New United States Football League
 | |
| Sport | American football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Official website |
theusfl |
The United States Football League, LLC (USFL) is a proposed American unaffiliated spring minor professional football league[1] founded in 2008. The league is also known as the New United States Football League[2] to distinguish it from the 1983-85 league of the same name.
History
The New USFL was founded in 2008[3] by Southern California businessman Michael Dwyer. Dywer announced 12 target states for USFL teams in 2008. States specified were Nevada, California (2), (Portland) Oregon, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, New York, Michigan, Ohio, and Alabama[2] and assembled an advisory board of people who had previously worked in pro football before drastically limiting the information he released to fans.
Jaime Cuadra led EndZone Sports Management, LLC acquired the league in February 2012.[4][5] In May 2012, Jim Steeg, Jim Bailey and Fred Biletnikoff were named to the league board of advisors.[6] The league was expected to begin operations in March 2013.[7]
Cuadra claimed in February 2013 to have a real estate developer on board as the league would build in some cities stadiums as a part of mixed used developments. At the time, EndZone's plan for the league was to sell individual franchises at $1 million each while managing the teams financial by the league. Cuadra expected ideally in three or four years after launch that there would be 16 teams in the league.[8]
President and CEO Cuadra resigned from his league duties in February 2013 in the midst of a scandal.[4] The USFL brand was sold again in 2013 to Touchdown Management, LLC, an entity owned by Jim Bailey headquartered in San Diego.[1] On June 24, 2013, Cuadra plead guilty to embezzling more than $1 million from two San Diego companies and using the money to fund the new USFL. Bailey took over as CEO.[4]
Business
This developmental spring league plans to start with eight teams playing a season with 14 games and a four-team playoff over two weeks.[1] Being a single entity and the old USFL's fate, the league will not begin until it is fully capitalized. First, the business is look for a strategic partner investing $5 million to fund operations and fundraising. With $500 million, the league would be considered fully capitalized.[3] Targeted under the second wave of investment is unique financial method to tap insider restricted stock.[9]
Broadcast rights would not be sold right away even though early preliminary talk has been made with the TV networks. At first the league would buy time on cable, so as to get as many viewers as possible and set up the correct product. Thus creating demand with the networks for a deal.[9]
Teams
The teams will be league owned with eight starting teams in non-NFL cities with small stadium while also considering Major League Soccer venues.[1] In 2012, then CEO Jaime Cuadra said cities were being consider due to underutilized facilities were Akron, Ohio; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Alabama; Columbus, Ohio; Omaha, Nebraska; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah and San Antonio, Texas. With the 2012 prospective team locations having a decent college football fan base, the leagues draft would place the region's college players with the regional league team.[6] Various cities have been mention by the third ownership group, but only to make them aware the USFL exists and that they might be considered.[9]
In terms of team names, because most of the old USFL teams were located in cities that have NFL or MLB franchises the names will not work for the new USFL. Once new markets are determined, new team brands and identities will be developed. The proposed A-11 Football League ended up acquiring the intellectual property rights to most of the old USFL team names.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Daniel (November 3, 2015). "A Former NFL Exec Wants to Bring Back the USFL". Forbes. Time Inc. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- 1 2 "The New USFL - News & Updates". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- 1 2 Salazar, Albert (October 21, 2015). "Don't Get Too Excited About That Other Possible Pro Football Team, San Antonio". San Antonio Current. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Shroder, Susan (June 24, 2013). "Embezzled funds went to football league". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ↑ Ogg, Jon C. (April 12, 2012). "Former NFL Competitor USFL Raising $30 Million To Relaunch In 2013 (WWE)". 24/7 Wall St. AOL-HuffPost Money & Finance. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- 1 2 "USFL plans to relaunch in 2013". ESPN.com. ESPN, Inc. AP. May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ↑ Katzowitz, Josh. "USFL will restart next March; not as a competitor to NFL but as an ally". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ Dupont, Kevin Paul (February 17, 2013). "New USFL aims for new spring football league". Boston Globe. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Shea, Bill (November 16, 2015). "MM3rdQB: If the 'new' USFL raises $500 million, it may come to Grand Rapids". Crain's Detroit Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved August 29, 2016.