Steve Spurrier reveals that The AAF’s initial investor bailed on the league

[XFL_FAN]

As for the league’s main investor who bailed. Could that be Peter Theil?

Are you just guessing, or has this been hinted somewhere?

SI has a list of some investors:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/20/allia ... gue-launch

Funding for the league comes from the Peter Thiel-led Founder’s Fund, Barstool Sports investors the Chernin Group, former Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen and others.

Here's the list of initial investors along with their net worth (Red-Bold the ones of note):

Peter Thiel-2.5 billion
Peter Chernin-200 million
Keith Rabois-1 billion
Jared Allen-58 million

To me it looks like it has to be Peter Thiel that bailed on the AAF. Check out their leadership page on their website:

https://aaf.com/leadership

There's Keith Rabois, Peter Chernin, and Jared Allen. But no Peter Thiel to be seen...

[MikeMitchell]

As for the league’s main investor who bailed. Could that be Peter Theil?

Are you just guessing, or has this been hinted somewhere?

Truthfully, just guessing. When the AAF was announced last March. I remember Theil being listed as one of its main investors. I believe that the Chernin Group and a couple of others were listed as investors also.

[XFL_FAN]

As for the league’s main investor who bailed. Could that be Peter Theil?

Are you just guessing, or has this been hinted somewhere?

Truthfully, just guessing. When the AAF was announced last March. I remember Theil being listed as one of its main investors. I believe that the Chernin Group and a couple of others were listed as investors also.

Based on my research above, it does make sense that Thiel is indeed the investor that bailed out and left the AAF for dead.

[MikeMitchell]

As for the league’s main investor who bailed. Could that be Peter Theil?

Are you just guessing, or has this been hinted somewhere?

SI has a list of some investors:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/20/allia ... gue-launch

Funding for the league comes from the Peter Thiel-led Founder’s Fund, Barstool Sports investors the Chernin Group, former Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen and others.

Here's the list of initial investors along with their net worth (Red-Bold the ones of note):

Peter Thiel-2.5 billion
Peter Chernin-200 million
Keith Rabois-1 billion
Jared Allen-58 million

To me it looks like it has to be Peter Thiel that bailed on the AAF. Check out their leadership page on their website:

https://aaf.com/leadership

There's Keith Rabois, Peter Chernin, and Jared Allen. But no Peter Thiel to be seen...

That’s a great find XFL Fan. We will see if anyone follows up on this.

[XFL_FAN]

Some comments now that the real story is out:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... acked-out/

So, the league started with little to no monetary backing? That doesn’t make much sense. If Vince McMahon has anything positive, to add to the game, he will win. He has the money to back himself. And the knowledge to land a great TV contract. Don’t call this league the “minor league” just yet.(11 likes, 6 dislikes)

It is sincerely doubtful that Spurrier knows anything at all about the AAF’s finances. Spurrier’s only financial expertise stems from the salaries he “earned” playing golf while supposedly coaching Washington and South Carolina. Ebersol is certainly smart enough not to share such information with someone like Spurrier. (1 like, 21 dislikes)

Leave it up to the old ball coach to tell the truth about the situation instead of what they tried to push out the other day. Definitely makes more sense than the spin the AAF tried to put out. (28 likes, 2 dislikes)

I don’t know why Spurrier would know what happened. Also he said he “thinks”,he didn’t say he knew. “Moose Johnston” the GM from San Antonio said otherwise, it had nothing to do with an investor pulling out. Players were even told in advance that there would be a delay. Anyway why would Tom Dundon invest 250 million, in a failing proposition? Hopefully things move forward without any further negativity that some in the media crave. Go AAF. (5 likes, 12 dislikes)

Shades of the old WFL. I truly hope this league makes it but if things were that shaky, the due diligence by the league executives looks suspect. (5 likes, 4 dislikes)

And just like that, the narrative changes.

[MikeMitchell]

Some comments now that the real story is out:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... acked-out/

So, the league started with little to no monetary backing? That doesn’t make much sense. If Vince McMahon has anything positive, to add to the game, he will win. He has the money to back himself. And the knowledge to land a great TV contract. Don’t call this league the “minor league” just yet.(11 likes, 6 dislikes)

It is sincerely doubtful that Spurrier knows anything at all about the AAF’s finances. Spurrier’s only financial expertise stems from the salaries he “earned” playing golf while supposedly coaching Washington and South Carolina. Ebersol is certainly smart enough not to share such information with someone like Spurrier. (1 like, 21 dislikes)

Leave it up to the old ball coach to tell the truth about the situation instead of what they tried to push out the other day. Definitely makes more sense than the spin the AAF tried to put out. (28 likes, 2 dislikes)

I don’t know why Spurrier would know what happened. Also he said he “thinks”,he didn’t say he knew. “Moose Johnston” the GM from San Antonio said otherwise, it had nothing to do with an investor pulling out. Players were even told in advance that there would be a delay. Anyway why would Tom Dundon invest 250 million, in a failing proposition? Hopefully things move forward without any further negativity that some in the media crave. Go AAF. (5 likes, 12 dislikes)

Shades of the old WFL. I truly hope this league makes it but if things were that shaky, the due diligence by the league executives looks suspect. (5 likes, 4 dislikes)

And just like that, the narrative changes.

I am getting a good laugh out of it. The false narrative of Vince McMahon trying to sabotage the league and all the people dismissing or ignoring for Steve Spurrier, for admitting that the league’s main investor bailed after the AAF season started.