XFL Plans To Return In 2023 After Ending Talks With CFL
Jul 7, 2021, 1:21 PM | Updated: Feb 25, 2023, 6:02 pm
A general interior view of CenturyLink Field with the XFL midfield logo after the game between the Seattle Dragons and the Dallas Renegades at CenturyLink Field on February 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Dallas Renegades topped the Seattle Dragons, 24-12. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The XFL plans to return in 2023 after the football league ended talks with the Canadian Football League on a potential partnership.
RELATED STORIES
The XFL and CFL first announced their exploratory conversations on a partnership in March.
After the league’s 2020 season was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, the XFL folded and was sold for $15 million. The CFL canceled its 2020 season amid the pandemic as well.
On Wednesday, July 7, the league announced that another reboot would take place in 2023 instead of 2022 as originally planned. Follow the league’s announcement, a “Kickoff in 2023” banner was placed on the XFL’s official website and the league’s Twitter handle was changed from @XFL2022 to @XFL2023.
“While our discussions with the CFL did not ultimately lead to a collaboration, the effort reinforced our belief and commitment to developing the XFL for international spring football,” the XFL announced in a statement to the Sports Business Journal. “We look forward to seeing everyone for kickoff in spring of 2023.”
Statement from XFL:
“While our discussions with the CFL did not ultimately lead to a collaboration, the effort reinforced our belief and commitment to developing the XFL for international spring football. We look forward to seeing everyone for kickoff in spring of 2023.”
— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) July 7, 2021
“Our talks with the XFL, exploring the potential for collaboration and innovation, have been positive and constructive,” the CFL said in a statement. “While we remain open to finding new ways to work together in the future, we and our XFL counterparts have jointly decided to not pursue any formal arrangements at this time.”
A statement from the CFL regarding the XFL
🗞️» https://t.co/cD4GtIOcFf pic.twitter.com/6ME4yy33Jc
— CFL (@CFL) July 7, 2021
The CFL is scheduled to begin its 2021 regular season on August 5.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
