Football still reigns supreme as XFL kicks off at Globe Life Park in Arlington
There were tailgaters and the smell of grilled hot dogs wafted through the air Sunday afternoon in Arlington.
The Dallas Renegades kicked off their inaugural season in the XFL at Globe Life Park and the former home of the Texas Rangers ushered in a new era.
The Renegades, who opened their 10-game season with a 15-9 loss to the St. Louis BattleHawks, drew a crowd of 17,026 that filled most of the lower bowl. A new section of stands, some 60 yards wide, was added to where left field used to be for baseball.
Hundreds of fans could be seen waving their light blue and black team bandannas, or they had them tied around their neck, kerchief style. Little kids to grown adults embraced the Renegades spirit.
Five motorcycles led the 45-man team out on the field and a video montage of famous football coaches and players (many with Sooner and Big 12 ties), including Mack Brown, Mike Leach, and Adrian Peterson, helped welcome the Renegades’ head coach and former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, the team and their fans to the new league. A military helicopter barnstormed the stadium after the National Anthem.
“I came in all-in, expecting to win,” Stoops said. “I’m not doing this for any other reason. I want to win, win big. So I’m disappointed.”
More than hour before the game, a long line of fans waited to get into the XFL pro shop to buy merchandise. Others waited in long lines for concessions, which may have been more to do with a lack of stadium workers than a run on hot dogs.
Fans were given a Renegades handkerchiefs to mimic the team’s outlaw logo.
“The XFL is the opportunity to see not NFL players but still see NFL-quality entertainment,” said Sean, 32, who recently relocated from Las Vegas to Aubrey. “It does cost less and you can get in on the ground floor.”
His friend, Gabby Newton, 32, of Denton, was surprised how many fans showed up on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t expect it to be so big but it’s incredible,” she said.
They echoed the sentiments of many fans by expecting this alternative league to succeed where others in the past, including an early version of the XFL, failed to catch on.
Fans thought that the fact that major networks such as ABC, ESPN and FOX are airing the game will help the league. “I do believe it will succeed because it has Disney behind it,” said Sean.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who owns the league and its eight teams, will spend about $500 million over the first three years of the league, according to Forbes.
The threat of thunderstorms and hail and some drizzle in 60-degree weather didn’t appear to dampen the spirits of the fans in attendance.
The game, at least what it lacked in scoring, did not lack what most football fans crave: action, big hits and a chance to scream for their team. The league opened with two games on Saturday and two on Sunday, with certain rules designed to keep the pace of play moving.
Stoops thinks it was a good opening week for the league.
“Everything I’ve seen has been really positive. The games have been competitive and good. There are good and exciting football players to watch across the league,” he said. “They’ve been coached really well. I think everybody saw how clean the play was. I think it’s been a home run.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
