The XFL just lost tens of millions of dollars again -- but don’t tell Dwayne Johnson that it’s a sign of the league’s failure.
The XFL lost an estimated $60 million during its second reboot in 2023 -- and Forbes’ Jabari Young published a story headlined “Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Says The XFL Will Succeed. Who Wants To Tell Him He’s Wrong?”
Johnson responded to the criticism on Twitter while quote tweeting Forbes.
“I’ve tried to tell him his whole life but he’s never listened to me,” Johnson’s tweet wrote.
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Johnson said he plays the “long game” with his business, including his XFL investment, which he made in 2020 for $15 million alongside his ex-wife Dany Garcia and Boston Red Sox owners Red Bird Capital.
He also wrote about some “nice successes” alongside the struggles, citing that “75-100 XFL players will be competing in NFL camps this fall.” Johnson called football his “dream,’ but the professional wrestler turned movie star never made it to the National Football League after playing defensive tackle at the University of Miami.
The league projects $100 million in revenue for the 2024 season -- including $20 million from ESPN, with which it has a media rights deal until 2027. XFL ownership has said it has capital commitments until at least until its fourth season alongside sponsorship deals with Progressive and Under Armour, according to Forbes.
The XFL has made a couple of attempts at getting off the ground, first in 2001 when it was launched by WWE head Vince McMahon, but stopped after losing $50 million in just one season. McMahon attempted another relaunch in 2018, but faltered due to a pandemic-riddled 2021 season.
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