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United States Football League (2022–2023)

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This article is about the second edition of the USFL. For the original USFL, see United States Football League.

United States Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2022 USFL season
SportAmerican football
First season2022 (planned)
Owner(s)Fox Sports
CEOBrian Woods
No. of teams8 (planned)
CountryUnited States
TV partner(s)Fox / NBC[1]
Related
competitions		The Spring League
Official websitewww.usfl2.com

The United States Football League (USFL) is a planned professional American football league scheduled to start in March 2022. It was first announced June 2021 that the league will have the same name as a defunct league which was founded in 1982 and played three seasons from 1983 through 1985. Fox Sports owns the league and reportedly has committed $150 million over three years to its operations.[2][3]

It is the fourth attempt to launch a league with the same name, after additional attempts in 1945[4] and in 2010.[5]

Business plan

It is expected that the new USFL will operate as a single entity with all teams owned by the league, similar to other spring football leagues that have operated in the 21st century such as the XFL and Alliance of American Football and in contrast to the original USFL which like the National Football League consisted of individually owned and operated franchises.[6] Also, whereas the original USFL ultimately sought to become a major professional sports league that rivaled the NFL in playing caliber, the new USFL has not indicated that it holds the same aspirations. Notably, the previous football ventures of the new USFL's backers had the stated goal of becoming feeder leagues of the NFL.

Other than the acquisition of the original USFL's trademarks, there is no legal connection between the new entity and the former league which ceased operations in 1986 and was officially dissolved in 1990. 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, is the primary owner of the new league and acquired most of the trademarks after the last attempt to revive them, the A-11 Football League, let them go dormant after its own failed launch in 2014. The new USFL will not inherit the old USFL's unpaid liabilities, nor its television contract; it will instead hold a new contract with Fox Sports, which already owns both the rights to and an equity stake in The Spring League.

According to Steve Ehrhart, former USFL executive director, he still own the league rights and that the "USFL still exists", while stating that the league officials still get monthly royalty checks. He also mentioned that he refused previous attempts to "buy" the league, "including the people who founded the first version of the XFL".[7] Ehrhart would later explain that he was only "trying to protect the league legacy".[8]

Teams

The league announced the 2022 season will be played "with minimum of eight teams".[9] 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 and more.[10][11] Additionally, the Generals rights are owned by The Spring League, another Woods entity. Since its original announcement, the USFL had purchased more trademarks including new teams names like the Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville Bulls and Portland Breakers, and variations on the already existing trademarks.[12]

2022 season

On October 12 2021 it was published that the league is in serious discussion with the city of Birmingham, Alabama about the possibility of the USFL playing all of its games in the city. According to initial information, Birmingham will be responsible for housing the players during the season at the price of about $15 million (47,000 hotel rooms), while the league would play the bubble season at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.[13][14]

The proposal includes eight-team 10-week season with two additional playoff rounds, from April 15 through July 3, 2022, with broadcast proposal as follows: 25% on Fox, 25% on NBC, 25% of Fox Sports and 25% of games on the USA Network.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ "USFL eyes relaunch, approaches Birmingham leaders". CBS42. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "After decades dormant, USFL to relaunch in '22". ESPN.com. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "USFL proposes hosting relaunch season in Birmingham in Spring 2022". AL.com. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "On this date in 1945, the United States Football League folded".
  5. ^ Fender, Richie. "USFL: Making a Comeback". Bleacher Report.
  6. ^ "USFL FAQ: What we know and don't know about the plan to resurrect the league that once tried to battle the NFL".
  7. ^ "Did the new spring football league get permission to use the USFL name?".
  8. ^ "Former USFL Exec Steve Ehrhart Clarifies League Name & Logo Statement".
  9. ^ "USFL to Return in Spring 2022 with at Least 8 Teams; Will Be Broadcast on Fox Sports".
  10. ^ "U.S. FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLANNING COMEBACK AFTER 37 YEARS ... 2022 Return!!!". TMZ. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "Based on Trademarks Which USFL Teams Could We See Return In 2022".
  12. ^ "More USFL Teams That Could Return Based on Registered Trademarks".
  13. ^ "BJCC officials in discussions to host all United States Football League games in Birmingham". CBS42. October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "WATCH: Gene Hallman talks possibility of USFL coming to Birmingham". CBS42. October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "USFL proposes hosting relaunch season in Birmingham in Spring 2022". WVTM13. October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "USFL possibly returning to Birmingham". WBRC6. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
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