The news around the XFL / CFL talks has certainly gotten a lot of media attention this past week. The mentions were slight and few in the US; however, it is a different story in Canada.
The CFL, and its 100 years of tradition and a fan base that has watched the product most of their life, the CFL’s future has fans and the people who cover it talking.
Bob Irving, the longtime voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, said on Twitter.
“I hope those drinking the Rock/XFL kool-aid don’t include the CFL owners/presidents/board chairs who might want to take a step back and consider seriously whether they’re going down a rabbit hole from which there is no return.”
Concern about the future direction and financial viability of the CFL, has been a topic for discussion for quite some time in Canada. Is the product sustainable without the help of The Rock, Dany Garica, and RedBird Capital? That is the central question on everyone’s mind.
Most agree, The Rock’s media influence in getting people to watch the league is huge. Wally Buono, former coach of The Rock in his brief time with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, said
“I think with Dwayne involved in all this, he would have a respect for the CFL game in itself, which I think is a tremendous advantage. The fact that he’s had exposure to it, the fact that I think he sees the quality of player and the quality of the game. He knows the passion of the fans in Canada,”
Like many fans of either league and including us at XFL News Hub, we have all tried to predict what will happen next and the end game. TSN insider Farhan Lalji in an appearance on The Sportscage said.
“If I had a thousand dollars — and I don’t often have that — I would bet there is going to be a meaningful arrangement between the CFL and the XFL that includes gameplay, probably by 2023, if not sooner,”
“I absolutely believe there is real traction to this. I absolutely believe there’s going to be a significant connection or arrangement. I’m not going to use the ‘M’ word, but that may be, in fact, what happens,”
Whether it is a full-blown merger or two leagues trying to help each other, talk about the XFL, at least in Canada, has been an everyday thing. For us XFL fans in the US, we now have new fans excited and talking about what the XFL has in store next.
Quotes from 3downnation.com
