This has been a whirlwind couple months for the XFL and its fans. To the shutting down of the season, the layoff of its employees, declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy, to the fall out between Oliver Luck and Vince McMahon. The news has been gloom and doom for the once-promising spring football league.
Late last week there was speculation that Vince McMahon was going to try and buy back the league. That notion was ended earlier this week as McMahon declared in court files, that he was not interested in buying back the XFL.
In that court filing, we learned that there are over 20 interested parties inquiring details about the XFL and have signed NDA’s (Non-Disclosure-Agreements). We also learned the timeline for when all these legal proceeds will go down.
This week CBS Sports writer Jason La Canfora published a lengthy article about how it would be in the interest of the NFL to purchase the spring league. His article was titled: NFL needs a developmental league and rebooting the XFL is the perfect fit to improve league diversity, depth.
This week our Mark Perry sat down with noted XFL insider Mike Mitchell to talk about everything that has transpired behind the scenes over the last several months. In that interview, Mitchell drops this bombshell.
“I know that media companies have made inquiries on the possibility of purchasing the XFL. I do know that both FOX and Disney have inquired. What I do not know is whether or not they are part of the 20 potential bidders and companies now that are in on the potential auction process. But I do know that FOX and Disney have shown interest in purchasing the XFL.“
Mike Mitchell
You can listen to the full audio here. Mitchell goes into great detail on why it would make sense for the big media company.
The ramifications of a FOX/Disney purchase of the XFL would not only bring excitement back to the XFL players, coaches, staff, and fans. But the idea that a hugely successful media company owning their own sports league could send shockwaves throughout the supporting world.
With rising Television rights fees and exploding player salaries. How would the sporting world change if a major media corporation owned its owns sports league. Would FOX/Disney bring back XFL CEO and Commissioner Oliver Luck, now that Vince McMahon is out of the picture? There are so many more questions to be answered.
We will eventually have an answer on August 7th when the sale hearing takes place in a court room in Delaware.
Unleash the Action: Sign up for XFL Insider and Fuel Your Passion for Football!
Mark Perry, a devoted sports journalist and founder of XFL News Hub, has been a key figure in XFL coverage since its 2018 revival. Launching XFL News Hub soon after the league's return announcement, Mark has established the platform as a primary source for comprehensive XFL updates. Renowned for his in-depth knowledge and commitment to sports journalism, Mark actively engages the XFL community, welcoming interactions at mark.perry@xflnewshub.com.
I absolutely love this idea! My son has a contract in another league from 2019, but he and most of those players were going to tryout for the XFL 2020-2021 season, then the pandemic happened and put a cloud over some of their dreams. This would be a great opportunity for so many players along with their ohana! So happy that the XFL is not giving up ♡
This is written a bit confusingly, probably because 20th Century Fox was purchased by Disney, but not Fox Sports. So this news essentially means ESPN (which IS owned by Disney) and Fox Sports are separately bidding to acquire the XFL. Writing Fox/Disney makes it seem like a single entity.
Glad to see someone try and rescue the promising new league. However I’m not interested in any league that tags itself as “developmental”. XFL players are already professional caliber and need no extra training to be NFL worthy, something college has already given them. A free-standing professional league giving a chance to those players who the NFL snubs year after year, is what we need, not a semi-pro fiasco whose days would be numbered.
Brenden Valliere
May 29, 2020 at 3:57 pm
And the House of Mouse grows their empire.
Mama CeeJay
May 29, 2020 at 4:54 pm
I absolutely love this idea! My son has a contract in another league from 2019, but he and most of those players were going to tryout for the XFL 2020-2021 season, then the pandemic happened and put a cloud over some of their dreams. This would be a great opportunity for so many players along with their ohana! So happy that the XFL is not giving up ♡
Anthony Esbensen
May 29, 2020 at 5:04 pm
I would hope that it gets bought by Disney if I had to choose between FOX and Disney
GantizDragons
May 29, 2020 at 5:57 pm
While Disney is ok, I love Fox’s sports coverage. And it’s still Better than CBS Sports buying it
s
May 29, 2020 at 11:32 pm
This is written a bit confusingly, probably because 20th Century Fox was purchased by Disney, but not Fox Sports. So this news essentially means ESPN (which IS owned by Disney) and Fox Sports are separately bidding to acquire the XFL. Writing Fox/Disney makes it seem like a single entity.
FamhowHowfam2
May 30, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Glad to see someone try and rescue the promising new league. However I’m not interested in any league that tags itself as “developmental”. XFL players are already professional caliber and need no extra training to be NFL worthy, something college has already given them. A free-standing professional league giving a chance to those players who the NFL snubs year after year, is what we need, not a semi-pro fiasco whose days would be numbered.