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The USFL is coming back!

CloakNNNdagger

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
We're not talking about the the XFL here, but the USFL!

**************************************************

THE WASHINGTON POST
The USFL is officially back
By Andrew Marchand
June 3, 2021 | 8:49am

The USFL is back.

The USFL announced Thursday it will begin a new spring league in 2022 with Fox Sports as its television partner.
The league will have the rights to old USFL team names, including classics like the New Jersey Generals, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers.

The original USFL began in 1983 and ceased in 1986 after it moved to the fall to compete with the NFL.

But the USFL did have big names such as Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Reggie White.
At least initially, the new league is not expected to compete for top-level NFL talent.

The league will have a minimum of eight teams. It is being co-founded by Brian Woods, the CEO of The Spring League, which also airs on Fox. The Spring League is continuing.

Fox Sports owns a minority equity stake in the new company that owns the USFL.

*****************
A statement from Brian Woods:

“I’m extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing,” Woods said in a statement. “We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football.”
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
We're not talking about the the XFL here, but the USFL!

**************************************************

THE WASHINGTON POST
The USFL is officially back
By Andrew Marchand
June 3, 2021 | 8:49am

The USFL is back.

The USFL announced Thursday it will begin a new spring league in 2022 with Fox Sports as its television partner.
The league will have the rights to old USFL team names, including classics like the New Jersey Generals, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers.

The original USFL began in 1983 and ceased in 1986 after it moved to the fall to compete with the NFL.

But the USFL did have big names such as Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Reggie White.
At least initially, the new league is not expected to compete for top-level NFL talent.

The league will have a minimum of eight teams. It is being co-founded by Brian Woods, the CEO of The Spring League, which also airs on Fox. The Spring League is continuing.

Fox Sports owns a minority equity stake in the new company that owns the USFL.

*****************
A statement from Brian Woods:

“I’m extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing,” Woods said in a statement. “We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football.”
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I hope that they run the new league like the founder of the original USFL had planned that league to run. In other words not growing too fast and not trying to compete with the NFL for talent too soon. I also hope they don't change the logos, team colors and the overall look of the teams in the new league. One of the things I loved about the old USFL was the look of the teams. They rivaled the NFL in more ways than competing for talent. I wonder if the teams will be league owned or if each team will have their own owners. I hope each team will have it's own owners and those owners don't get themselves in serious debt shortly after the league begins. They need to take things slow but steady as they try to build their brand.
 
TxnsJuggernaut1 said:
I hope that they run the new league like the founder of the original USFL had planned that league to run. In other words not growing too fast and not trying to compete with the NFL for talent too soon. I also hope they don't change the logos, team colors and the overall look of the teams in the new league. One of the things I loved about the old USFL was the look of the teams. They rivaled the NFL in more ways than competing for talent. I wonder if the teams will be league owned or if each team will have their own owners. I hope each team will have it's own owners and those owners don't get themselves in serious debt shortly after the league begins. They need to take things slow but steady as they try to build their brand.
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If they structure it like the old league, there will be individual team owners.
 
badboy said:
Oh good! Perhaps at end of seasons the USFL could play the Rock's XFL/Canadian league? Not a Super Bowl as IIRC, that's been taken...

Perhaps a "Really big football game"? AKA RBFG.
Click to expand...
I don't think the talent level in pro football is large enough for two pro spring leagues to be competing with one another for talent and fan support. If the XFL and USFL are smart they will join forces. I do not think it is wise for both leagues to try and coexist.

If I could ask Brian Woods anything I would ask if the USFL plans on following David Dixon's blueprint for a successful league. David Dixon was the founder of the original USFL and had the owners and the leaders of the league followed his plans the league may not have folded so soon or at all.

This time the USFL needs to watch how much they spend. Keep to a respectable salary cap and wait until the league turns a profit before trying to do as the orginal USFL had done in regards to trying to lure big name free agents to the league.
 
TxnsJuggernaut1 said:
I don't think the talent level in pro football is large enough for two pro spring leagues to be competing with one another for talent and fan support. If the XFL and USFL are smart they will join forces. I do not think it is wise for both leagues to try and coexist.

If I could ask Brian Woods anything I would ask if the USFL plans on following David Dixon's blueprint for a successful league. David Dixon was the founder of the original USFL and had the owners and the leaders of the league followed his plans the league may not have folded so soon or at all.

This time the USFL needs to watch how much they spend. Keep to a respectable salary cap and wait until the league turns a profit before trying to do as the orginal USFL had done in regards to trying to lure big name free agents to the league.
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Yep. The XFL seemed to be doing pretty well pre-covid. On a side note I am getting info that Vince McMahon maybe in the process of putting the WWE on the market to sell. He terminated many employees both wrestlers and non wrestlers. One report said that is to maximize his profits.
 
badboy said:
Yep. The XFL seemed to be doing pretty well pre-covid. On a side note I am getting info that Vince McMahon maybe in the process of putting the WWE on the market to sell. He terminated many employees both wrestlers and non wrestlers. One report said that is to maximize his profits.
Click to expand...
I have not been into professional wrestling for many years now but it is hard to imagine the WWE witout the McMahons being involved. I am sure Vince McMahon will remain involved in some way or he will be sure to sell to someone who won't make any major changes to the WWE. I wonder if he will be considered for input in XFL matters. He is a shrewed business man and I am sure his input would be welcomed.
 
TxnsJuggernaut1 said:
I have not been into professional wrestling for many years now but it is hard to imagine the WWE witout the McMahons being involved. I am sure Vince McMahon will remain involved in some way or he will be sure to sell to someone who won't make any major changes to the WWE. I wonder if he will be considered for input in XFL matters. He is a shrewed business man and I am sure his input would be welcomed.
Click to expand...
He and Duane Johnson are very close so I imagine Rock will go to him and Linda who is the brain behind growth of WWE.
 
I think the USFL should get a solid season under its belt then check with the CFL about merging the leagues. The FOX Sports involvement could make it adventitious for the CFL and an exciting benefit marketing wise for FOX. It would offer an exciting US -vs- Canada Championship game.
 
OptimisticTexan said:
I think the USFL should get a solid season under its belt then check with the CFL about merging the leagues. The FOX Sports involvement could make it adventitious for the CFL and an exciting benefit marketing wise for FOX. It would offer an exciting US -vs- Canada Championship game.
Click to expand...
As Dwayne Johnson owner of the XFL is reportedly already in talks with the Canadian Football League, I would not be shocked if all three got together for an eventual merger.

www.profootballrumors.com

CFL, XFL Considering Championship Game, Merger?

The XFL's reboot did not make it through the full season, with the pandemic leading the league to nix the …
www.profootballrumors.com www.profootballrumors.com
 
OptimisticTexan said:
I think the USFL should get a solid season under its belt then check with the CFL about merging the leagues. The FOX Sports involvement could make it adventitious for the CFL and an exciting benefit marketing wise for FOX. It would offer an exciting US -vs- Canada Championship game.
Click to expand...

Those two leagues play at different times of the year. You'd have to change the seasonal schedule for one or both of the leagues.
 
If the leagues are smart they will seek to partner with sponsors who will add product endorsements to their uniforms. They don't have to use real big symbols on their uniforms but just big enough that when the video cameras zoom in fairly close the products can be seen by the public.

The WNBA and NBA have allowed for that kind of advertizing and I think it is a great way to help fund the leagues.

I also think that a deal with Fox is not good enough by itself. They should seek to add a popular streaming service that would showcase some of their games.
 
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I would like to see it become a true “feeder to the NFL” league. Give HS football players who want to focus on football 24/7 an option versus going to college where their heart isn’t into the required studies.

I believe this approach could eventually make the league more fun to follow since it could be more like MiLB. The player pool should consist of camp cuts, UDFA, and HS players.....before anyone mentions the age and size difference, HS players arriving at schools face the same competition.....heck BYU, Utah, Utah State, etc have HS players coming in and competing with 23-24 year olds who had Mission requirements to serve during their CFB careers.

Let the XFL be the league for former NFL/CFL players with experience who are just looking to finish their development or veterans looking to prove they can still get the job done to improve their chances for another shot at making an NFL roster.

Maybe:
USFL= A & AA
XFL= AAA
 
gwallaia said:
These leagues ALWAYS fail.
Click to expand...
They always have but that does not mean they always will. All it takes is the right timing and investors with deep pockets who have realistic expectations in regards to turning a profit. If they realize that they stand to lose money for atleast a few seasons than there is a chance one of these leagues will survive.
 
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I don't know why the NFL just doesn't do it on their own. They desperately need a place to develop these players, especially QBs. I could get behind a Mills pick if he were playing and learning how to play NFL football, while not hurting the parent club and possibly getting his confidence destroyed.
 
Speedy said:
I don't know why the NFL just doesn't do it on their own. They desperately need a place to develop these players, especially QBs. I could get behind a Mills pick if he were playing and learning how to play NFL football, while not hurting the parent club and possibly getting his confidence destroyed.
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Agree. Each NFL team have 'farm club' with no tie to cap.
 
badboy said:
As Dwayne Johnson owner of the XFL is reportedly already in talks with the Canadian Football League, I would not be shocked if all three got together for an eventual merger.

www.profootballrumors.com

CFL, XFL Considering Championship Game, Merger?

The XFL's reboot did not make it through the full season, with the pandemic leading the league to nix the …
www.profootballrumors.com www.profootballrumors.com
Click to expand...
How would a merger work, though? The CFL has some pretty significant rules differences from the game down here: Canadian fields are larger, they play 13 a side, a touchback scores 1 point for the kicking team, and the offense only has 3 downs to get 10 yards.
 
The CFL is the only official "minor" league, or "other than the NFL" league that has ever survived the test of time. I guess you could say the original AFL did. Odds are against a new league being formed that sustains itself and is financially viable. I have no doubt these leagues will keep popping up, and when they do, and Houston has a team in it, that's fine by me and I'll watch. I wouldn't expect it to last though.

This kind of thing has to be financially forced on it's audience (with big front money) until the audience decides to spend it's own money on it to keep it going.
 
Thorn said:
The CFL is the only official "minor" league, or "other than the NFL" league that has ever survived the test of time. I guess you could say the original AFL did. Odds are against a new league being formed that sustains itself and is financially viable. I have no doubt these leagues will keep popping up, and when they do, and Houston has a team in it, that's fine by me and I'll watch. I wouldn't expect it to last though.

This kind of thing has to be financially forced on it's audience (with big front money) until the audience decides to spend it's own money on it to keep it going.
Click to expand...

Talent is the biggest issue. The AFL was successful because they were drawing the talent away from the NFL.

The USFL was doing that as well. They just didn’t have the money to keep it going.

Today, if you’re starting a league thinking you’re going to compete with the NFL, you’re going to lose. No one has that kind of money. So the only way is to be a “minor league” that serves and strengthens the NFL.

I loved the Gamblers back in the day, but they had future HOFer Jim Kelly at QB. The Roughnecks were fun to watch, mainly because they were winning, but they had nowhere near that kind of talent. I mean, as good as PJ Walker was with the Roughnecks, what’s he doing these days, still 3rd stringer on the Panthers?

Unless you’re a minor league to the NFL, you’re wasting time and money on anything else. Thinking you’re going to compete against them, and you’re done before you get started.
 
Thorn said:
The CFL is the only official "minor" league, or "other than the NFL" league that has ever survived the test of time. I guess you could say the original AFL did. Odds are against a new league being formed that sustains itself and is financially viable. I have no doubt these leagues will keep popping up, and when they do, and Houston has a team in it, that's fine by me and I'll watch. I wouldn't expect it to last though.

This kind of thing has to be financially forced on it's audience (with big front money) until the audience decides to spend it's own money on it to keep it going.
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What do you think of these new leagues having ads on their jerseys? I don't think the ads have to take up much space on a jersey, but big enough that when the cameras zoom in on the players you can see them. It is another way to raise revenue for the league. I doubt they would be able to do it until the leagues have decent TV ratings and they last at least a couple of seasons.
 
TxnsJuggernaut1 said:
What do you think of these new leagues having ads on their jerseys? I don't think the ads have to take up much space on a jersey, but big enough that when the cameras zoom in on the players you can see them. It is another way to raise revenue for the league. I doubt they would be able to do it until the leagues have decent TV ratings and they last at least a couple of seasons.
Click to expand...

I dislike the idea of ads on the players. But I suspect we'll see it at some point in time.
 
Speedy said:
Talent is the biggest issue. The AFL was successful because they were drawing the talent away from the NFL.

The USFL was doing that as well. They just didn’t have the money to keep it going.

Today, if you’re starting a league thinking you’re going to compete with the NFL, you’re going to lose. No one has that kind of money. So the only way is to be a “minor league” that serves and strengthens the NFL.

I loved the Gamblers back in the day, but they had future HOFer Jim Kelly at QB. The Roughnecks were fun to watch, mainly because they were winning, but they had nowhere near that kind of talent. I mean, as good as PJ Walker was with the Roughnecks, what’s he doing these days, still 3rd stringer on the Panthers?

Unless you’re a minor league to the NFL, you’re wasting time and money on anything else. Thinking you’re going to compete against them, and you’re done before you get started.
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There are a lot of very rich people but most of them are not willing to spend the kind of money it would take for a minor league to succeed let alone a professional competitor to the NFL. It seems they get into these leagues spending as little as possible and they expect to get a quick return on their investment. They don't have realistic expectations.
 
Thorn said:
I dislike the idea of ads on the players. But I suspect we'll see it at some point in time.
Click to expand...
I never liked the idea either but that was because I thought the ads would be big and take up most of the jerseys. Some NBA teams have ads on jerseys. I don't find them to be too distracting.
 
Ranger Tom said:
How would a merger work, though? The CFL has some pretty significant rules differences from the game down here: Canadian fields are larger, they play 13 a side, a touchback scores 1 point for the kicking team, and the offense only has 3 downs to get 10 yards.
Click to expand...
I think all that could be worked out if the owners thought the league would eventually be profitable. Of course dollars are important but also sitting around at the old clubhouse talking about my football team is worth a lot to most.
 
TxnsJuggernaut1 said:
What do you think of these new leagues having ads on their jerseys? I don't think the ads have to take up much space on a jersey, but big enough that when the cameras zoom in on the players you can see them. It is another way to raise revenue for the league. I doubt they would be able to do it until the leagues have decent TV ratings and they last at least a couple of seasons.
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Put ads everywhere as if the players were a racecar or a raceboat. Large ones on the back of the Jersey can be velcroed on so they can be changed every quarter.

On the offensive line you can actually have a phrase LT LG C RG RT:
Hungry folks eat at Joe's
 
badboy said:
Put ads everywhere as if the players were a racecar or a raceboat. Large ones on the back of the Jersey can be velcroed on so they can be changed every quarter.

On the offensive line you can actually have a phrase LT LG C RG RT:
Hungry folks eat at Joe's
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You make light of it but it has been done by both the NBA and WNBA as well as soccer teams throughout the world. Also, as I stated the ads are not huge but can be seen when Tv cameras zoom in on the players. The players don't have to be large whole jersey walking advertisements but a few small well placed ads should not be a problem. You are funny though.

Marketing in Sports is Evolving. The Next Step, Ads on Jerseys. - Signal Group (signaldc.com)

NBA becomes first major US sports league to allow ads on jerseys (cnn.com)
 
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CloakNNNdagger said:
If they structure it like the old league, there will be individual team owners.
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According to Wikipedia the new USFL teams will be owned by a single entity. Outside of the original USFL all the other spring leagues teams were owned by their leagues as a single entity. None of the others were anywhere close to as good as the original USFL. They failed quickly without near the attention and hype as the original USFL. If the current USFL runs like all the other spring leagues it too will go out with a wimper and never be anywhere close to the original USFL.

The other leagues had nowhere near enough funding to make a real run at success. Any new leagues coming out need to expect to lose some money for at least a few seasons before they can come out ahead. If these investors expect to be successful they better be wealthy enough to withstand the losses that inevitably will take place. So far nobody trying to run a spring league has been able to withstand any losses.

I am hoping the new USFL will follow orginal founder David Dixons plan. That is the only way they stand a chance.
 
USFL proposes hosting relaunch season in Birmingham in Spring 2022 - al.com

According to the proposal, the USFL would play all its 43 games—40 regular-season games, plus two semifinal playoff games and a championship—in the city in a “bubble”-like format similar to the National Basketball Association’s 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Games would be broadcast on Fox Sports and NBC Sports, as well as other affiliated networks.

Convention bureau commits up to $2 million to support USFL ‘bubble’ in Birmingham - al.com

Davis added that it was possible the league may host as many as four teams in Birmingham in the USFL’s second year, with as many as four teams playing in their respective cities. In the third year, the teams will play in their own cities.
 
Thorn said:
If whatever they do shows up on broadcast TV, I'll give it a watch just to see what it is. But I sure as hell ain't paying for no streaming/cable horseshit if that's their intentions.
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There will be games on streaming/cable but there will also be some games on broadcast TV.

USFL To Kick Off Friday, April 15, Details On Schedule Breakdown (xflnewshub.com)
“It’s 40 games and then three playoff games. They would be broadcast on either Fox or NBC or some of their affiliated cable. This agreement actually contains the details of which networks each game would be broadcast on Fox Sports One, USA. Peacock is also mentioned. So the games would be spread out over all of these networks.”
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“I believe about 30 of the 40 games, maybe a little, maybe fewer will either be on Fox or NBC. Most of the games will be broadcast on the major networks. USA six games. Peacock four games Fox Sports One maybe eight games. So there’s a balance there. “
Click to expand...
 
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I love these spring leagues. They never last, which is to bad, because it's something to watch when there's no NFL. But honestly I'll be shocked if this thing makes it into it's second year.
 
Four of the eight teams have been announced: Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers, Birmingham Stallions, and New Orleans Breakers

Since those teams are straight out of the old USFL, I hope that the Gamblers are in the last four. I'd definitely buy a hat if that happened.
 
I saw Jim Kelly and the Gamblers take on Hershel Walker, Brian Sipe and the New Jersey Generals in the Dome.

Wait, was it Brian Sipe at QB? I can't remember now.
 
gwallaia said:
Here's the broadcast of the game me and my Dad went to.
I remember the dirt from the baseball diamond on the field.

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Two take aways:

1. I really wish someone would go back and remaster the originals into HD quality video and then sale them in a box set.

2. I wish the Texans Kelly would sit his arse down and watch Gamblers offensive attack season by season and then formulate a plan of attack for the Cardinals game.
 
badboy said:
share.newsbreak.com

Sports World Reacts To Wednesday’s USFL News - NewsBreak

Since 2019 we’ve seen no less than two Spring football leagues rise and fall. But FOX Sports believes that they might be able to succeed where...
share.newsbreak.com share.newsbreak.com
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Thanks for posting.

I really wish that the owners of desired Spring Leagues could come together as one entity and approach the NFL about creating a viable Minor League system that they would endorse to allow players who missed the first round of being drafted or selected via UDFA to have an avenue to continue their dreams of playing professional football.

It could offer another avenue of expanding the NFL versus adding more teams to the NFL.

It definitely opens Pandora’s Box in regards to how it would start and how it would evolve once it picked up some steam. NFL fans approach to this league could be completely different if they have a vested interest in following players that may come up at some point in the season to help their club. That’s right….no more Spring Football, move it the Fall/Winter along with all the other football games that are being played. A new league could fill Tuesday and Wednesday. Let CFB hold Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The NFL holds Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Saturdays late in the season. HS football usually has Friday and Saturday….sometimes Thursday. Bottom line….there’s room and a real need for a Minor Football League.

Maybe a new name:
National / MLF
***We don’t need to add the lower case “i” as I had laughed about in the past.***
 
OptimisticTexan said:
Thanks for posting.

I really wish that the owners of desired Spring Leagues could come together as one entity and approach the NFL about creating a viable Minor League system that they would endorse to allow players who missed the first round of being drafted or selected via UDFA to have an avenue to continue their dreams of playing professional football.

It could offer another avenue of expanding the NFL versus adding more teams to the NFL.

It definitely opens Pandora’s Box in regards to how it would start and how it would evolve once it picked up some steam. NFL fans approach to this league could be completely different if they have a vested interest in following players that may come up at some point in the season to help their club. That’s right….no more Spring Football, move it the Fall/Winter along with all the other football games that are being played. A new league could fill Tuesday and Wednesday. Let CFB hold Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The NFL holds Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Saturdays late in the season. HS football usually has Friday and Saturday….sometimes Thursday. Bottom line….there’s room and a real need for a Minor Football League.

Maybe a new name:
National / MLF
***We don’t need to add the lower case “i” as I had laughed about in the past.***
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I think the NFL would demand too much control and probably the NFL teams would not want to give up the 30 million plus each will get for each new franchise awarded..
 
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