USFL-XFL Merger?

The latest news is that the two spring football leagues will merge.  The XFL, which re-launched again this past spring after two previous attempts in 2001 and 2020 looks to be joining forces with the United States Football League (USFL) which has played the two previous spring seasons. This particular deal would bring together the most recent iterations of the XFL — which was founded in 2001, rebooted in 2020, and then sold to a group including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — and the USFL, which is owned by Fox Sports and uses trademarks from the original league that played in the 1980s.

There are still a lot of details to work out such as television rights, number of teams and league structure.

The XFL currently has eight teams while the USFL also has eight teams which play in "hub" cities.  Will they just put them all together into one league?

The XFL is comprised of DC Defenders, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis BattleHawks, Vegas Vipers, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians and San Antonio Brahmas.  The USFL's current roster of teams are: Houston Gamblers, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers and New Orleans Breakers.

The only city conflict would be in Houston which is home to both the Roughnecks and Gamblers. There have also been stories of the Vegas Vipers looking for another home - possibly Nashville, Tennessee.

The most likely scenario would be that the new USFL-XFL league could drop two of their weakest franchises to create a 12-team league.  

I have talked with a few people who think this is a good idea and even to go a little further by suggesting that the NFL should consider a partnership with the new spring league as some type of developmental league for the NFL.  I think it's probably time for that.

The two leagues becoming one should make for a stronger and more sustainable league. 

 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Version of Arena Football To Return in 2025

Image
After a rough restart of the Arena Football League (AFL) last season which began with 16 teams and eventually dropped to eight teams by season’s end, the teams which survived formed a new league called Arena Football 1 (AF1)  and have released their 2025 schedule for the 12 teams which will once again try to establish its’ place on the indoor football map. The new AF1 plans to kick off their 2025 season on March 14 with the following teams set to play a 14-game schedule in the new league: West Division Arizona Bandits Billings Outlaws Oregon Lightning Washington Wolfpack Central Division Corpus Christi Tritons Salina Liberty Southwest Kansas Storm Wichita Regulators East Division Albany Firebirds Nashville Kats Orlando Predators Wilkes-Barre (team name TBA) Two other teams are planned for the 2026 season.  Let’s hope they survive this season first. For more information about the league:   https://www.theaf1.com/
Read more

ESPN 8 - The Channel for Obscure Sports

Image
I recently stumbled on to "The Ocho" which is ESPN's channel featuring obscure sports.  The channel was started in 2017.   The Echo broadcasts unconventional and lesser-known sports competitions such as corn hole, horseshoes, darts, air hockey, ax throwing and many others. The origin of ESPN8 came from the fictional television channel in the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story which was a full-time channel showcasing obscure competitions that were "almost a sport". Some of the most unusual competitions and events shown on the network include: Mullet championships (yes, I'm afraid there is such a thing) Teqball - combination of soccer and table tennis. Onewheel - Skateboard with one wheel Excel world championship - Did someone say spreadsheets? Slippery stairs - Do we really need a sport for this? Omegaball - Three soccer teams playing on a round field at the same time. Chase Tag - Yes, same as our elementary school playground game. Steinholding - A G...
Read more

2025 Arena/Indoor Football Leagues Preview

Image
Are you ready for some (indoor) football? The arena/indoor football season is upon us. In fact, one league - the American Indoor Football league - has already started the indoor season. Here are some short previews of the most notable seven indoor leagues which will play this season: Indoor Football League (IFL) Website: https://goifl.com/ The IFL is the longest active arena/indoor league as it enters its 16th season.  Although the league is the premier indoor football league in the United States; however, they continue to have issues with franchise stability as the Duke City Gladiators, Frisco Fighters and Sioux Falls Storm deciding to sit out the 2025 season.  The league did add one new team - Fishers Freight - this season.  The Arizona Rattlers won the IFL title last season after finishing third in the Western Conference.  The Rattlers finished the season on a six-game winning streak.  The Rattlers upset the Vegas Knight Hawks 39-38 in the first round the...
Read more