The XFL's St. Louis Battlehawks finally hosted their home opener this past weekend, and their fan base definitely showed up for the occasion. The Battlehawks packed The Dome for the return of football to the city and exceeded any and all expectations with attendance surpassing 38,000 fans.
Just days before the home opener, The Dome announced that they would be opening the 400-level section of the stadium for fans to purchase tickets.
It's a good sign for not only the XFL but also for St. Louis, which has tried to emphasize over the last few years that it is a football city. The loss of the Rams in 2016 hit the economy and the fan base hard. Now, the city has a new team to cheer for, and they eagerly showed their support.
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As pictures of the packed stadium circulated around social media this weekend, many were quick to judge Rams team owner Stan Kroenke for removing the team from St. Louis. During that time, he said the move was due to a lack of fan interest and attendance. As many noted, perhaps the fans weren't showing up because Kroenke didn't put together a good enough team to watch.
Others mentioned that SoFi Stadium, which was built just a few years ago solely for the Rams and Chargers, doesn't have that high of an attendance, and when it does, it's typically for the away team.
XFL attendance figures see sharp rise in Week 4 during Arlington Renegades vs. St. Louis Battlehawks
When Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson bought the XFL after its collapse in 2020, he vowed to make it bigger and better. Some tweaking of host cities and the business end of the operation was what Johnson's new game plan included. And so far, it appears that fans across the country are embracing the new season.
The St. Louis Battlehawks, led by former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron, have taken the league by storm. The Battlehawks finally hosted their season opener on Sunday after weeks of playing on the road. And the fans didn't disappoint.
Playing at The Dome, the former home to the St. Louis Rams, the Battlehawks tickets began selling out weeks ago. So much so that on Friday, the league announced that due to the lower bowl of the stadium being sold out, they would now be selling tickets for the upper levels. This is something that is not typically done throughout the XFL.
Taking on the Arlington Renegades, another team with a loyal fan base, the Battlehawks' attendance was over 38,000 fans, breaking an XFL record for ticket sales. St. Louis pulled off the 24-11 win at home, which should have fans excited to continue cheering for their 3-1 team.