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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYidS76VkZA

Mike Mitchell was on the latest XFL MarkCast to talk about the disintegration of the CFL/XFL talks.

The big news he dropped was that in the XFL's efforts to become international in nature, they're looking heavily at putting a team in Mexico for the 2023 season. Whether that is relocating a current franchise or expanding remains to be seen. He also suggested Canada is not out of the question at some point, either, in terms of putting a team north of the border.

Brings back memory of the UFL being keen on Monterrey before an increased cartel presence blew that up.

Tank55 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 2:54 pm Brings back memory of the UFL being keen on Monterrey before an increased cartel presence blew that up.

A lesser degree but the NAL had a team in Monterrey (had some decent talent, even Jacoby Jones) and then the Puebla quake happened, although it's pretty much accepted they hid behind it (IRT not coming back in 2018) since Monterrey was well out of range of even the furthest tremors and there were events at Arena Monterrey the rest of the year.

GregParks wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 2:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYidS76VkZA

Mike Mitchell was on the latest XFL MarkCast to talk about the disintegration of the CFL/XFL talks.

The big news he dropped was that in the XFL's efforts to become international in nature, they're looking heavily at putting a team in Mexico for the 2023 season. Whether that is relocating a current franchise or expanding remains to be seen. He also suggested Canada is not out of the question at some point, either, in terms of putting a team north of the border.

Yes heard that. But here's a question Reid brought up... XFL 3.0 is a grand plan ... Is that really appealing to Fans? Or is the bare bones USFL approach ?

The other thing Mike said was they do need to start making some hires and moves (to show they are legit) for 2023 season. If not already whats left of burned fans are going to turn deaf ear.

Nothing burger. Sorry, but the XFL needs to focus on putting eight teams on the field. Yes we know XFL 3.0 wants to go international, as they said when they tried to partner with the CFL, but they haven’t played a down. Maybe start with that? Until they do, they really don’t exist. Mitchell is desperate for a story.

FootballYoda wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:18 pm Nothing burger. Sorry, but the XFL needs to focus on putting eight teams on the field. Yes we know XFL 3.0 wants to go international, as they said when they tried to partner with the CFL, but they haven’t played a down. Maybe start with that? Until they do, they really don’t exist. Mitchell is desperate for a story.

If nothing else it's a, let's say, smackdown, to Edmonton's absolutely ridiculous endzone spike (own goal)

"Hey we're going for 2023, you guys gonna change your name again?"

Two other interesting pieces of note from Mike in this interview: One, the XFL had already planned to move the kickoff back to 2023, with our without the CFL talks. That makes me feel a little better that an entire season hadn't been wasted diddling around with the CFL. Of course, I'm also curious as to what roadblocks the owners found in between October's 2022 kickoff statement and whenever the internal decision was made to add another year onto it.

The second piece is that they may be eyeing an April start in 2023 instead of February, in part perhaps to avoid March Madness. An April-June season would still give players a chance to latch on to NFL squads before training camps open, which is key to attracting the best free agent talent. It wouldn't give them much of a break between seasons, however.

It might be April 2023… or any other time for that matter. It’s fun to speculate. Until the XFL starts recruiting staff, opens team offices, and begins to market itself, any date is only speculation.