The XFL top markets will be St. Louis, MO and San Antonio, TX. Early indicators show two cities hungry for professional football, with a dedicated fanbase ready for XFL Volume 3.
San Antonio, TX: With a population of 1.6 million, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States. It has only one representative of the four major sports. The 5-time NBA Champion, San Antonio Spurs.
Most of the San Antonio fans have gravitated to the Dallas Cowboys as their home professional football support system. America’s Team, Dallas has a history of winning and a deep sense of pride regarding the star. Many surrounding Texas cities like San Antonio, have supported the Cowboys for years.
If the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas can experience just 1% of what the Dallas Cowboys have the last four decades, it will be a success. It is estimated the Brahmas have sold 4,500 season ticket deposits to date. The venue, The Alamodome, is a large venue. We would expect the venue to be shrunk from above – closing off upper-level seating to make it feel full, and opened as needed.
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis is a city that rallies around its local teams. As a young boy I can remember my father taking me to St. Louis University Billikens basketball games at the old Kiel Center. A team that did not rank in the top 100 in the standings but was in the top 15 in attendance.
The city has had its share of champions. Before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, the St. Louis Hawks won the NBA Championship in 1958. The St. Louis Blues are/were a consistent playoff staple, and after many decades of early exits, the St. Louis Blues finally put it all together and won the NHL Stanley Cup in 2019.
The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most successful franchises in the history of sports. Their eleven World Series rings are second all-time in Major League Baseball to only the New York Yankees. A team built on a winning culture has the city’s full attention throughout most of the year.
The schedule lines up well for St. Louis fans. The XFL regular season starts to wind down for the league as the MLB season starts to take flight. Right when The Rock and company prepare for their inaugural playoffs, the St. Louis downtown area will be buzzing with excitement.
St. Louis is no stranger to professional football. The St. Louis football Cardinals were here for many years after they left Chicago and moved to St. Louis. And eventually, the St. Louis Rams. That is the Super Bowl Champion, St. Louis Rams to you! The Greatest Show On Turf delivered some very magical moments to the city.
St. Louis was buzzing with Kaw Kaw before the pandemic wiped out the XFL and the Battlehawks, and I expect much the same this time around. The Battlehawks have sold a reported 17,000 plus season tickets already. Take that Stan Kroenke!
The kickoff of the third XFL reboot is set for February 2023.
