ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Time to crack a seltzer. The St. Louis BattleHawks beat the New York Guardians 29-9 in the sold-out home opener at the Dome at America’s Center. FOX 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne says that there 29,554 fans in attendance, filling the lower half of the stadium to see the team’s first game in St. Louis.
Martin Kilcoyne says it was an exciting game with a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a trick play for a two-pointer. Plus, there were grown men dressed as birds, and they covered the spread, all in less than three hours.
There was a rally for the team in downtown St. Louis before the big game Sunday. Throngs fo fans cheered “Ka-Kaw” as they got fired up before the game.
A rowdy atmosphere filled the inside of the stadium during football’s return to St. Louis. Many jeered the name of Rams owner Stan Kroenke as St. Louis’ new XFL team rocked the Dome.
Mayor Lyda Krewson also issued a proclamation Sunday. She declared this Sunday “BattleHawks Day.”
Here are some of the social media from the BattleHawks home-opener:
Here is your @XFLBattleHawks recap. 29,554 fans. Kickoff return for TD. Trick play for 2 pointer. Grown men dressed as birds. Covered the spread. All in less than 3 hours. Good deal.
— Martin Kilcoyne (@martinkilcoyne2) February 23, 2020
I know the XFL is not the NFL, and I know NFL owners are motivated by greed above all, but I'm not sure how some powerful NFL people don't see what is happening in St. Louis — relocation lawsuit plus BattleHawks success — and not feel like they picked wrong side of divorce.
— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) February 23, 2020
— Martin Kilcoyne (@martinkilcoyne2) February 23, 2020
Commitment level: BattleHawk. @XFLBattleHawks pic.twitter.com/MeRLlCabsB
— Mike Colombo (@Mike_Colombo) February 23, 2020
Look who I found at the @XFLBattleHawks game. @Mike_Colombo and I will chat it up tomorrow afternoon on @KPLR11 news at 4. We’ll try not to shout #KaKaw as we break down @StLouisBBB info. pic.twitter.com/6VwEKQrfAR
— Don O'Brien (@DonOBrienWriter) February 23, 2020
CRACK OPEN A SELTZER!
1-0 at The Dome! 💪#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/vDzfT8WIPS
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
#ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/wNUyuiEksO
— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
1 Sack 💪
1 box of Thin Mints 😋@case_man_ will agree that Girl Scout cookies taste even better when you’re winning! 😉#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
WE ARE HAVING FUN! 😆#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/ZnFNhnvuo1
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
In honor of Football returning to St. Louis and The Dome @LydaKrewson has issued a proclamation naming today @XFLBattleHawks Day! Thank you Mayor Krewson! pic.twitter.com/QbFK5ngHMc
— America's Center (@AmericasCenter) February 23, 2020
Seems like a pretty good deal to us.
Sidebar: What is the best Girl Scout cookie? pic.twitter.com/UP6WhAB5dE
— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
🤑🤑🤑@tgrussolino 😱#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
If you're not watching us … you should be. 🤷♂️
📺 ESPN
💻 https://t.co/PvlKi8TfBU#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/wp8EE353vW— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
Joe Powell.
St. Louis legend. 🤘#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/Z458WcEZ8x
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
Go up and GET it young man.@krob2__ pulls in his his first XFL interception.
📺 @espn
🖥 https://t.co/qZVDJBytZi pic.twitter.com/GSv2bCdsCy— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
A Star is Born (2018) pic.twitter.com/LKJ6V2ZJMX
— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
The trickiest point after in the history of BattleHawks football. 😎⬇️
📺 ESPN
💻 https://t.co/PvlKi8TfBU#ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/NwCwVQAeuB— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
MATT JONES PUNCH IT IN! 💪@mattjonesrb with the 1-yard TD and a little more trickery on the point after. 😎
23-3 BattleHawks | 1:08 2nd Q#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/IOWmYwYLWI
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
MINE MINE MINE pic.twitter.com/iv9oIGostu
— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
Football starved St. Louis is loving the 1st score of the game!@XFLBattleHawks #ClearedToEngage @FOX2now pic.twitter.com/m9ftDiDub7
— Randi Naughton (@RandiNaughton) February 23, 2020
Geared up for the show. 😎#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/AfJuHMInuz
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020
Think St. Louis is excited to have football to watch? pic.twitter.com/acGiGWYax5
— XFL (@xfl2020) February 23, 2020
When they say St. Louis isn’t a football town. ⬇️#ForTheLoveOfFootball x #ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/aWFON0KdXP
— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) February 23, 2020