The alternative to the NFL fails before it can really get started
Unfortunately for football fans, the global coronavirus pandemic has taken another business as a victim, the XFL. Amid its comeback season, the football league had to file for bankruptcy due to the current public health crisis, but also due to a lack of interest from fans. XFL’s parent company, Alpha Entertainment LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the state of Delaware on Monday.
Both assets and liabilities were presented in the filing in the range of $10 million to $50 million. At least 1,000 to 5,000 creditors were involved, including NFL coach Kevin Gilbride and former players Winston Moss and Jim Zorn. This decision followed the actions taken by the league last Friday, in which the XFL suspended operations and laid off all staff who received the last day of payment on Sunday.
The league issued a thank you message to all fans, staff, television partners and players. For some players, the exposure given by playing at this league made enough of an impression to be considered for tryouts in NFL clubs for this upcoming season. Of course, that depends on any future decisions that could end up with the NFL canceling this year’s season.
This season saw only five games and the other ten games remaining were canceled since March. Back then, the league said it was looking forward to “playing full seasons for you – and with you – in 2021 and beyond.” The league officials clearly had intentions of continuing, and the staff was kept around even after canceling this season.
