USFL to return in 2013

Monkeydad · 05-11-2012, 12:44 PM

USFL to return with Fred Biletnikoff among advisers - ESPN

USFL plans to relaunch in 2013

Updated: May 10, 2012, 6:53 PM ET
Associated Press

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The USFL is back in business.
Well, almost.
A reincarnation of the league, with an entirely different business model, plans to kick off in March. On Thursday, it included Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff among its advisers.

Biletnikoff will consult on football operations for the league, which originally went out of business in 1987 after losing millions of dollars and, despite winning a lawsuit against the NFL, being awarded just $3 in indemnities.

That version unwisely chose to challenge the NFL, while this one will be more of a developmental league.

"We will not try to compete with the NFL at all," said CEO Jaime Cuadra after adding Biletnikoff and James Bailey, an executive for the Cleveland Browns and then the Baltimore Ravens for 21 years, to the USFL's board of advisers. The board will be responsible for guiding USFL management on various areas of operations, eventually focusing on a search for the league's commissioner.

"We will play in markets where there are no NFL teams or major league baseball teams. It's a league for guys who are on the bubble for making NFL teams, and we will have complete open access for the NFL. We want to build a model that is sustainable."

The USFL is looking at a 14-game season from March until June in eight cities. Its players would then be free to join NFL clubs at their training camps.

All player and coach contracts will be owned by the league, with salaries not approaching anything the NFL offers.

Cities currently being considered are Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Antonio or Austin, Texas; Columbus or Akron, Ohio; Oklahoma City; Omaha, Neb.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Memphis, Tenn.

"These are cities with underutilized facilities at that time of year," Cuadra said.

Nearly all of them also have avid college football followings, something the USFL hopes to draw from. Cuadra said regional draft picks would be used so that, say, a player who attended Oregon or Oregon State would wind up with a Portland franchise.

One critical item the USFL has only begun to investigate is a television partner. The UFL, which finished its third season in the fall of 2011 with five teams, has struggled to find a TV audience.

Of course, it plays its games during the NFL schedule. The USFL will avoid such dead-end conflicts.

"We have nothing lined up yet, and we are doing our research and investigating the landscape of sports television today, which is ever-changing," Cuadra said.

Also advising the new USFL is Jim Steeg, who spent 35 years in the NFL, is a former COO of the San Diego Chargers, and was the league's main organizers of the Super Bowl for 26 years as senior vice president of special events.

Other links:
New USFL is back, this time as 'triple-A spring football league' for NFL - CBSSports

Spring football league a failed dream of many, but it may work | UTSanDiego.com

mooby · 05-11-2012, 01:02 PM

Interesting. I remember when the UFL came out I thought it would be interesting too, but I've never watched a game of theirs, mainly because I've never seen them on tv and apparently they interfere with the NFL schedule. Sounds like the new USFL isn't going to do anything that interferes with the NFL schedule, so they'll probably have a better chance. I'd be happy if this turned into a legit farm system for the NFL.

SmootSmack · 05-11-2012, 01:04 PM

Didn't we talk about this a few weeks ago, or am I just imagining it?

Anyway, best of luck to them

mbedner3420 · 05-11-2012, 02:27 PM

Nothing near DC... not interested.

That Guy · 05-11-2012, 02:27 PM

i'd catch an arena league every now and then, so if it's competing with dead air, i'd give it a look.

Monkeydad · 05-11-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbedner3420

Nothing near DC... not interested.

I nominate a team called the Virginia Beach Destroyers.

(or Norfolk)

mooby · 05-11-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbedner3420

Nothing near DC... not interested.

By design, they don't want any teams sharing the same city as an NFL team. If there was a team in Virginia I'd check it out and possibly root for them.

Monkeydad · 05-11-2012, 03:59 PM

Maybe T.O. can make one of these teams.

Lotus · 05-11-2012, 04:14 PM

I hope this works but recent history suggests that someone is going to lose a lot of money.

GusFrerotte · 05-11-2012, 05:48 PM

Very dumb idea. OK you are not going to interfere with the NFl, that is great, but guess what, you will be running up against MLB, the NBA playoffs, and the NHL playoffs. Sorry, but if the Caps are in the hunt for the Cup next season, folks from the DC Metro area are going to watch the Caps over anything else. I am a football fan and will check out some games just to see how it is, but I doubt it is going to go anywhere. The former USFL had NFL caliber players that gambled with going to the new league. This new league is going to be set up almost like a minor league, which isn't going to garner much interest outside of the true diehard football fan, and there are not too many of those around.

Skins fan 44 · 05-11-2012, 06:00 PM

Hope it works but it will have to have some kind of NFL backing to succeed.The league has to have a TV contract. What station will show it without the permission of the NFL? Without the media the league is nothing. Might as well have a semi pro league. But dang I want football more often. I have been shaking from withdraw since February. What does it say when the NFL gets better ratings then any other sports playing that weekend.

That Guy · 05-11-2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skins fan 44

Hope it works but it will have to have some kind of NFL backing to succeed.The league has to have a TV contract. What station will show it without the permission of the NFL? Without the media the league is nothing. Might as well have a semi pro league. But dang I want football more often. I have been shaking from withdraw since February. What does it say when the NFL gets better ratings then any other sports playing that weekend.

well, nbc had arena league, and i watched it... not on anything like a regular basis, but again, if it's arena football or infomercials, well, i'll take the fake football please.

GusFrerotte · 05-11-2012, 06:57 PM

It won't pan out for long. Look at the XFL, and you can see where it is going. Semi pro players aen't going to garner much interest with maybe the exception of the franchise cities.

Glasgow Celtic · 05-11-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

I nominate a team called the Virginia Beach Destroyers.

(or Norfolk)

Now a team called Norfolk would be cool as I live in England in Norfolk.

`disclaimer `

I am one million percent Scottish!

And don't call them Norfolk and chance :o

sportscurmudgeon · 05-12-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Very dumb idea. OK you are not going to interfere with the NFl, that is great, but guess what, you will be running up against MLB, the NBA playoffs, and the NHL playoffs. Sorry, but if the Caps are in the hunt for the Cup next season, folks from the DC Metro area are going to watch the Caps over anything else. I am a football fan and will check out some games just to see how it is, but I doubt it is going to go anywhere. The former USFL had NFL caliber players that gambled with going to the new league. This new league is going to be set up almost like a minor league, which isn't going to garner much interest outside of the true diehard football fan, and there are not too many of those around.

About 80,000 folks showed up to watch the Alabama University intersquad game this spring.

Similar numbers in Texas.

More than 40,000 showed up to see the Penn State Blue/White game.

There are diehard football fans out there in areas where there are no NFL teams.

Minor league baseball survives quite well in micropolitan areas because salary costs for minor league players are low enough to make the fixed costs of labor something they can cover. The key here will be "cost containment" which in football translates quickly into "keeping salaries down" and "keeping travel requirements in check".

Odds are against great success here - - but this is a different business model from the old USFL.

Oh by the way:

Memo to New USFL Owners: Do NOT let Donald Trump buy one of your franchises...

05-11-2012, 12:44 PM	#1
Monkeydad Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Age: 45 Posts: 17,460	USFL to return in 2013 USFL to return with Fred Biletnikoff among advisers - ESPN USFL plans to relaunch in 2013 Updated: May 10, 2012, 6:53 PM ET Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The USFL is back in business. Well, almost. A reincarnation of the league, with an entirely different business model, plans to kick off in March. On Thursday, it included Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff among its advisers. Biletnikoff will consult on football operations for the league, which originally went out of business in 1987 after losing millions of dollars and, despite winning a lawsuit against the NFL, being awarded just $3 in indemnities. That version unwisely chose to challenge the NFL, while this one will be more of a developmental league. "We will not try to compete with the NFL at all," said CEO Jaime Cuadra after adding Biletnikoff and James Bailey, an executive for the Cleveland Browns and then the Baltimore Ravens for 21 years, to the USFL's board of advisers. The board will be responsible for guiding USFL management on various areas of operations, eventually focusing on a search for the league's commissioner. "We will play in markets where there are no NFL teams or major league baseball teams. It's a league for guys who are on the bubble for making NFL teams, and we will have complete open access for the NFL. We want to build a model that is sustainable." The USFL is looking at a 14-game season from March until June in eight cities. Its players would then be free to join NFL clubs at their training camps. All player and coach contracts will be owned by the league, with salaries not approaching anything the NFL offers. Cities currently being considered are Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Antonio or Austin, Texas; Columbus or Akron, Ohio; Oklahoma City; Omaha, Neb.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Memphis, Tenn. "These are cities with underutilized facilities at that time of year," Cuadra said. Nearly all of them also have avid college football followings, something the USFL hopes to draw from. Cuadra said regional draft picks would be used so that, say, a player who attended Oregon or Oregon State would wind up with a Portland franchise. One critical item the USFL has only begun to investigate is a television partner. The UFL, which finished its third season in the fall of 2011 with five teams, has struggled to find a TV audience. Of course, it plays its games during the NFL schedule. The USFL will avoid such dead-end conflicts. "We have nothing lined up yet, and we are doing our research and investigating the landscape of sports television today, which is ever-changing," Cuadra said. Also advising the new USFL is Jim Steeg, who spent 35 years in the NFL, is a former COO of the San Diego Chargers, and was the league's main organizers of the Super Bowl for 26 years as senior vice president of special events. Other links: New USFL is back, this time as 'triple-A spring football league' for NFL - CBSSports Spring football league a failed dream of many, but it may work \| UTSanDiego.com __________________ Not sent from a Droid, iPhone, Blackberry or toaster

05-11-2012, 01:02 PM	#2
mooby Hug Anne Spyder Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 20,355	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Interesting. I remember when the UFL came out I thought it would be interesting too, but I've never watched a game of theirs, mainly because I've never seen them on tv and apparently they interfere with the NFL schedule. Sounds like the new USFL isn't going to do anything that interferes with the NFL schedule, so they'll probably have a better chance. I'd be happy if this turned into a legit farm system for the NFL. __________________ Hail to the Football Team

05-11-2012, 01:04 PM	#3
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Didn't we talk about this a few weeks ago, or am I just imagining it? Anyway, best of luck to them __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

05-11-2012, 02:27 PM	#4
mbedner3420 The Starter Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,900	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Nothing near DC... not interested.

05-11-2012, 02:27 PM	#5
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 41 Posts: 17,511	Re: USFL to return in 2013 i'd catch an arena league every now and then, so if it's competing with dead air, i'd give it a look.

05-11-2012, 03:59 PM	#8
Monkeydad Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Age: 45 Posts: 17,460	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Maybe T.O. can make one of these teams. __________________ Not sent from a Droid, iPhone, Blackberry or toaster

05-11-2012, 04:14 PM	#9
Lotus Fire Bruce NOW Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 11,434	Re: USFL to return in 2013 I hope this works but recent history suggests that someone is going to lose a lot of money. __________________ Bruce Allen when in charge alone: 4-12 (.250) Bruce Allen's overall Redskins record : 28-52 (.350) Vinny Cerrato's record when in charge alone: 52-65 (.444) Vinny's overall Redskins record: 62-82 (.430) We won more with Vinny

05-11-2012, 05:48 PM	#10
GusFrerotte Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit area Posts: 4,153	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Very dumb idea. OK you are not going to interfere with the NFl, that is great, but guess what, you will be running up against MLB, the NBA playoffs, and the NHL playoffs. Sorry, but if the Caps are in the hunt for the Cup next season, folks from the DC Metro area are going to watch the Caps over anything else. I am a football fan and will check out some games just to see how it is, but I doubt it is going to go anywhere. The former USFL had NFL caliber players that gambled with going to the new league. This new league is going to be set up almost like a minor league, which isn't going to garner much interest outside of the true diehard football fan, and there are not too many of those around.

05-11-2012, 06:00 PM	#11
Skins fan 44 Impact Rookie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brazil, IN Age: 53 Posts: 883	Re: USFL to return in 2013 Hope it works but it will have to have some kind of NFL backing to succeed.The league has to have a TV contract. What station will show it without the permission of the NFL? Without the media the league is nothing. Might as well have a semi pro league. But dang I want football more often. I have been shaking from withdraw since February. What does it say when the NFL gets better ratings then any other sports playing that weekend. __________________ HTTR!

05-11-2012, 06:57 PM	#13
GusFrerotte Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit area Posts: 4,153	Re: USFL to return in 2013 It won't pan out for long. Look at the XFL, and you can see where it is going. Semi pro players aen't going to garner much interest with maybe the exception of the franchise cities.

USFL to return in 2013

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