL to tap into. SDCCU Stadium has been demolished years ago. San Diego State University’s Snapdragon stadium could be an excellent choice for an XFL team’s home field. Home to SDSU Football, NWSL Wave soccer and MLR San Diego Legion rugby.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is a thriving sports market, with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder being the city’s primary professional sports team. Introducing an XFL team to Oklahoma City would provide football fans with a new team to support and fill a gap in the city’s sports landscape. The city has a proven track record of supporting professional sports, and an existing venue like the Taft Stadium could be upgraded to accommodate an XFL team.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a growing city with a passionate sports culture. As the largest city in Oregon, it has the potential to support an XFL team. A new team could leverage the existing fan base of the Portland Timbers (MLS) and Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) to quickly establish a loyal following. Providence Park, currently home to the Timbers, could be adapted to accommodate an XFL team.
San Jose, California
San Jose, the third-largest city in California, boasts a population of over 1 million residents and a thriving sports culture. Home to the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and the MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes, the city has demonstrated a strong appetite for professional sports. Adding an XFL team to San Jose could tap into this established fan base and fill the football void left by the San Francisco 49ers’ relocation to Santa Clara. The Earthquakes’ Avaya Stadium, with a seating capacity of 18,000, could be expanded to accommodate an XFL team.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is a rapidly growing city with a strong passion for sports, making it an ideal location for an XFL expansion team. The city is already home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, providing a solid foundation for an XFL team to build upon. Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, which currently hosts the Panthers, could be a shared venue for an XFL team. An XFL team could further solidify Charlotte’s status as a major sports hub in the Southeast.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, known as “Music City,” is another prime location for an XFL expansion team. The city’s residents are passionate about sports, with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and the NHL’s Nashville Predators enjoying strong support. By adding an XFL team to the mix, Nashville could further enhance its reputation as a sports destination. Nissan Stadium, the current home of the Titans, could serve as a shared venue for an XFL team. The city’s central location in the South also makes it easily accessible for fans throughout the region, adding to its appeal as an expansion city.
Cities the XFL Should Skip in 2025
While several cities across the United States have emerged as strong candidates for new teams, other locations like Toronto and Mexico City may not be the best fit for XFL expansion in 2025.
Toronto, Canada
Market Competition: Toronto is a bustling metropolis with a population of nearly 3 million people. However, the city already has a strong sports presence, including the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, and the MLS’s Toronto F.C. With these established teams vying for the attention of sports fans, an XFL expansion team could struggle to compete for market share and generate the support needed to be successful.
CFL Overlap: Another important consideration is the existing presence of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Toronto Argonauts, a popular CFL team, play in the same city and have a dedicated fan base. Introducing an XFL team to Toronto could create direct competition between the two leagues, potentially alienating the CFL’s loyal supporters.
Time of year: The XFL season kicks off in February. The average temperature in Toronto in February typically ranges from -1°C to -7°C (30°F to 19°F). March is not much better, ranging from 3°C to -3°C (37°F to 27°F). Getting fans who are lukewarm to the XFL at best to come out to a game in the dead of winter is a tall task when you could put a team in a southern location in the U.S. and have a bigger draw.
Mexico City, Mexico
Logistical Challenges: While Mexico City boasts a large population of over 9 million residents and an enthusiastic sports culture, it also presents several logistical challenges for an XFL expansion team. The distance between Mexico City and most U.S. cities would increase travel time and expenses for teams, potentially affecting their performance on the field.
Additionally, Mexico City’s high altitude (over 7,300 feet above sea level) could pose difficulties for athletes who are not accustomed to competing at such elevations.
Language and Cultural Barriers: Introducing an XFL team to Mexico City would also require overcoming language and cultural barriers. Although many residents speak English, the primary language in Mexico is Spanish. This could create communication difficulties for players, coaches, and staff, as well as limit the potential fan base for the team.
Limited History of American Football: While American football does have a presence in Mexico, it has not reached the same level of popularity as soccer or other sports. The NFL has played a few regular-season games in Mexico City, but the sport has not yet established a significant foothold in the country. This could make it challenging for an XFL team to generate the level of fan support needed to thrive in the market.
By no means should the XFL never consider those markets. It is just looking at the 2025 season and the long-term success of the league. There are better options to start with in the U.S.
As the XFL seeks to expand its presence and attract new fans, cities like San Jose, Charlotte, and Nashville offer significant potential for new teams. These cities boast large markets, established fan bases, and existing or adaptable facilities that could accommodate professional football. By choosing these cities for expansion, the XFL can continue to strengthen its brand and solidify its position as a major force in the world of professional sports.
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16 Comments
16 Comments
Trestin
April 14, 2023 at 9:18 pm
I think moving to markets that already have NFL teams is foolish. Why is Columbus Ohio, or Utah not on the list? Most of the League is much closer to Mexico City than they are Seattle and the elevation is fine they have had the Olympics and NFL games and millions of people visit there without any issues from altitude. I will say that playing in Canada in February is a concern unless it is in dome.
Though the USFL and XFL are not in league with each other they should plan this stuff together. To me it was clear that St. Louis was going to be a great alt location. Since the USFL seems to be following the traditions of the old guard USFL and XFL already had success in St. Louis it made sense for the USFL to leave that to the XFL. Beyond that the only city with a team in each league is Houston, which is one of the largest TV markets across both leagues. The XFL is located in great locations for their time of the year. Most of the teams are in warmer climates or in a dome which is perfect for the time they play. From this point forward the league just has to determine if it is profitable. The USFL also has some nice locales, but with the heat in the time they play, there be more teams more moderate temperatures or in a dome. To that I think that the XFL should claim Arizona. They can choose Phoenix if they want a team with a larger fan base they will share with the NFL or Tucson if they want to make their own footprint. The USFL should get San Diego and move the Invaders there. They could incorporate the old Chargers colors and there is a stadium they could okay in next year. The temperature is moderate when the USFL plays. Does the XFL want San Jose? If so, I think it works for all the reasons you mentioned. If they want to move East Charlotte and Nashville would make sense. To me, I think the USFL would move the Gold into Denver or Colorado Springs. At either rate there are a good number locations for franchises. Between the two leagues, I could come up with 8 locations that may be able to support football teams. The issue at this time are finding players and coaches. It is no coincidence that the XFL with experienced coaches are doing better than the inexperienced. That is not an accident. The positives are that you can already see a talent pool starting to develop. Between players such as Vincent Testaverde getting camp experience and Nick Tiano, Aqeel Glass, there will be growth and only more players joining the leagues as last years free agents and recent draft picks will be hitting the alt league circuit. The main way I see a dropoff are for the players who signed in these leagues to give ot one last shot and it didn’t work. For each one of those however, I feel we have found a player that won’t make it back to the NFL, but has seen enough good in alt leagues to be back next year. Either way checking it out will be fun.,
1. SDCCU stadium in San Diego was demolished after Snapdragon Stadium was built.
2. Although I agree San Jose would be a good option, then “filling the void” left by the 49ers moving to Santa Clara doesn’t make any sense considering PayPal Park in San Jose is literally like 7 miles SOUTH of Levi’s Stadium, opposite direction of San Francisco.
3. OKC has no stadium. Taft would have to be hugely renovated.
4. As someone else mentioned, Columbus would be a good option, with Historic Crew Stadium (formerly Mapfre Stadium) as an option. Although Salt Lake did not draw well in the AAF, so not sure I’d be in a hurry to get there.
5. If Vegas’s attendance in 2024 is similar to 2023, they shouldn’t be in Vegas going forward.
This guy is an idiot just like the York family and the idiots in Santa Clara (see the Taylor Swift worshipping). Santa Clara is a suburb of SAN JOSE!
Daly City is the San Francisco suburb!
San Diego demolished SDCCU/QUALCOMM/Jack Murphy stadium, years ago. Please update your info, the new stadium which is smaller but brand new is San Diego State University’s Snapdragon stadium.Home to SDSU Football, NWSL Wave soccer, MLR San Diego Legion rugby so a busy Spring schedule. San Diego should, if they can squeeze an XFL expansion into the busy Spring schedule, bring back the Fleet (AAF)
The XFL should Leave Las Vegas and Orlando. They are poorly supported teams and don’t deserve to have a team. If I were going to choose a new city for those teams I’d go for Fargo in North Dakota, Lincoln, Nebraska or perhaps San Diego. I think the communities would support these teams but I definitely wouldn’t go to cities that already have NFL teams.
I think they need to worry about not over extending the current product also think about the talent pool and the USFL ad well ad AFL returning these are all real factors
Have to question why your only two “avoids” are non-US?
Regardless, with the pending MLB relocation of the A’s to Vegas, the XFL could win on two sides there. A better potential stadium in Vegas for the Vipers (assuming they stay) and add a team in Oakland to get the benefit of a similar situation to St. Louis.
Better yet, merge with the USFL before the two leagues both fail.
You need to do more research before you post these things.
Portland has one of the best college football teams in the country you may have heard of them the Oregon ducks and you don’t even mention them? Plus they have Oregon state ranked just below them currently. They have a avid fan base that loves their team and their stadium sits 54000 fans and fills it up regularly.
Trestin
April 14, 2023 at 9:18 pm
I think moving to markets that already have NFL teams is foolish. Why is Columbus Ohio, or Utah not on the list? Most of the League is much closer to Mexico City than they are Seattle and the elevation is fine they have had the Olympics and NFL games and millions of people visit there without any issues from altitude. I will say that playing in Canada in February is a concern unless it is in dome.
Steven Woolf
July 31, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Exactly. This moron actually think an XFL team could compete with the Titans and Panthers? BS!
Ken Granito
April 15, 2023 at 1:52 am
Though the USFL and XFL are not in league with each other they should plan this stuff together. To me it was clear that St. Louis was going to be a great alt location. Since the USFL seems to be following the traditions of the old guard USFL and XFL already had success in St. Louis it made sense for the USFL to leave that to the XFL. Beyond that the only city with a team in each league is Houston, which is one of the largest TV markets across both leagues. The XFL is located in great locations for their time of the year. Most of the teams are in warmer climates or in a dome which is perfect for the time they play. From this point forward the league just has to determine if it is profitable. The USFL also has some nice locales, but with the heat in the time they play, there be more teams more moderate temperatures or in a dome. To that I think that the XFL should claim Arizona. They can choose Phoenix if they want a team with a larger fan base they will share with the NFL or Tucson if they want to make their own footprint. The USFL should get San Diego and move the Invaders there. They could incorporate the old Chargers colors and there is a stadium they could okay in next year. The temperature is moderate when the USFL plays. Does the XFL want San Jose? If so, I think it works for all the reasons you mentioned. If they want to move East Charlotte and Nashville would make sense. To me, I think the USFL would move the Gold into Denver or Colorado Springs. At either rate there are a good number locations for franchises. Between the two leagues, I could come up with 8 locations that may be able to support football teams. The issue at this time are finding players and coaches. It is no coincidence that the XFL with experienced coaches are doing better than the inexperienced. That is not an accident. The positives are that you can already see a talent pool starting to develop. Between players such as Vincent Testaverde getting camp experience and Nick Tiano, Aqeel Glass, there will be growth and only more players joining the leagues as last years free agents and recent draft picks will be hitting the alt league circuit. The main way I see a dropoff are for the players who signed in these leagues to give ot one last shot and it didn’t work. For each one of those however, I feel we have found a player that won’t make it back to the NFL, but has seen enough good in alt leagues to be back next year. Either way checking it out will be fun.,
Steven Woolf
July 31, 2023 at 3:04 pm
The USFL would be stupid NOT to move the disaster known as the Houston Gamblers at this point!
Mark Hanks
April 15, 2023 at 1:14 pm
OKC is the perfect market for an XFL team. Bring it!!!
Matthew
April 15, 2023 at 3:11 pm
1. SDCCU stadium in San Diego was demolished after Snapdragon Stadium was built.
2. Although I agree San Jose would be a good option, then “filling the void” left by the 49ers moving to Santa Clara doesn’t make any sense considering PayPal Park in San Jose is literally like 7 miles SOUTH of Levi’s Stadium, opposite direction of San Francisco.
3. OKC has no stadium. Taft would have to be hugely renovated.
4. As someone else mentioned, Columbus would be a good option, with Historic Crew Stadium (formerly Mapfre Stadium) as an option. Although Salt Lake did not draw well in the AAF, so not sure I’d be in a hurry to get there.
5. If Vegas’s attendance in 2024 is similar to 2023, they shouldn’t be in Vegas going forward.
Steven Woolf
July 31, 2023 at 3:02 pm
This guy is an idiot just like the York family and the idiots in Santa Clara (see the Taylor Swift worshipping). Santa Clara is a suburb of SAN JOSE!
Daly City is the San Francisco suburb!
Sandog619
April 16, 2023 at 3:28 am
San Diego demolished SDCCU/QUALCOMM/Jack Murphy stadium, years ago. Please update your info, the new stadium which is smaller but brand new is San Diego State University’s Snapdragon stadium.Home to SDSU Football, NWSL Wave soccer, MLR San Diego Legion rugby so a busy Spring schedule. San Diego should, if they can squeeze an XFL expansion into the busy Spring schedule, bring back the Fleet (AAF)
M.l. Grosse
April 16, 2023 at 9:33 am
Omaha would probably have 25,000 fans per game. Should be considered
Brian
April 16, 2023 at 9:51 am
The XFL should Leave Las Vegas and Orlando. They are poorly supported teams and don’t deserve to have a team. If I were going to choose a new city for those teams I’d go for Fargo in North Dakota, Lincoln, Nebraska or perhaps San Diego. I think the communities would support these teams but I definitely wouldn’t go to cities that already have NFL teams.
Bronze
November 21, 2023 at 8:42 am
It’s not about who deserves what, it’s about what’s going to bring in the money. Fargo sure is hell is not a better market than Orlando and Vegas.
Dale Moog
April 16, 2023 at 8:52 pm
I think they need to worry about not over extending the current product also think about the talent pool and the USFL ad well ad AFL returning these are all real factors
Bulls Pulpit
April 20, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Have to question why your only two “avoids” are non-US?
Regardless, with the pending MLB relocation of the A’s to Vegas, the XFL could win on two sides there. A better potential stadium in Vegas for the Vipers (assuming they stay) and add a team in Oakland to get the benefit of a similar situation to St. Louis.
Better yet, merge with the USFL before the two leagues both fail.
Mark Perry
April 21, 2023 at 11:41 am
Stay and grow in the US first. Make sure the league is on solid ground before going international.
James
May 2, 2023 at 10:10 am
I say Omaha NE, Hartford CT, Louisville KY, San Diego CA, and Portland OR. If they go to the Carolina’s it should be Raleigh to avoid NFL overlap.
Daniel
May 16, 2023 at 2:06 pm
You need to do more research before you post these things.
Portland has one of the best college football teams in the country you may have heard of them the Oregon ducks and you don’t even mention them? Plus they have Oregon state ranked just below them currently. They have a avid fan base that loves their team and their stadium sits 54000 fans and fills it up regularly.