The problem with the XFL and all of these other leagues is the low pay compounded by the relatively short careers of football players. You play in these leagues because you're not good enough to make it in the NFL and you're basically never going to be good enough to make it in the NFL. They pay like shit so you're basically destroying your body for nothing so why even bother? The play level in the leagues is low and they always have some dumb, weird rules and shit on top of it so nobody wants to watch either which means no money coming in which means no pay and etc.
Minor league baseball works because it's very widespread and often in markets with no real MLB teams so they do a good job of cultivating local loyalty and the entire baseball system is set up so that you know a good chunk of these guys might make it into the MLB some day. Basketball, you can play in Europe or China or alot of other countries. Might not be paid NBA money but you can make a living doing it. Football really has nothing. It's either the NFL or you're fucked.
