Its Time For the NFL to Return to St. Louis

Photo Source: XFL.com

OCEANSIDE, NY (MPN) - On Friday, the XFL Announced its decision to suspend operations and the league has no plans for a season in 2021. The League, in its short existence, provided the City of St. Louis with an experience it had been lacking, a professional football team.

In 2016, the Los Angeles Rams made their return after spending 21 years in St. Louis. The City had previously lost a football team, the Cardinals, when they moved to Arizona in 1987.

Whether or not you agree with the Rams leaving, there is one thing that is certain, there should have been some kind of plan in place for the City, there wasn't. In the past, I had suggested the team rebrand, shaking its Rams name and identity behind but maintaining its St. Louis legacy and having a new name that best defines the City and the team that plays in it, the league chose not to do this and now the City has nothing to show for its 48 years of Football.

The Battlehawks, however, were a breathe of fresh air for a city desperate for Football. On their opening game against the New York Guardians, they drew 29,554 fans and there were plans to open the upper deck for the teams third home game, which, never happened. But the City was so hungry for football, that it was willing to support an XFL Team just to prove a point.

The NFL has more than enough talent for an additional team, and some stadium situations may present an opportunity to relocate for some, but either way, the league needs to give St. Louis a third chance.

While the City and the league are currently embattled in a lawsuit, this could serve as a welcome compromise for all sides, a new team permanently bound to the City, a fanbase more than willing to support it.