XFL Case Study Questions

Extract

[...] Moreover, the concept of XFL is way beyond the actual expertise of the WWF. Indeed, WWF is mastering the art of wrestling events but not the one of football games NFL-like and still less about the football fans way of life. 2. What was the XFL? A sport or Entertainment product? Compare with the NFL and WWF? What positive and negative attributes are attached to NFL and WWF? The XFL was a professional league of football created in 2000 by the President of the WWE M. McMahon. [...]

[...] XFL Case Study Questions 1. Was the XFL concept fatally flawed? Or was the failure due to strategic missteps and bad decisions? The XFL failed due to strategic missteps and bad decisions. Indeed, there was a demand for a sport-entertainment time during the off seasons. The first misstep was the lack of three major element at the announcement: a strong independent financial base, a national broadcaster partner and important sports. These items could have helped the league last longer. The second main bad decision was to create a mixed concept between NFL and XFL without the quality of play which is the main reasons why the NFL has so many fans. [...]

[...] Made up old NFL players and attention driving on other things than game. Positive attributes - Traditions and rituals - Athletic players - Fan experience - True competition - Companionships - Moral concept: justice (good against evil) - Promotional skills - Skilled and talented athletes - Atmosphere during events with active participation of spectators - Creating their own stars (not buying them) - Less expansive ticket price than NFL game - Focus on the fan experience on TV Negative attributes - Money involved: players income, ticket prices - Fake performance - Reality shows inside - Poor game play - Suspicion of fake performance - Classify as "vulgar" - Provocative ads - Controversial commentator 3. [...]

[...] However, it could have been a good thing for the NBC if the show were successful. Indeed, the network was looking to decrease the age pyramid of the audience knowing that the average WWE viewer was 23. 4. What went wrong and what went right when the product was launched? Good things were put in place for the product launching. There was a year of teasing before launching the concept. This teasing was made with advertising on TV explaining what the concept will be and what spectator can expect from it. [...]

[...] The development of a branding strategy with the new "kind" of naming of teams was also a good idea to help the audience to understand the concept. There are also bad things made when the product was launched to take into account. First of all, it was launched at the Times Square entertainment complex of the WWF which indicates that the XFL would be closer to WWF shows than NFL games. Secondly, the importance of planning was underestimated. The shows were not planned at the right time. The rules were not final for the first game and have evolved game after game and mistake after mistake. [...]