XFL'S RAGE ARE DEAD -- SOLAR BEARS ENDANGERED SAGGING RATINGS DOOMED THE UPSTART XFL, AND THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE ISN'T FARING MUCH BETTER METRO Edition
Full of promise. The Orlando Rage, made up of ex-college standouts and pro players, had high hopes in January for a big XFL season. J. GREGORY RAYMOND FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL CHART: Dismal ratings kill XFL Although NBC's ratings for prime-time XFL games started out high, they continued to slid...
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| Published in | The Orlando sentinel |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Newspaper Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
Orlando, Fla
Tribune Publishing Company, LLC
11.05.2001
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| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Full of promise. The Orlando Rage, made up of ex-college standouts and pro players, had high hopes in January for a big XFL season. J. GREGORY RAYMOND FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL CHART: Dismal ratings kill XFL Although NBC's ratings for prime-time XFL games started out high, they continued to slide through the season. Week 1 9.5 2 4.6 3 3.1 4 2.6 5 2.4 6 2.4 7 1.6 8 1.8 9 1.5 10 1.5 Playoffs 1.8 Championship 2.1 Note: Single ratings point represents 1%, or 1,022,000 households> SOURCE: Sentinel research SHINIKO R. FLOYD/ORLANDO SENTINEL BOX: Defunct teams ORLANDO PANTHERS Continental Football League (1966-70): Formed in 1965 to challenge the NFL, the upstart CFL lasted six seasons. The league's New Jersey franchise, owned by businessman Tom Granatel, moved to Orlando in 1966. Perry Moss, who later would coach the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators, was the first coach. FLORIDA BLAZERS World Football League (1974): The WFL lured a few high-profile players from the NFL, such as Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick, but lasted only one season. The Blazers, based in Orlando, were coached by former NFL linebacker Jack Pardee. ORLANDO RENEGADES United States Football League (1985): The three-year league showed initial promise as a challenge to the NFL. It came to Orlando for its farewell season after an area group led by Don Dizney bought the Washington Federals in October 1984. The USFL took the NFL's "monopoly" to court in 1986. It was awarded $3 in damages that summer and never played another game. ORLANDO THUNDER World League of American Football (1991-92): Orlando was awarded the first franchise in the 10-team World League. The four international franchises in the NFL-sponsored spring league were far better- received than the domestic ones. NFL owners lost $23 million in two seasons before suspending operations. - From staff reports |
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