Key Points:
- Neil Stratton, from Inside the League, hints at a 6-hub city approach for the merged XFL-USFL league.
- Speculated hub cities include Detroit, Canton, and St. Louis among others.
- Contrary opinions suggest that a move to hub cities could be financially impractical.
Recent speculation from Neil Stratton’s newsletter, Inside the Leagues has stirred the XFL-USFL merger pot once again. Stratton is hearing that the XFL-USFL merged league may forgo home cities for each team and instead opt for six hub locations.
Given Stratton’s connections to the pro football scouting community and partnership with the XFL, his comments carry significant weight. However, the idea has been met with skepticism, particularly considering the existing infrastructure in places like Arlington. The Arlington Hub is a source of strength for the XFL in 2023.
Why Hubs Could be a Bad Idea
Although Stratton’s inside information has often been reliable, it’s important to question this latest piece of news. The infrastructure already in place in cities like Arlington suggests that a move to hubs could be more expensive and complicated, not less. Stratton’s information could very well be a trial balloon floated by the league to gauge fan reaction or old news from months ago.
The Potential Hub Cities
If Stratton’s information turns out to be accurate, we might see a split of hubs between the two leagues: Detroit, Canton, and Birmingham for the USFL; Arlington, St. Louis, and possibly San Antonio for the XFL. This model would mean that some existing XFL cities like DC could lose home games, which would be beyond dumb to put it plainly. The DC Defenders is the second biggest fan base and tickets sales in the XFL in 2023.
Roy S. Johnson reported this week that members of the BJCC were told that Birmingham will be in this new league in 2024 but the report did not state on if they will play there. “They said, they look forward to continuing their relationship with us as it has been in the past.” We assume that means they will play there in 2024 but Stratton’s report only mentions Detroit, Canton not Birmingham. We have heard from sources this past season that Protective Stadium is less than ideal on many fronts.
The MLS Stadium Conundrum
Some within management, we hear from sources, have an a aversion to MLS stadiums. Which have successfully hosted XFL games in the past, further complicates the situation. Such venues are perfectly suited for the merged league, especially considering their size and infrastructure. An April league start date could conflict with MLS and NWSL schedules, giving weight to the hub city theory.
While Stratton’s report brings an interesting twist to ongoing discussions about the merged league, many questions remain unanswered. At the very least, the hub city theory warrants caution. Existing infrastructures in XFL cities not only serve the fanbase but are also financially sensible. Therefore, the decision to shift to hub cities would need compelling reasons to override these factors.
