Jul 8, 2020 - Sports

XFL takeover bids due at end of month

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The XFL, a pro football league that went bankrupt in April, received several indicative takeover offers last month, Axios has learned from a source close to the process.

Between the lines: One reason that there may be greater-than-expected interest is that any buyer could have extra runway to relaunch given that established sports leagues remain either closed or diminished due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Non-binding bids were due June 22, while formal proposals are due July 30.
  • Interested suitors came from both the media/entertainment and pro sports worlds, and offers reportedly were for the entire league (as opposed to for select assets).

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Dan Primack, Fadel Allassan
Aug 3, 2020 - Sports

XFL sold to group that includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for $15 million

Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images

The XFL sold Monday for $15 million to a group that includes former WWE star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sportico reports.

The state of play: The move does not necessarily mean the upstart football league is returning.

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Courtenay Brown
41 mins ago - Economy & Business

A quandary for state unemployment agencies

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

State agencies charged with paying unemployment benefits to jobless residents have their backs against the wall as they rush to parse President Trump's executive actions on coronavirus aid.

Why it matters: States are being asked to pitch in $100 per unemployed resident, but it’s a heavy lift for cash-strapped states that are still unclear about the details and may not opt-in at all. It leaves the states and jobless residents in a state of limbo.

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 43 mins ago - Health

New Zealand reports first local coronavirus cases for 102 days

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after a press conference at Parliament on July 22 in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Auckland is locking down and the rest of New Zealand faces lesser restrictions for 72 hours after a family of four tested positive for COVID-19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: It's the first cases not in managed isolation for 102 days, Ardern said at a news briefing.

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