XFL suspends operations, lays off employees

SEATTLE — The XFL has suspended operations and laid off its employees.

XFL workers were told of the layoffs during an in-house conference call Friday.

After canceling the remainder of its season last month because of the coronavirus pandemic, but promising to be back in 2021, the upstart league backed by WWE has left its future in doubt.

League executives said they expected to be back next year soon after canceling their games. The XFL has eight franchises and played five games out of a planned 10-game schedule.

It drew decent TV ratings early on and had deals with ESPN and Fox.

But spring football is a difficult challenge, as the Alliance of American Football found out in 2019, not lasting a full season.

The Seattle dragons, coached by former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn, had a 1-4 record and were in last place of the XFL West conference when the season was canceled.

Despite their record, the Dragons drew more than 20,000 fans and both of their home games at CenturyLink Field.

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