The third iteration of the XFL found a television house.
The league and Disney signed a global rights deal that will cover the XFL regular season and all playoff games in a deal over ESPN, ABC and its first sports rights since becoming part of Disney, FX. The Spring Football League will start in 2023.
Danny Garcia and Dwayne Johnson, who are part of the league’s ownership group with Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital, announced the deal at Disney’s previous presentation on Tuesday.
“We’ve certainly long admired Disney’s clear ability to engage a broad vertical fan base while maintaining a deep, authentic, nuanced and honest approach to storytelling, just like our own,” said Garcia, who chairs the XFL. “Finding a partner who respects our foundation and can see the future of unwavering passion, accessibility and football at Disney as our home is a dream come true. We are very excited to explore the infinite possibilities of this partnership; today is really just the beginning.”
Johnson added: “This is a pivotal moment for the XFL and the start of an incredible long-term partnership for the league, building on my very successful long-term legacy that I have had with Disney throughout my career. We are pleased to work with global visionaries who align with the XFL’s values, are true team players and share our ambitious goals of building the XFL as a global sports and entertainment business. Through the joint efforts of Disney and the XFL, together we will create a new force in the sports calendar and bring a dynamic game of football to fans around the world. It’s time to let her go and move on.”
The 2023 version of the XFL will be the third attempt in the league. Founded by Johnson’s former boss, WWE boss Vince McMahon ran for one season in 2001. McMahon revived the league in 2020, but his season was canceled midway when the game ended at the start of the Korovirus pandemic. .
After the XFL filed for bankruptcy, Garcia and Johnson’s group bought its parent company in August 2020 for $15 million.
“The XFL will tap into sports fans’ deep love for football, highlight competitive action and be dedicated to innovation and fun,” said ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro. “You can see the perfect way to succeed when you combine the access and influence of ESPN and Disney with the collective vision of the XFL leadership, led by Danny, Dwayne and Gerry.
When the XFL starts playing next year, it will (probably) be one of the spring football leagues. The restored USFL is currently in its inaugural season, with games split between Fox Sports and NBC Sports.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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