The reboot of the XFL is rapidly approaching. The league has released the full schedule for all eight teams, headlined by the Arlington Renegades hosting the Las Vegas Vipers at Choctaw Stadium to kick off the revamped league.
The XFL season will officially begin on February 18 at 2 p.m. CT as the Renegades look for their first win of the year.
“We could not be more excited to kick off the XFL season in Arlington on Feb. 18,” Renegades head coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. “We are honored to play in the league’s hub city and look forward to opening the season in front of our home fans. See you at Choctaw Stadium.”
Stoops returns to the coaching gig he held under the former XFL league that collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the Renegades take the field in February, almost nothing will remain from the former Dallas team. With a new logo, new city affiliation, new uniforms, and new players, Stoops is the only carry-over from the former team.
The Renegades’ schedule will see the team host five games and travel for five games to complete the 10-game season. Following the opening game against the Vipers, Arlington will head to Houston for the first of two match-ups between the in-state division rivals. The Roughnecks will travel to Arlington to close out the season on April 23.
Arlington will also face back-to-back weeks against the newest XFL team, the San Antonio Brahmas. During discussions with the new ownership group, the league decided that targeting cities without a consistent major-league presence would be ideal for the brand, and the Brahmas became the first pro sports team in San Antonio.
Arlington will also compete against the Orlando Guardians twice over the course of the regular season to complete the XFL South division games.
“The alignment of our divisions creates instant rivalries and an added level of excitement,” said Russ Brandon, XFL president. “Fans at every XFL game will experience the energy and passion these players bring to the game while being immersed in a stadium experience designed to bring them closer to the action on the field.”
In all, the league anticipates 43 games in the season, including two playoff games and a championship game. The games will be televised by ESPN, ABC, and FX; live-streamed on ESPN+; and simulcast in more than 140 countries around the world.
“Through the global scale and support of Disney and ESPN, our fans will have multiple options to access and experience the XFL across broadcast, cable and streaming,” Brandon continued. “With six weeks until kickoff, we are excited about our partnership and the immersive game-day viewing experience that our collaboration will provide viewers.”
Games will be divided up between the networks, with each getting unique opportunities to broadcast unique and important games.
“Throughout the 2023 XFL season, each platform will have unique opportunities to showcase key moments, from the championship on ABC, playoffs on ESPN and ESPN2, and a big opening weekend with games on ESPN, ABC and FX,” said Tim Reed, ESPN’s vice president.
“We are also excited to provide another innovative offering for ESPN+ subscribers, with every game available live.”
