The XFL had had a reputation for tumultuous franchise dealings in the past, but this one came even more quickly than most. Mike Sheehan, listed as San Antonio’s General Manager and Vice-President of Business/Event Operations, was let go late Tuesday, news that was confirmed by the XFL with multiple sources.
Just this past weekend, the San Antonio Brahmas played the first game of the XFL franchise’s history, falling 18-15 in the final moments to St. Louis at home. Sheehan’s LinkedIn page shows that he has helped “expanding professional sports franchises into successful businesses” — including the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Mavericks, and Seattle Mariners.
No further immediate reason was given for why the dismissal came so soon.
San Antonio’s leadership includes pop-culture icon Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his business partner Dany Garcia, and drew a nice-sized crowd to Sunday’s loss at the Alamodome. The venue is scheduled to play host to the XFL title game on May 13th, and XFL sources also told San Antonio outlets like CBS KENS television that today’s decision will have no effect on the Texas city hosting the championship game in 2023.
The XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas are the first professional football team that has attempted to play in the Alamodome since the short-lived AAF league folded just weeks into the 2009 season due to league-wide financial issues — despite the venue averaging 29,000 fans per game for that league’s San Antonio Commanders.
It was announced in July 2022 that San Antonio would have a team with former NFL star and Georgia Bulldog Hines Ward coaching the team. The XFL is the brainchild of Vince McMahon, known well for his work building up professional wrestling decades ago.
San Antonio is scheduled to visit the Orlando Guardians this Sunday.
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