The XFL was impacted by the coronavirus on Wednesday. According to the league, this weekend’s game featuring the Seattle Dragons and LA Wildcats will be played as scheduled, with one exception: no fans will be in attendance.
Due to public safety concerns, governor Jay Inslee declared a ban on all social gatherings of over 250 people. The ban includes all pre-game tailgate activities. The game will go on as scheduled, but Seattle and Houston will play in front of an empty stadium on Sunday evening. This is a significant turn of events for Seattle and its fans, as the Dragons are averaging the second-highest attendance numbers in the XFL. The Dragons play back-to-back home games over the next two weeks.
CenturyLink Field, home of the Dragons, released this statement:
“The safety and security of our guests and staff is always our top priority. In light of today’s announcement by Governor Inslee, all scheduled events at CenturyLink Field, CenturyLink Field Event Center and WAMU Theater will be postponed or held behind closed doors without spectators until further notice. We are actively monitoring the situation and continuing to work in close collaboration with local and federal health officials on the latest guidelines. Additional information on specific events, including event status or rescheduled dates, will be communicated separately by CenturyLink Field and/or the respective sports teams.”
XFL president and COO Jeffrey Pollack released a statement, too:
“Based on the proclamation issued Wednesday by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the Seattle Dragons will host the LA Wildcats this Sunday, as scheduled. The game will take place at 4pm PT at CenturyLink Field without fans in the venue. The game will be broadcast live, also as scheduled, on ESPN2.”
On a positive note, the Seattle Dragons released a statement offering single-game ticket refunds to fans.
All single game ticket holders for Sunday’s Dragons game will be issued a refund. All Dragons Season Ticket Members will be offered refunds or credit toward a Dragons’ game during the 2021 XFL season. Ticket information can be found HERE: https://t.co/HM1wIeXmHr
— Seattle Sea Dragons (@XFLSeaDragons) March 11, 2020
One of the most interesting details inside the refund memo was the option for fans to apply the refund to a credit for the 2021 season. This is a positive sign, as it implies the XFL is planning on a second season. The confidence the XFL has in its product is high.
Other XFL host cities, such as DC and New York, are in the process of making similar decisions, though those decisions have not been finalized yet. Both the Defenders and Guardians have home games in Week 6.
Houston has also canceled all city-related events, leading to speculation that the next Roughnecks home game will be played in front of an empty stadium, as well. Houston returns home in Week 7. In a statement, Roughnecks president, Brian Michael Cooper, said, “As of now, our next game will take place as planned. We understand this situation is evolving and the league is monitoring all developments daily.”
