This is according to Axios so not sure how far advanced this is.
https://footballscoop.com/news/xfl-and-usfl-reportedly-in-merger-talks
Two spring leagues didn’t make sense long term IMO
Mods: If you feel it’s pre mature feel free to ‘merge’ it into one of the existing threads;)
I’m a bit surprised it’s happening this quickly, but not surprised it’s happening in general. Both leagues ate into each others ratings and overall interest last season. With the uncertainty of ESPN’s future and NBC being non-committal towards the USFL, this makes the most sense. Take the best 10-12 teams and play a 12 week regular season starting late March/early April and wrap it on or around 4th of July weekend. Games could be spread through the Fox family of networks, FX and the token game on ESPN2 with ESPN+ for streaming.
Too logical for it not to happen. Will be interesting to see what name they choose. I doubt either XFL or USFL name survives. Will be even more interesting to see what (if any) future collaboration the new spring league has with the CFL.
As for the name, USXFL would be logical, XUSFL just doesn’t flow, and sounds more like a divorce IMO. Scrapping both names wouldn’t make sense either, they would be basically be starting over. Providing the merger would ever happen in the first place, I would bet nothing gets off the ground except talk… just keeping themselves in the media during the off season. Can never say no though. If so IMO that would be the beginning of the end.
As for the CFL aligning with either or both? never. The XFL is on their 3rd go as a league and still loosing money (60 million in 2022), the USFL is on their 2nd go as a league, slightly more successful (mostly due to the FOX TV) claim they were “profitable” in 2022… though I can’t find how profitable, I suspect “profitable” means “potentially” considering they play all games in one city (Birmingham, Alabama), certainty doesn’t bode well for the CFL.
To many rule changes, number of players, size of stadiums & start of season to deal with, for a league that’s over 100 years old.
Then throw in that the NFL is in bed with both of these leagues - I wonder if the NFL had a hand in steering them together? Looking like Houston is down to one team now. Be interesting to see where the teams are located.
What is your take on the impact a merger like this will have on the CFL? So the CFL will be in a difficult spot to find QBs? Is that what you were thinking?
I think this will fast become a reality, and nothing like the talks the XFL and CFL had a few years back. My thoughts are this; NBC is backing out, Fox can’t/won’t front the costs of putting 8 teams in their home markets. On the XFL side; ESPN is teetering and Redbird can’t rely on a long-term partnership anymore. Also, broadcast quality was much better for USFL on Fox/NBC than XFL on ESPN.
Take the top 10-12 teams, play from late March-Early July with the championship culminating 4th of July weekend. Games split between Fox/FS1/ESPN2/FX/ESPN+ with a playoff game or 2 on ABC in primetime.
I agree with you - I wonder if this isn’t a canary in a coal mine type of thing with the XFL trying to find a new home before something happens with ESPN/ABC? My thinking is that something big is going to happen with ABC/ESPN in the next month so the NFL is helping the XFL find another home in regard to broadcasting the games.
The simple answer is that Americans won’t support spring football unless it’s college practices .
Depending on the size of this new league, I think it will help the CFL a bit recruiting entry level talent. Can’t see anywhere close to 16 teams
Thinking 10-12
XFL keep 7
DC
Seattle
St. Louis
Arlington/Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Orlando
USFL keep 3
Birmingham
Memphis
Canton (Call them Ohio XXXs)
If 2 more then the Vipers should they get a new home and the Michigan Panthers if they find a new place to play. They’re not returning to Ford Field.
No more hub teams
I am bummed at the thought of some XFL rules not being used.
Oh well you’ll manage fine. They’ll figure out something better and no more Trash Hub League but real venues like every other real sports league in our lives.
Just don’t follow the Spring Football Echo Chamber who might lament the loss of some of those hub teams not really playing in real cities.
And there was never a team here in Philadelphia either, and nobody here counts that impostor of a team.
Some of the chatter on the matter, with those directly involved with each league, began last week and here we are already to my surprise as well.
This is the most sensible starting point I have ever read in these regards. Right on, and just think we’ll all have the off-season to banter on the subject again.
@Paolo_X - the question is will this thread be able to reach the near epic status of the dearly departed Chicago Expansion thread? In my mind we can only hope that this can be achieved.
Without DaveD? Doubtful.
@PorkyPine - Next man up - you are now in the starting line up. Start working on getting your chat GPT game up to speed and let’s see what we can do. I know @Paolo_X , @GridironGirl , @Jon and @Tedtanium1976 are all up for the challenge of turning this thread into the Next great thread like the often disparaged but never defeated Chicago Expansion Thread.
Me??? Next man up??? To fill Dave’s shoes??? In the immortal words of Monty Python ‘Run away! Run away!’
Well, now this reminds me because it sounds like about the time, though it is a few months early, that once again we should ask @Maaax his advice for such a thread.
This is one of those ideas that has such high promise with such low expectations, and also he advocates a preferred “strategery” to hide in plain sight.
I believed this and am on record on such a front here until 2023, when I changed my mind after both leagues drew decent numbers on most weekends, including especially when over-the-air and not tucked away on some cable channel or worst of all, exclusive streaming not simulcast!
All the same I don’t believe that the Trash Hub League would have survived at all without serious charity and heavy influence from its NFL Big Brother.
Rejoice, for now the days of the hub league concept are numbered and it’s headed for the scrap heap of steaming hot crap along with all the other lies accepted by those Spring Football Echo Chamber types.