Dude if Fox takes the hit for their client the NFL - what does it matter? It is a rounding error - Especially if Fox and NBC are getting TV hours and rating that aren’t Ratshit out of the deal - as far as money goes - I am sure that it would take a super big hit for Fox to not be able to write this off as a business expense or whatever -
No it does matter - the market for spring football can remain lacking longer than one can remain solvent with any given strategy that is not going to succeed long-term.
Now if the NFL wants to foot this for several seasons, a potential element of this “USFL 2.0” for reasons on which you and I and others otherwise do agree to higher degree, that’s a different story akin to NFL Europe but is that a “success” as pitched and hyped all along? No.
And yes it is a shell game but still a shell game and not a success then as you might believe and others will pretend - it happens under those vast corporate umbrellas of course, but it’s not “success.”
Is this venture to make money? Or provide players? Depends on what you count as success - Players flowing and spending a few dollars to get players for Fox and the NFL that is success.
I was so close to agreeing with you here, but you included “Fox” in that wobbly definition of success. Nope, the NFL is the casino and the house wins. The others along for the ride are doing favours and sure, as you implied above the NFL might do Fox some great scheduling favours as in much of their history, but Fox (and NBC) are taking the hits upfront with their money whether the source was in house Fox (slush?) funds budgeted for “experimental programming” or leverage or both.
A couple people comment on empty stadiums being meaningless
You have to realize this will effect tv fans view of the product
As well from an expense pov; if stadium is this empty why not just stop selling (giving away) tickets? There are a ton of logistics (and expense) to staff a half empty stadium and a smaller stadium looks better (even if half full) on tv
If as some are saying that crowds don’t matter then they should just find an open farmers field to play these games on .
Just mow it and slap some painted lines down , stick up two goalposts and let the games begin .
Football Woodstock?
What’s being missed in all this is the city of Birmingham gave the league a sweetheart deal to use the stadiums and practice facilities free of charge. It wound up costing the city a bit north of $2 million. Any and all ticket revenue as well as parking and concessions goes back to the city. Even if only 5k tickets are actually sold each weekend of games, with parking and concessions Birmingham will make a small, but significant profit as well as boost it’s downtown businesses.
How?
Cost $2,000,000 (the 2 mill is your number since I do not have source)
5000 tickets per game (VERY generous but again using your number)
5000 x $10 = $50,000 I will assume one child (free ticket) per group of 4 so - 25% = $37,500 per week
Even ignoring expenses (gate, security, concession, janitorial, all of which I am pretty sure exceed any potential revenue)
10 week schedule = 37,500 x10 = $375,000 income vs $2,000,000 in expenses???
Why?
Football fans know that ALL the teams are playing in the same stadium and local fans can’t attend every game. It’s about the game on TV, most people watching know that it’s a TV game.
It doesn’t matter at all.
If this was a “real” football home team then you could judge and say “look at all the empty seats” but how many are going to fill the stands in Birmingham to see the home team New Jersey play the Pittsburgh Maulers?
This league is set up as a TV product.
NO they can’t play in a field somewhere as someone suggested, you need a proper field, drainage, electricity, press booth, scoreboard, timers etc. Back in 2020, NFL, NHL, MLS games were played in empty stadiums
You’re not taking into account parking, concessions, 50/50 draws etc. Those $25 t-shirts, $100 replica footballs the stadium all gets a cut of as well. Plus the city gets 2 commercials run per game at no cost to them. I’m not saying they’re making money hand over fist, but not losing out on the deal either.
They could have local homegrown talent play for the dozen or so town folk who actually show up at the field .
Why it could be a good old hoot-in-nanny and hoedown on a Saturday night with a little pigskin football thrown in on the side .
FOX could’ve used a a huge sound studio to play their games like what old Rasslin’ territories use to do when it taped matches at local Tv stations.
The use of a near empty stadium makes the USFL bush league. There is no fan interaction or energy for the players to draw from. The casual viewers will be turned off by the lack fans and change the channels.
FOX will pull the plug on this league by next year
Ben Holmes fighting for the number 3 spot in Montreal now.
Its unfortunate if they do pull the plug but I see it as inevitable
The new USFL looks lower than new XFL in foodchain
I mean even in worst case scenario you usually get a few players who are good enough to make jump to CFL or NFL
Plus I admit I like the weird leagues seeing new team names and new uniforms
More or less replaced Patterson in that role who the Als released so he can sign and be drafted by the USFL/Michigan respectively
Even the always dour Mike Florio seems to be on board.
Florio’s bosses told him to be on board.
He calls his site “PRO FOOTBALL Talk” but hardly mentions the CFL, just as bad as Canton calls it’s Hall of Fame “Pro Football Hall of Fame”, but never inducts CFL players.
Doug Flutie and Antony Calvillo should get in with their CFL stats. If the NHL can induct Tretiak who never played a NHL game and got in solely on his international accomplishments. The NFL can too to be more accepted internationally than be considered a niche sport
Fox will have Trump calling in with his expert postgame analysis.
(Trump) “There are some who say the score was eight to six. I heard from many people… with tears in their eyes… that the score was greater.”
(Hannity) “The actual score was tweny one to nothing sir.”
(Trump) “Fake news, fake news. You’re listening to fake news Sean.”