In a recent interview with ESPN, XFL co-owners Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Dany Garcia discussed the accomplishments of the 2023 XFL season and their plans for the future.
Johnson noted the importance of steady growth, saying, “We went into this XFL season determined and committed to playing the long game… You want to see steady growth, you want to get feedback from the fans and the audience, you want to see how the game plays on TV and then play the long game.”
We get a little insight into the XFL offseason.
“Owners Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson declared the season a success and began looking ahead to 2024. Garcia said the league’s front office staff will soon take an off-site retreat and many offseason staples, including a series of combines and player showcases, have already been scheduled.”
Garcia acknowledged the mixed quantitative results and the need for further work, but emphasized the importance of storytelling in building the league. She stated, “We knew we were going to have the space and the time and the bandwidth to make the best decisions to build a league… It’s what is the content? How does the content feel? What are you creating? What is the branding? What is the partnership? What is the real innovation?”
The XFL co-owners also highlighted the connection with the NFL and the opportunities it provides for players. Johnson expressed his hope that “players felt seen, and they felt they had a real shot to play beyond this season, whether it was in the spring or play in the fall [in the NFL].”
They also reveled what the off season might look like for the eight teams, including confirming that XFL teams will not move to their home markets in 2024.
“The league is considering the possibility of hosting winter minicamps in home cities to jump-start the connection between teams and fans. But a shift to an all-local structure isn’t on the immediate horizon.”
In summary, the interview with Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia revealed their satisfaction with the XFL’s progress and their commitment to steady growth. They emphasized the importance of storytelling and partnerships, including their collaboration with the NFL. As the XFL looks to the future, the co-owners are determined to continue improving the league and providing opportunities for players to showcase their talents.
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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 [email protected].
