FLOP No. 43 – XFL Opening Night (2001)
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The Promise: A wild new football league blending WWE-style showmanship with primetime football. Live from Las Vegas. Vince McMahon and NBC launched with fanfare and fireworks.
What Happened: The opening broadcast ran long, football was sloppy, and viewership dropped like a stone. The cameras missed plays. The live feed stumbled. The hype unraveled in real time.
What Failed: Audience was confused. Presentation felt juvenile. The product wasn’t ready.
What We Learned: If your kickoff is chaos, your season is toast.
What an Event Pro Would’ve Advised: Test sport quality before launch. Prep broadcast clarity. Know your viewer mindset.
