Like most BattleHawks fans, I was crushed when I heard the news that the XFL suspended operations due to the current coronavirus outbreak. But, of course, NO business has been spared by this outbreak. And it's been particularly tough for ALL the sports leagues. As the saying goes, things are tough all over. So I guess it really wasn't a total surprise.

Through no fault of its own, the XFL was done. And all because of a VIRUS. Seriously, who could've envisioned that?

What's particularly frustrating is that this occurred just as St. Louis sports fans embraced the BattleHawks. The crowds at the two home games at The Dome at America's Center were ELECTRIC. It was literally like a playoff atmosphere. And if it weren't cancelled, we probably would've had over 50,000 fans at The Dome for the March 21st game against the Los Angeles Wildcats.

One of the best things I loved about the BattleHawks organization was its openness. Team president Kurt Hunzeker regularly scheduled Happy Hour events throughout the St. louis area to engage with St. Louis sports fans, and ask us what WE wanted. And it was a great way to bond with other like-minded sports fans. In fact, I attended every Happy Hour event.

Over time, this team became a part of fabric of the St. Louis community. The players were regularly involved in community service projects throughout the St. Louis area.

Kurt Hunzeker always said that he wanted to earn the support of the St. Louis sports community. And he did just that. And he did it exceptionally well.

In short, the BattleHawks & the XFL did just about everything right to win the fans' approval - fan engagement, innovative rules, compelling TV production, etc. And that's what makes this unexpected & premature end so disappointing.

At this point, all we can do is be grateful for the good times we had with the BattleHawks, and how magical this season was. And we definitely showed the sports world that we ARE, in fact, a football town. And who knows what the future holds?

FYI - Today (April 12th) would've been the last regular season game for the BattleHawks, a rematch with the D.C. Defenders at The Dome.