XFL Puts Xtreme Focus on Fan Involvement
In two weeks, the XFL has already accomplished something the NFL, NBA and other leagues have been trying to do for years: involve the fans.
League founder Vince McMahon has made sure those who watch the Xtreme Football League have a direct input in how the organization is run, in order to keep them engaged and involved in everything from the way the website is formatted to what rules should be removed or added.
This focus on the opinions of the viewers, rather than the suggestions of corporate sponsors and partners, ensures the audience knows they have a voice, and views the XFL as their league. The XFL was made for the fans, as a way to make sure they can watch the game they love all year round. This can be heard in the various interviews McMahon has done ever since announcing the league’s return in 2018, and carried out through the establishment of the Football Advisory Network (FAN).
According to the XFL’s website, F.A.N. is “a digital community that gives football fans who love the sport a platform to share their feedback and have their opinions heard on all aspects of America’s #1 game and our new league.“ The network will offer fans various platforms to express their ideas to the league, “through participation in surveys, polls, and discussions on a variety of on- and off-the-field topics.” “In addition to participating in discussions and sharing opinions, members of the F.A.N. community will have exclusive access to special content, giveaways, events and more.”
Both the NFL and the NBA have been instituting different policies and changes in an attempt to make the fans more involved in their organizations as well, but nothing comes close to the level of the XFL. Recently, the NBA began using fan votes to determine which players qualify for the annual All-Star Game, as well as the three player contests (the three-point, slam dunk and skills challenges). To give the fans something more to watch during Pro Bowl weekend, the NFL has added an AFC versus NFC competition, where the top players from each conference face off in various games, including dodgeball.
While these are a step in the right direction, they are a long way off from giving fans a direct line of input to league officials. I believe within the next few years, we will begin to see programs similar to F.A.N. beginning to sprout up in the NBA and NFL. For now, the XFL is giving fans a voice in the new league, and McMahon is on the right track by making sure he’s doing all he can to keep audiences invested in his latest endeavor.