Finally, after 26 years since it last played a game, the United States Football League is returning to engage fans all across the nation while they wait for the next NFL season to start up. It was announced on Saturday that the new USFL will begin games next March, with teams in 8 cities and playing an 14-game schedule. That’s a lot of football during the Spring.
This is not a rival or alternative to the NFL like it was back in the 80s. The new USFL will act more as a feeder league to the NFL, or an alterative to those who have been unable to make an NFL roster via the draft or were released.
“We will not try to compete with the NFL at all,” CEO Jaime Cuadra told the AP.
“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 cities that are under consideration are typically known for their affiliation with college football. Columbus, Oklahoma City, and Austin are some of the cities that could have a team next March.
While the league is saying that they aren’t going to try to compete with the NFL, they are looking for a success TV deal, because without one, they will cease to exist. If it is able to workout a decent deal and put a viewable product on the field, it may give football fans what they are looking during that long period of absence from the NFL following the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles is available.
The NFL claims that is their market
I claim it’s my market too, doesn’t make it true.
8 cities huh? I’d go with OKC, Columbus, Austin, Portland, Orlando, Syracuse, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Miami. no pro team there
Miami isn’t a US city, it doesn’t qualify.
Michigan Panthers!!!!!
Portland, Ontario (CA), Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Austin, Lincoln (NE), Richmond (VA)
As long as Roger Goodell keeps screwing around with everything in the NFL,this just might work!
This is a great way for NFL Teams to find players, & if I were a coach, I might consider sending players there to improve, & squad guys play time.
If the NFL wants it dead, they’ll kill it. Hopefully, they won’t want it dead; there’s really no end to the amount of football that the American public wants to see.
Any change top high school players head to the USFL instead of college to work on their game prior to the NFL draft?
I remember how excited I was when the USFL started. By halftime of the first game, I was outside riding my bike and playing baseball. Why? Because I realized how stupid it was to sit inside and watch football during the spring/summer.
If the USFL could develop into a minor league for the NFL I am strongly in favor of it. Mr. Cuadra has the same idea that I have: bring pro sports to areas that couldn’t support a major-league team. Provide a place for players to develop without having to go to college.
As an aside, I used to love that USFL promo where Doug Flutie spiked the football and said “in the USFL, we can do THIS!”. Summed up everything that is wrong with the NFL. :)
They tried this before a couple years back with what I believe was called the UFL. Had teams from Omaha, Las Vegas, Sacaremento. Went belly up.
ORLANDO RENGADES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!