Edmonton Elks ‘pleased’ CFL discussions with XFL have ended

The Edmonton Elks Football Club is pleased by Wednesday’s announcement by the CFL that discussions with the XFL have ended.

The Elks remain fully committed to the CFL and our treasured brand of Canadian football.

“We are focused on our August 7th return to The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium and look forward to kicking off the 2021 CFL season in front of our fans,” president and CEO Chris Presson said in a statement.

“The support of our season seat holders, partners, and entire fan base has allowed us to persevere through the pandemic. We look forward to paying them back with an exciting 2021 season and a bright future for the CFL.”

The owners from both leagues had agreed to work together in March to identify opportunities for both to innovate and grow the game of football. The Rock stated at the time he was excited for the ‘unique opportunity’ the CFL and XFL ‘can potentially create together.’

“The CFL has a proud history and a bright future that will be the foundation of our collective success for many decades to come,” Elks board chair Ian Murray. “We are committed to working with the CFL and its member clubs to create a future that is sustainable and engages fans both new and old.”

The most recent incarnation of the XFL lasted just five games before the COVID-19 pandemic put their season on hold, which led to Vince McMahon filing for bankruptcy and selling.

Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital were selected as the winning bidders last August for all of the assets of Alpha Entertainment LLC, the parent company of the XFL. It cost $15 million and the goal is to make the XFL a stable league in the future.

The CFL has been awarding the Grey Cup for over 100 years. Meanwhile, the original XFL lasted one full season in 2001. The 2022 XFL season had been put on hold pending the outcome of the conversations with the Canadian league.