CFL, XFL end talks for potential merger

A potential partnership between the Canadian Football League and the XFL won't be happening anytime soon.

The CFL announced Wednesday that while talks have been positive, the two sides have opted against a formal agreement for a merger "at this time."

"Our talks with the XFL, exploring the potential for collaboration and innovation, have been positive and constructive," CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. "While we remain open to finding new ways to work together in the future, we and our XFL counterparts have jointly decided to not pursue any formal arrangements at this time.

"We at the CFL are now squarely focused on preparing for Aug. 5 and the start of our 2021 regular season, which will culminate Dec. 12 with the playing of the 108th Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ontario. We are looking forward to this year and a bright future for our league."

The CFL said in March it would work with new XFL owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and RedBird Capital to find opportunities to "collaborate, innovate, and grow the game of football."

Both leagues were forced to cancel their 2020 seasons due to COVID-19. The two leagues seemingly explored a possible merger to help mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic.

The CFL confirmed in June it would return for a shortened 14-game season in 2021. The XFL announced Wednesday it will return to play in 2023 after delaying its plans for a 2022 campaign while in discussions with the CFL.