Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wears many hats. He’s an A-list actor. He’s a former professional wrestler and college football player. He’s a businessman. And since August 2020, he’s been the owner of the XFL.
Consisting of eight teams across the United States, the third edition of the XFL is the most recent to enter the professional American football market. Working in its favor is a season that runs from February to May, ensuring that it doesn’t compete directly with the National Football League (NFL) for viewers.
In August 2020, Johnson, along with several partners and investors — including RedBird Capital Partners — purchased the XFL for $15 million. Within months, Johnson announced plans for the relaunch of the league in spring 2022. While the launch was delayed a year, the first games of 2023 kicked off on time.
Week 1 viewership lagged behind the 2020 edition of the XFL, but the results were still strong. Here’s a breakdown:
- Arlington Renegades versus Vegas Vipers: 1.54 million viewers on ABC
- Houston Roughnecks versus Orlando Guardians: 1.14 million viewers on ESPN and FX
- San Antonio Brahmas versus St. Louis Battlehawks: 1.57 million viewers on ABC
- D.C. Defenders versus Seattle Sea Dragons: 918,000 viewers on ESPN
In addition to a television audience averaging more than 1 million viewers per game, in-person attendance consisted of the following:
- Arlington Renegades versus Vegas Vipers: 12,047
- Houston Roughnecks versus Orlando Guardians: 12,784
- San Antonio Brahmas versus St. Louis Battlehawks: 24,245
- D.C. Defenders versus Seattle Sea Dragons: 12,428
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XFL Compensation Is Far Behind The NFL
Players in the 2022 NFL draft class earned a minimum of $705,000 during the 2022-23 season. The XFL can’t compete with that compensation — not yet, at least — but it’s still able to provide a generous salary that makes it enticing to players who aren’t under contract with an NFL team.
For this season, it’s estimated that the average XFL player will earn approximately $60,000 from the first day of training camp through the end of the season. That’s in addition to a benefits package worth another $20,000 as well as housing and daily meals during the season.
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The Rock Is Ready For The Future Of The XFL
Don’t make any bones about it. The Rock may be best known for his time in the wrestling ring and on the big screen, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a savvy businessman.
Before the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades took the field for the first game of the 2023 XFL season, Johnson grabbed the microphone and did what he does better than anyone else: He captivated and entertained the audience.
“When they told you that the dream was over, but here’s the truth your dream is just beginning,” he told the crowd. “Because what you’re going to do, you’re going to come out on this field and you’re going to line up and you’re going to show the world what it’s like to be truly hungry with that chip on your shoulder.”
Johnson knows football. He knows how to entertain. And he knows how to grow a brand. This all bodes well for the future of the XFL.
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