One of the valid reasons for hub city sites was to deal with the current pandemic, but from a financial standpoint, the strategy made perfect sense. The move piqued a few ifs, prompted a few here-we-go-again rolled eyes. [60], On December 15, 2022 USFL player representatives (United Football Players Association and United Steelworkers[61]) and the league parent company FOX Sports tentatively agreed on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement starting at the 2023 season, six months after the league players voted to unionize. Not to mention many of the teams were mismanaged. For the 2022 season's first three weeks, the game clock will be stopped after each incomplete pass, no matter which point of the game it occurred. For Spurrier, a return to the USFL would be like his coaching career coming full circle. So, he is clearly someone who is a proponent of pro football in the spring. You start the USFL back up and dont even have a New Jersey Generals, Oakland Invaders, Philadelphia Stars, or Michigan Panthers playing, or playing in their home cities? The Spring League is continuing. The FXFL had a franchise fee set at $500,000; the league struggled to find suitors and maintain that goal during its brief run. He's been in the industry for a while now and has had his fair share of struggles and detractors. Hints and rumors are circulating about the leagues plans, potential teams and coaches involved, and how the USFLs ownership will be structured. [29] The day after that the league announced the draft order for the 2022 USFL Draft. Originally from Detroit, I grew up a Lions fan, which has now led me on a lifetime journey to find better football. Learn how your comment data is processed. June 8, 2021 Earlier this month, The Spring League's CEO Brian Woods announced that - along with FOX Sports - the group plans to bring back the USFL in 2022. The South will include the Birmingham Stallions, New Orleans Breakers, Tampa Bay Bandits and Houston Gamblers. There will also be NFL players off practice squads and guys that are coming off active rosters that were not re-signed this spring that will be participating. He also stated that the USFL has a database of 3,000 players that theyre going to explore. As in the NFL, replay challenges are automatic in the last two minutes of either half and the whole overtime, as well as any scoring plays and turnovers. Brian Woods, the founder and CEO of The Spring League from 2017 to 2021 and a co-founder of the new USFL, will serve as the league's President of Football Operations. Former Gunslinger safety Jim Bob Morris told the Express that he has been in talks with an executive from the new USFL regarding the potential of bringing a franchise to San Antonio. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. "[65] In addition to obtaining the rights to the USFL name and logo, the new league has obtained the rights to the aforementioned former league's team names including the Los Angeles Express, Chicago Blitz, Tampa Bay Bandits, and Houston Gamblers. Any number of teams could remain here. [66][67] Additionally, the Generals rights are owned by The Spring League, another Woods entity. Once upon a time, Woods, a sports lawyer, tried to run a genuine pro football league called the Fall Experimental Football League. Colors and names just plastered on a bunch of guys in Orlando and Houston pretending to be 8 cities doesnt sound next step to me, but just TSL renamed something else. Generals live score, updates, highlights from 2022 USFL playf game", "Donald Trump helped kill the first USFL. Woods said the league will issue standard contracts to every player, each receiving the same base compensation. Brian Woods - the founder and CEO of The Spring League from 2017 to 2021 and a co-founder of the new USFL - will serve as the league's President of Football Operations. The past meets the future in 2022. [citation needed]. I would go one step further to those players: If Im not in a Power Five Conference, Im not getting the TV exposure I would get in the USFL on broadcast television. Despite the failings of leagues like this in the past, surprisingly, I get the sense that there is still hope out there that the USFL could finally be the league that finally bucks history. I would say its good talent, which will produce a very, very good product that fans can expect from the USFL.. Back in April, on this site, an article raised the possibility of a returning USFL. Along with Brian Woods and FOX positioning their football partnership to capitalize on the opening created by the absence of the XFL. Initially, the league informed perspective players they would be charged $150 per night for their single-occupancy room during the season (the league would cover the full room charge during training camp). Number of Units: 393 Offices of the Board of Directors and their Duties . "We're looking for is the to be strategic. Required fields are marked *. Catch all the action next year on FOX Sports.Listen as @USFLOfficials iconic #22 @DougFlutie weighs in on the leagues return in 2022. pic.twitter.com/K0Hw0N54rp. We feel that not only can our league be a standalone, professional sports property and be dominant in the spring football space, but we also can offer players the opportunity to become a professional football player a little sooner than what might be [currently] allowed.. The Spring League first debuted on FOX Sports in 2020 when the league completed its first bubble season due to Covid-19. TSL had two hub city sites with four teams each in Houston at Rice Stadium and Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium this past spring. I think our scouts have done a really good job in evaluating players and even finding some that have slipped under the radar that have gone unnoticed. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'xflnewshub_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_23',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xflnewshub_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');In June, the USFLs press statement stated that it would play next spring with a minimum of eight teams. Ive been told that the goal is to try and play with nine or ten teams or more if possible. We are absolutely trying to make it a little more incentivizing for them, Woods said.). But whats the pitch? The players used to have Gumball Rallies on payday to race to see who can get to this one bank in Podunk, Tx to cash their checks before the money ran out. Los Angeles - The new United States Football League (USFL) revealed city affiliations, names, and logos for the eight teams taking the field when the league debuts in April 2022: "We're excited to take this next major step in the development of a new USFL," said Brian Woods, USFL President of Football Operations. For several weeks now, sources have indicated that the USFL is looking to secure owners for each of their teams in 2022. He did some legal research and found many of the USFL trademarks had been abandoned. The proposed agreement increases minimum salaries and provides a stronger benefits package than they previously received, and slightly higher than most XFL salaries. You can come to the USFL, display your talent and for a young man whos already removed from college. "Today is a monumental day for the new USFL as we hit the 100-days-to-kickoff mark," Brian Woods, the USFL's president of football operations, said in a statement. Tampa-native Brian Woods is leading the charge to reboot the league with one of its most popular teams. Thats my short-term visiongetting through season one and putting an exceptional on-field product out for display. And while there is merit to that story, the truth is that the USFL got to the brink of looking for a savior and a last-second act of desperation because virtually the entire league had horrible team owners who either failed to live up to their financial commitments or were grossly incompetent. Had they continued to operate in the spring, they might still be here today", said Woods. Brian Woods, who founded The Spring League and served as CEO of the developmental organization from 2017 to 2021, will be the USFL's president of football operations. Despite how things ended, he walked away from the experience favorably. If plane flights are too expensive then this is really an AA minor league. The USFL presents Brian Woods best chance of making it as a football league owner. Players will have the option to share a room with a member of the same team (further slicing the charge by 50 percent). We have no intent on taking on the NFL. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'xflnewshub_com-leader-2','ezslot_24',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xflnewshub_com-leader-2-0');Utilizing a hub city model in 2022 would save the USFL on travel and facility expenses and potentially sell the leagues teams to markets, prospective owners, and sponsors. Tampa Bay Bandits return with new USFL. Birmingham, Alabama, is where the league will be based in its inaugural season. The names attached as head coaches for the USFLs teams will be the faces of their franchises and will help draw attention in the leagues early stages. The narrative of the old USFL tells a tale about a certain famous owner that led an entire league down the wrong path. Its one reason why people come to XFLnewshub.My gut says hybrid hub city approach, but I can see using bus distance teams to play in multiple cities in range, eg San Antonio, OKC, Dallas/Houston OR TB, Orlando, Jax. Brian Woods, the former CEO of The Spring League, will become president/football operations. Joining him were some familiar faces, and great names to have in a startup. We certainly want to see what we can do this year in terms of making sure that theres some local feel to each team, even if its only a few players. ", "Based on Trademarks Which USFL Teams Could We See Return In 2022", "USFL Unveils Team Cities, Nicknames and Logos for 2022 Debut", "USFL expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five", "USFL Unveils Logos, Team Names Ahead of Return Season", "USFL hires Ray Horton as Pittsburgh Maulers head coach", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Football_League_(2022)&oldid=1141794890, National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Nov. 15, 2022) - USFL and city leaders announced today that the iconic Memphis Showboats have come home to the Bluff City. McMullen: McVay finishes off productive week with more than just a Lombardi Trophy, The return of the USFL to Philadelphia is a no-brainer, Eagles name Alex Tanney QB coach, plus other coaching staff updates, The food you eat impacts the health of your eyes, Construction of Penn's Landing park over I-95 finally approved to begin, PennDOT says, Joanna McClinton becomes first woman elected as speaker of Pa. House, Rocco's Italian Sausage, a cult favorite at Home Depot stores in Philly, to expand in Bucks County, Low-calorie sweetener tied to higher risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds. The inaugural 2022 regular season was played in its entirety in Birmingham, Alabama. First published on February 10, 2022 / 4:38 AM. Our plan in the USFL is not to be a developmental league. Were going to have really good talent to display in this league. The league was falling apart at the seams with very few owners who could hold up their end of the bargain. [58][59] Players were required to pay their own rent, but the league offered a reduced hotel price at a cost of $75 per room per day, with an option for two players to share a room. ", "On this date in 1945, the United States Football League folded", "BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS TAKE THE USFL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE", "Nearly 40 years after its first game, USFL announces return", "BJCC officials in discussions to host all United States Football League games in Birmingham", "WATCH: Gene Hallman talks possibility of USFL coming to Birmingham", "Birmingham Parks and Rec Board votes to put Legion Field in play for the USFL", "USFL announce plans for inaugural season in Birmingham", "USFL proposes hosting relaunch season in Birmingham in Spring 2022", "USFL Reaches Media Rights Agreement with NBC Sports", "Ahead Of Spring 2022 Reboot, Fox Sports' USFL Sets Senior Exec Team", "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 2223", "USFL Training Camps Start Mar 21st, "Player Selection Meeting" Feb 22nd", "4 USFL teams reveal their head coaches for upcoming season", "Tampa Bay Bandits announce Todd Haley as head coach and general manager", "Official Site of the United States Football League", "Fisher, Fedora fill final two USFL coach openings", "USFL announces Birmingham as official headquarters, host city for 2022 season", "USFL Inaugural Game Tickets Now On Sale, Only $10 Each, Kids Free", "USFL announces inaugural playoffs, championship game in Canton, Ohio", "USFL Draft time, player pool, pick order & more: A guide to how the 2022 USFL Draft will work", "USFL Teams Unveil New Uniforms For Reboot Season", "USFL back for second season, says Fox's Shanks", "USFL inks scouting data partnership with HUB Football", "Roy S. Johnson: USFL football VP knows 'first season is everything', "Talks continue to bring spring football league to Birmingham", "Did the new spring football league get permission to use the USFL name? It all looks good on paper until the bills come due. We are going to find out soon enough. The TSL is essentially a camp that players pay to participate in. And tens of millions of dollars is what its going to take, even if the league tries to operate on a shoestring budget. The league will be mostly comprised of younger unknown players. Great job Mike. Blame Gov. [36] Ehrhart would later explain that he was only "trying to protect the league legacy". Oakland Invaders is now St. Louis Invaders. All eight teams will play in one location in Birmingham, Alabama in year one. Woods was equally non-committal about the leagues presence in Birmingham beyond season one, beyond the Stallons. Ultimately, we feel these rules will be exciting for the fan and welcome changes.. This captivated Shanks. Copyright 2022 XFL News Hub. In my experience in working with the non NFL athlete, I CAN ASSURE THE FOOTBALL WORLD, their are not just 400 PLAYERS AVAILABLE BUT MORE LIKE 800 players who have the necessary skill to play football at a high AND ENTERTAINING LEVEL. We learned just this week the league will not finish its first season in Birmingham. The bottom line, as always with these ventures, is financing. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The inaugural draft took place on February 22, 2022. If the challenge is not in the favor of the coach who called it, his team will lose a timeout; if successful, he will keep the challenge and receive an additional challenge. No principals from the former USFL are involved in the current league's ownership; Brian Woods, who had previously launched the Fall Experimental Football League and The Spring League, was initially the primary owner of the new league. The FXFL had a myriad of financial and legal issues, and long after the smoke cleared, settlements were made, with plaintiffs being rewarded $300,000. Its definitely more adventurous to us with the Birmingham Stallions this year than any other team. The new USFL is being built with a more modest scaled-down approach that will only resemble the 1983-1985 version in name. So they were throwing money around they didnt have. Former Steelers assistant coach Kirby Wilson will serve as the Maulers head coach. The City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, and the Jefferson County Visitors & Convention Bureau have committed up $3.5 million to fund any losses, betting the investment will reap many-fold in tax revenue and other benefits, like the uncalculatable value of promised exposure on FOX and NBC, the two broadcast kahunas that will televise most of the games. All of the heavy lifting has really been accomplished at this point, Woods said. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The clock will stop for first downs after the. Several sources have indicated to me the genuine possibility that because of the short amount of time remaining for the USFL to set up shop in markets before their 2022 season, and for financial reasons, that the league could decide to play in an expanded hub city model next spring. Had they remained in the spring, they probably would still be here today.. The truth is that the plan by Brian Woods and FOX to bring back the USFL brand has been in the works for quite some time. Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) November 17, 2021 Coming in to serve as President of Football Operations was TSL founder Brian Woods. So the likelihood of the Gunslingers riding again in the new USFL is a good one. Everything we do is about efficiency and sustainability.. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. I would imagine Heinz field would be in the conversation but that could be too big. The real questions are how bold will the new league be and can it survive if it tries to be? 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Last month, at the splashy confirmation at Protective, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks said nothing was in stone for year two. We have to walk before you run and the business model is set up for that. Were not so sure if thats the case, just yet at least. President - The president of the Board presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors. When the USFL relaunch was first announced, it was right in the middle of The Spring League Season. The choke point for these entities comes when the resources and expenses needed to fund these ventures far outweigh the returns. Woods, who founded The Spring League, a showcase developmental league and scouting event from 2017 to 2021, happened to catch FOX Sports Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer Eric Shanks driving. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Mumme is coming off of winning a championship in TSL with the Linemen. What do you think the announcement on The Spring League and FOX will be? This article is about the new USFL. Or perhaps, its because the AAF and XFL showed enough hints of how receptive the market can be towards pro football in the spring. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It might still be a viable model even if better days are ahead in a post-vaccination world. The agreement was approved by the union members on January 9, 2023.[64]. Would the San Antonio media even cover the team if it doesnt play there? Youre not chasing your dream in the USFL, youre living it. In the future, there is a chance the playing venues will be in the representative cities of the leagueobviously including Philadelphia. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Daily conversations took place, pieces began taking shape, and in June 2021, FOX announced the new United States Football League would begin play in April 2022. Lets look to answer those questions with information that has been gathered. The Gunslingers were a comedy act. Were paying a good wage to players who can call themselves professional football players. In time, we can become even more player-centric. Officials reached an agreement for the Memphis Showboats to play the USFL 2023 season at historic Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, home of the 1980s team that featured Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White. [19], On January 4, 2022, NBC Sports reported that a player selection meeting would be held on February 22 and 23 to set teams. The transfer portal has certainly provided opportunities for us, Woods said. It will take at least six figures plus for the league to get Spurrier to sign on the dotted line. Because any college player who signs with the USFL would forgo their eligibility, Woods says the league isnt trying to procure talent still enrolled in college. If you want to be seen as a talent, the USFL is the place to show off your skills. But heres to the re-birth. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'xflnewshub_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xflnewshub_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); The USFL presents Brian Woods best chance of making it as a football league owner. On the flip side, the Orlando Renegades, Jacksonville Bulls, and Tampa Bay Bandits could all play at a Florida site. What will raise some antennas is that college sophomores, depending on their talent level, will be eligible to play. We just want to get through our first season. Could a return of perhaps the most notorious alternative pro football league be in the cards? Especially in pod cities. [35] The Spring League, and later the NSFL, acquired most of the USFL's trademarks after the last attempt to revive them, the A-11 Football League, let them go dormant after its own failed launch in 2014. Im sure that there will be instances where the NFL actively evaluates players in our league. Woods says what keeps him up at night now is making sure we have a good product on the field, and I confidently feel we will. Recently, other spring football leagues have failed. That being said, we started scouting players and evaluating talent with former NFL scouts in NFL training camps last fall making the rounds, trying to identify some players. If its going to be a regional/bus small ball leaguewhy call it the USFL? In fact, the XFL and TSL worked together in the lead up to the 2020 season and were in talks to make TSL the official D-League of the XFL. Brian Woods, a co-founder of this new iteration of the USFL, was a financial adviser for the failed Alliance of American Football and associated the last two years with The Spring League. TSL CEO Brian Woods Teases Major Announcement in Upcoming Weeks. There will be some rising juniors, some current college players who will be playing in the USFL this year that will forego their junior year in college to play in the USFL. The USFL plans to kick off its season on Saturday, April 16, when the Stallions play the Generals. Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman, though, said it did not give her pause, nor temper her enthusiasm about the leagues prospects.
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