XFL Officially Suspends Operations, League Employees Laid Off
The league didn't quite make it through its reboot season...
According to ESPN reporter Field Yates, XFL COO Jeffrey Pollack announced on Friday that the rebooted XFL was, "suspending operations and all employees have been laid off." Yates' tweet also says that XFL employees were informed of their layoffs today.
NFL.com reporter Tom Pelissero says the phrase "shut down" was used during the XFL conference call.
XFL social media staffers Bailey Carlin and Gabe Garcia each took to social media to confirm that they had been laid off.
The league ceased its games after only five weeks, due to concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus, and the remaining schedule was officially cancelled on March 12. Reports emerged days later that a player on the Seattle Dragons had tested positive for the virus.
Principal WWE owner Vince McMahon announced in 2018 that he was going to revive the XFL for the 2020 calendar year, coming nearly two decades after the first incarnation of the league turned out to be a critical and financial flop. The modern league, however, was praised for its innovative rules, as well as unique television presentation.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.