The XFL announced where each team would play when the league launches in 2020. One franchise will head to Tampa Bay and be the second professional team to call the city home.
Another professional football franchise will be heading to Tampa Bay in 2020. The XFL has announced that an unnamed franchise will play its home games at Raymond James Stadium starting in February of 2020.
The Buccaneers won’t be the only football tenants at Raymond James.
Commissioner and former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck announced the cities that will host the eight XFL franchises. Along with Tampa Bay, teams will be located in New York, Washington D.C., Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas.
The franchise doesn’t have a nickname, a coach, or any players at the moment, but more news is right around the corner regarding Tampa Bay’s newest team. The XFL expects to announce signings of players in 2019, so perhaps some players from Florida’s huge college football scene can make a comeback.
The state of Florida loves football. From high school to college and all the way to the pros. There is an audience for football here, but even the Buccaneers have had trouble getting their stadium filled in 2018. They recently gave season ticket holders a pair of free tickets to last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
It’s far too early to tell if the XFL will survive in Tampa Bay or the American sports scene in general, but putting a team in this area makes some sense. Perhaps the XFL can learn from past mistakes and find a foothold in the city.
Tampa Bay football fans can already put in a season ticket deposit for the inaugural season.
Vince McMahon will fund the league for the second time after it folded after one season back in 2001.