25 replies to this topic

[BRAWNDO]

Will play in former USFL Cities with the same team names.

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt
In a month a new pro spring league will be announced. 8 teams in 2014, 10 in 2015. Will play in old USFL cities w/same names.

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt
Some of the inaugural teams will be in Oakland, NJ, Philadelphia, and San Antonio.

[HamSandwhich]

I heard one of them was supposedly going to be in the Raleigh/Durham area.  That would be sweet, seeing as how I live here.

[BillsGuyInBallstonSpa]

Pretty cool, here's hoping they have better luck than the original USFL.  Or the XFL.  Or the UFL.

[BRAWNDO]

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt
This new league is not affiliated with the NFL, not a developmental league. Leauge bought rights to all old USFL names (eg NJ Generals)

[Chandler#81]

So Kelly's Houston  stats will be back on the board for future Gambler QB's to try and break? Cool!

[shrader]

Why would they want the USFL names, too  lazy to create new ones?

[PromoTheRobot]

shrader, on 15 March 2013 - 12:12 PM, said:

Why would they want the USFL names, too  lazy to create new ones?

There is some cachet to the old USFL teams.  I was a big fan of the Philly/Balt. Stars.  I hope it works.  I'd rather watch minor league football than major league baseball.  I hope they put a team in Buffalo.  Who wouldn't want a couple extra tailgate dates?

I just did a search and can't find anything that backs up Gil's tweets.

PTR

Edited by PromoTheRobot, 15 March 2013 - 12:30 PM.

[shrader]

PromoTheRobot, on 15 March 2013 - 12:21 PM, said:

There is some cachet to the old USFL teams.  I was a big fan of the Philly/Balt. Stars.  I hope it works.  I'd rather watch minor league football than major league baseball.  I hope they put a team in Buffalo.  Who wouldn't want a couple extra tailgate dates?

PTR

The key demographic wasn't even alive at this point when that league was around.  There's definitely a market to cash in on, but USFL names will play no role in whether or not they can be a success.  The quality of the games is the only thing that will put asses in the seats.

I don't think they stand much of a chance though.  I don't think there's as much desire nationally for more football.  Its burned into the culture at this point that football is a fall winter thing and I don't think that's a habit that can be broken.

[DPR4444]

just keep Trump's hands out of it

[PromoTheRobot]

shrader, on 15 March 2013 - 12:30 PM, said:

The key demographic wasn't even alive at this point when that league was around.  There's definitely a market to cash in on, but USFL names will play no role in whether or not they can be a success.  The quality of the games is the only thing that will put asses in the seats.

I don't think they stand much of a chance though.  I don't think there's as much desire nationally for more football.  Its burned into the culture at this point that football is a fall winter thing and I don't think that's a habit that can be broken.

I would disagree.  Football fans can't get enough football.  For heaven's sake we watch the friggin' Combine!  Imagine if fans could watch an NFL sanctioned rookie league during the spring and summer?  The NFL blew it with NFL Europe, IMO.  All they had to do is move those teams stateside.

PTR

[BRAWNDO]

The NFL should get a developmental league going.  Start with 10 to 12 teams with every NFL Team supplying players.  Have them play in spring (March, April and May) and see if NBC, CBS and Fox's networks might be interested in broadcasting the games.  This might be a better way to develop UDFA in the offseason and they would have two months before NFL Training Camps start at the end of July.

[KD in CT]

BillsGuyInBallstonSpa, on 15 March 2013 - 12:03 PM, said:

Pretty cool, here's hoping they have better luck than the original USFL.  Or the XFL.  Or the UFL.

The original USFL was the real deal, in no way comparible to the other sideshows you mentioned.   They should never have tried to switch from being a spring leauge.

DPR4444, on 15 March 2013 - 12:32 PM, said:

just keep Trump's hands out of it

Yup.

[RK_BillsFan]

Wait, am i actually going to be able to buy a new New Jersey Generals jersey? (.... to mane new's and jerseys to close together in that)

As a football fan that lives in Jersey but was born right at/after the USFL flopped, I have always wished New Jersey had a team ( not just have 2 teams play in our state, someone please take the Jets away from the tri state area, i'm begging you. I like giants fans, Jets fans are just terrible) and i've always wanted a Jersey Generals jersey

[bladiebla]

PromoTheRobot, on 15 March 2013 - 12:35 PM, said:

I would disagree.  Football fans can't get enough football.  For heaven's sake we watch the friggin' Combine!  Imagine if fans could watch an NFL sanctioned rookie league during the spring and summer?  The NFL blew it with NFL Europe, IMO.  All they had to do is move those teams stateside.

PTR

European support for NFL Europe was good enough. They didnt have any TV deals though and income from stadiums alone is too low. All they had to do was affialiate the European teams to NFL teams or maybe Divisions so that AFC EAST would provide the players for one team. That would make stateside follow that team, thus generate TV interest stateside thus make it break even to profitable.

[DPR4444]

http://www.bizjourna...-to-be-new.html




USFL taps form NFL executive to be new CEO

Edited by DPR4444, 15 March 2013 - 03:56 PM.

[peterpan]

Ive searched teh internet for ome cool USFL swag in the past and came up empty handed.  So Im looking forward to some new shirts.

Which reminds me, I still need some awesome saskatchewan rough riders swag!

[Meathead]

thank goodness. now jp losman can legitimize his championship record

[djp14150]

BRAWNDO, on 15 March 2013 - 11:55 AM, said:

Will play in former USFL Cities with the same team names.

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt
In a month a new pro spring league will be announced. 8 teams in 2014, 10 in 2015. Will play in old USFL cities w/same names.

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt
Some of the inaugural teams will be in Oakland, NJ, Philadelphia, and San Antonio.

http://www.bostonglo...xUFI/story.html


looks like it is looking to form an independent AAA of the NFL where agreements could be reached.  The long term plan appears to have 16 teams in non NFL cities where each team develps affiliations with 2 BFL teams for them to operate as a developmental/spring training fro football teams.  the teams will likely allocate it to be 20 players from 2 NFL clubs and then 15-20 players would be free agent signings from college.

[Mike in Horseheads]

Great... they will start a league it will be semi successful and then they will file a anti trust law suit against the NFL...

[Best Player Available]

Fitz may find a landing spot. The pay cut will be brutal though.