So why are some fans not showing them any love?
Heading into the final week of the regular season, XFL 3.0 has been one for the ages. We have seen the awakening of the fans in DC and San Antonio, the rise of unity in St. Louis and the madhouse of when you have a winning franchise in Houston. Yes, the XFL this season has truly brought BALL OUT to the forefront.
But there are some places that need to be called out for their lack of support to their teams.
Seattle: A city that knows what St. Louis feels in regards to losing franchises, Seattle has had to deal with heartache and joy in every sense of the word. When the Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City (for some stupid reason), the city rallied behind its other football team, the Seahawks. You would find it next to impossible to find an empty seat in the stadium formerly known as “The Clink” due to it originally being named Century Link Field.
When the city was awarded an NHL franchise, they not only embraced the team, they rallied behind them as well. To see a city stand by its sports teams is a thing to admire. In the process of rallying behind the Kraken, the city itself also packed Safeco Field to cheer on its beloved Mariners. So the city has no problem showing its support and appreciation for its sports teams as we have personally seen in the last few years.
So why is it that when the XFL Seattle franchise got its team back, the fans weren’t really set to pack the stadium the way they would for a Seahawks preseason game?
“In 2022, the average attendance at home games of the Seattle Seahawks was 68, 832.” (Gough, 2013) Knowing this statistic, why is Seattle not packing the house to the rafters when they get their Sea Dragons back. Is the team doing bad? Not at all, considering they won five straight after losing the first two to DC and St. Louis, respectively. They are even in the running for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Analysts have even said that if the team had come together a little sooner, they would easily be undefeated right now.
With so many NFL alumni on their roster (Ben DiNucci, Philip Lindsey, Josh “Flash” Gordon, Jim Haslett, Ron Zook just to name a few), what is keeping Seattle from embracing its inner Dragon?
This year, the Sea Dragons only had 10,386 fans for week one. Week two saw a big jump to 15,103 fans but then took a big dive in week three. Keep in mind that in week one, 10K fans saw them lose a tight one to the D.C. Defenders as the stadium was opened for game viewing, and in week two, their home opener, 15K watched as the St. Louis Battlehawks came from behind for a one point victory. At the start of their winning streak, less than ten thousand showed up to watch them humble the Houston Roughnecks (not Ruffnecks as 97 Rock called them).
While the radio station was questioning the Easter Sunday matchup, the fans in attendance did enjoy a shootout rematch with DC on their home turf that saw it go down to the wire. However, the fans are spoiled. If they only go to games for free schwag and perks, they are missing the point of it all. Spring football is great for Seattle as there is truly no telling if the Seahawks will return to its Era of Dominance in a stacked NFC West Division led by San Francisco and its rookie phenom entering his second season, Brock Purdy.
Vegas: It is said that whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. This is a well-known rule for any shenanigans that occur in the original Sin City. And it still exists to this day.
This would explain why the Vipers will be staying at home…after next week…on the couch.
While the hype surrounding Rod Woodson as a head coach was there, the vibe of the Vegas Vipers has been dull at best. Even when the team looked promising, they suffered from the Frank Costanza Challenge one too many times (i.e. “I stopped short”) The team never really got into its next gear until it was too late. And despite trying to play spoiler a few times late in the season, the Vipers never got the fans excited for their games this year. Long gone are the errors of the Las Vegas Posse, Las Vegas Outlaws or the Era of “He Hate Me.”
But Vegas is a sports city nestled underneath the casinos and naughty clubs, so if they will embrace the Golden Knights, it is only a matter of time before the Vipers could fill the house.
But our final team that we are looking at for this piece has no excuse.
Arlington: In the land of the Rangers, Stars and the Cowboys, Arlington should be a staple for professional sports. Considering the fact that there were talks about creating a secondary Cowboys team last year (just scuttlebutt I’m sure), one would think that the Renegades would get some much-deserved respect even with Bob Stoops returning to the helm as head coach. With the infamous Cowboys Stadium right down the street, there is a question that still resonates deep in the heart of the Texas:
Why the bluest of blue hells are fans not embracing the Renegades as they have the Stars, Rangers and Cowboys?
If there is a city I’m extremely disappointed with this late in the season, it’s Arlington. Rangers were AL Champs a decade ago, the Stars were battling for the Cup a few years back and the Cowboys…the Cowboys…well, if you ask my wife, they got the most loyal, rabid fanbase in all of sports (only equal to the Lakers. But knowing all this, what is it about Spring Football that makes fans rather travel through that bumper to bumper traffic in Austin to watch the Longhorns Spring Game versus going to more affordable XFL game to cheer on a team that they stood behind before the COVID shutdown?
Or is this more about a name than the team itself?
In 2020 and during XFL 2.0, they were known as the Dallas Renegades. That 2.0 team finished with a dismal record of 2-3 before the shutdown, and while this team not only could finish at .500 this year but could also be eyeing a rematch with Houston in the South Division Championship, fans are still not buying in on the franchise as originally expected. What bugs me about this specific city?
It is only a whimper from Dallas. Yet, despite this straight shot from downtown Dallas to Arlington, there hasn’t been many Cowboys fans screaming, “THIS IS OUR YEAR! WE DEM BOYS!” when it comes to the Renegades. So much for loyalty these days in Texas huh? If everything is truly bigger in Texas, then SHAME should be at the top of the list.
In Summation
Yes, while these three cities have suffered some heavy backlash with its city fanbases, it is not saying that they don’t have a chance at redemption. While most believe that spring belongs to baseball, there are those who have indeed embraced football in every sense of the word. Despite the loyalty that NFL fans may or may not have towards their respective franchises, there are those who are tired of watching their baseball teams suck, basketball teams squander postseason chances and hockey teams bite the big one in April. There are those who enjoy a little prelude to the NFL season.
And with the XFL wrapping up Season Three and the USFL rolling into its own Third Season, it is safe to say that the football market does NOT just belong to the National Football League (or as some would call it the No Fun League). While markets like D.C. (who has had to deal with a chauvinistic owner of a lowly franchise), St. Louis (still reeling from the loss of its beloved Rams) and San Antonio (been starving for the NFL to give them a franchise for decades) are embracing their new opportunities, I feel that the XFL and the USFL will be around for years to come.
And with Dani Garcia and Dwayne Johnson both confirming a 2024 season will be on the horizon for the XFL, isn’t it time for the cities that have an XFL franchise to give them a shot? It is safe to say that Los Angeles will get another XFL franchise, Chicago as well. And after losing its beloved Guardians to Florida, do not be surprised if New York gets a new franchise to help take its aggressions out on.
Bottom Line: Open your minds to Spring Football…cause it is indeed here to stay.