XFL the latest league to suspend play due to coronavirus
Mar 12, 2020, 4:27 PM
The coronavirus has caused the XFL to suspend operations on its inaugural season. (Getty)
(Getty)
The XFL is the latest sports league to suspend games due to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.
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The league released a statement late Thursday afternoon that called an end to its regular season. It did not, however, rule out a possible postseason.
— Seattle Dragons (@XFLSEATTLE) March 12, 2020
Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk reports that the league will attempt to play at minimum a championship game in a few weeks and potentially other playoff games. The league has two four-team conferences, and the way the playoffs are constructed would have the two top teams in each conference face off for a spot in the XFL’s championship game.
The XFL’s schedule had the first playoff games occurring the weekend April 18-19 with the title game being on April 26.
If the league does eventually play a postseason, the Houston Roughnecks (5-0) would face the Dallas Renegades (2-3) in the XFL West playoffs and the D.C. Defenders (3-2) and St. Louis Battlehawks (3-2) would play in the XFL East playoffs.
The Seattle Dragons, who fell to a disappointing 1-4 last weekend, had a game scheduled for Sunday against the Los Angeles Wildcats in Seattle. As of Wednesday, that game had been planned to go on despite Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s temporary ban on certain events of more than 250 people, including sporting events. Because of the ban, the Dragons were going to play the game in front of an empty stadium.
Now, the team’s season appears to be over.
Sorry fans but it looks like we will be closing the doors on the @xfl2020 season.
— Seattle Dragons (@XFLSEATTLE) March 12, 2020
The 2020 version of the XFL has been pretty well received, especially in comparison to the first installment back in 2001. Attendance numbers have been solid, especially in Seattle, where both of the Dragons’ home games have drawn over 22,000. But as a startup league, getting fan excitement back for a 2021 season could prove difficult if by chance the league has played its final game of the year.
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SPORTS SHUT DOWN
• MLB delays season by at least two weeks
• NCAA cancels basketball tournaments, spring sports
• NBA suspends play after players test positive for COVID-19
• NHL pausing season
• MLS shuts down for 30 days
