Does the league actually want fans in Philadelphia??

[GDAWG]

What about—and I know this is a longshot—Hinchliffe?

It hasn't hosted pro football in about 60 years but it recently got a nice renovation that got a substantial amount of publicity.

It just became a baseball stadium for the independent New Jersey Jackals.

[GDAWG]

The USFL is going to have trouble finding venues for Pittsburgh and New Jersey. New Orleans would be easy if they go to Tulane. Venue would not be an issue for the Gamblers, but I have serious doubts about if the team will ever play in Houston. Philly would be difficult, but not impossible like Pittsburgh would be.

There's Tulane, and in a pinch they could use Tad Gormley, though that would probably be something on the level of what we saw with Cashman Field and the Vipers. Of all the stadium situations, New Orleans's is the easiest to solve.

But to come back to the main question... does the USFL want fans in Philly, and do they really have a plan to get teams there, or in New Jersey or Houston? Right now, they're getting away with having the three biggest markets in the USFL not actually setting foot in their home cities. It's tremendously less expensive that way, but that shows up very glaringly in the empty stands.

But come next year, they have some serious decisions to make. They can try and shoehorn their way into those markets. Placing a "New Jersey" team in South Jersey (e.g. the Camden Athletic Fields that used to host baseball a few years ago) would look as ridiculous as placing a "New York" team in Buffalo... and Fox would quickly find that putting it in North Jersey would be as much of a challenge as Garcia and Johnson found out when they considered keeping the Guardians in the New York area. In Houston, of course, they'd be going head-to-head with the Roughnecks, who have a larger following and a much better on-field record. Would Fox Corp be THAT brazen? I doubt it. They're brazen but not stupid.

Or they can abandon the illusion and settle in homes that might be more inviting or a fit for their existing pattern. But they would then lose the dubious claim that they have teams in those top markets, the very thing that contributed to the old USFL losing their antitrust lawsuit.

Either way, the options are not particularly pleasant. Especially with NBC's contract allegedly running out after this year.

I see them in either Philly (likely Subaru) and/or in NNJ at RedBull, Rutgers and long shot unlikely at Metlife. Even if its just for 2 or 3 games each.
Houston is easier of course - play at TDECU Stadium, they are likely looking for dates.

Agree NOLA at Tulane. But they really need to be in 2/3 big cities beyond Michigan.

Its all about the TV viewers.

I have serious doubts about the Gamblers going to Houston because the Roughnecks already have an established fan base there. Pittsburgh is also going to be an issue for the league. I doubt that MetLife or Red Bull is in play for the USFL. Also Subaru Park hosts two soccer teams, so not only would the USFL have to schedule around the Philly Union, they would also have to schedule around the Philly Union 2. Plus that stadium could be saved in case an NWSL team comes to Philadelphia.

[4th&long]

There's Tulane, and in a pinch they could use Tad Gormley, though that would probably be something on the level of what we saw with Cashman Field and the Vipers. Of all the stadium situations, New Orleans's is the easiest to solve.

But to come back to the main question... does the USFL want fans in Philly, and do they really have a plan to get teams there, or in New Jersey or Houston? Right now, they're getting away with having the three biggest markets in the USFL not actually setting foot in their home cities. It's tremendously less expensive that way, but that shows up very glaringly in the empty stands.

But come next year, they have some serious decisions to make. They can try and shoehorn their way into those markets. Placing a "New Jersey" team in South Jersey (e.g. the Camden Athletic Fields that used to host baseball a few years ago) would look as ridiculous as placing a "New York" team in Buffalo... and Fox would quickly find that putting it in North Jersey would be as much of a challenge as Garcia and Johnson found out when they considered keeping the Guardians in the New York area. In Houston, of course, they'd be going head-to-head with the Roughnecks, who have a larger following and a much better on-field record. Would Fox Corp be THAT brazen? I doubt it. They're brazen but not stupid.

Or they can abandon the illusion and settle in homes that might be more inviting or a fit for their existing pattern. But they would then lose the dubious claim that they have teams in those top markets, the very thing that contributed to the old USFL losing their antitrust lawsuit.

Either way, the options are not particularly pleasant. Especially with NBC's contract allegedly running out after this year.

I see them in either Philly (likely Subaru) and/or in NNJ at RedBull, Rutgers and long shot unlikely at Metlife. Even if its just for 2 or 3 games each.
Houston is easier of course - play at TDECU Stadium, they are likely looking for dates.

Agree NOLA at Tulane. But they really need to be in 2/3 big cities beyond Michigan.

Its all about the TV viewers.

I have serious doubts about the Gamblers going to Houston because the Roughnecks already have an established fan base there. Pittsburgh is also going to be an issue for the league. I doubt that MetLife or Red Bull is in play for the USFL. Also Subaru Park hosts two soccer teams, so not only would the USFL have to schedule around the Philly Union, they would also have to schedule around the Philly Union 2. Plus that stadium could be saved in case an NWSL team comes to Philadelphia.

Audi field is used as was Cashman. It certainly can be done in RedBull or Subaru. The Union2 are an also ran. NWSL is not there yet.
Roughneck fan base, Gamblers fan base... what's the difference. It's 10 games. Also if the Gamblers charge < half than Roughnecks it would do fine. The biggest factor is time of year - ie weather.

[GDAWG]

I see them in either Philly (likely Subaru) and/or in NNJ at RedBull, Rutgers and long shot unlikely at Metlife. Even if its just for 2 or 3 games each.
Houston is easier of course - play at TDECU Stadium, they are likely looking for dates.

Agree NOLA at Tulane. But they really need to be in 2/3 big cities beyond Michigan.

Its all about the TV viewers.

I have serious doubts about the Gamblers going to Houston because the Roughnecks already have an established fan base there. Pittsburgh is also going to be an issue for the league. I doubt that MetLife or Red Bull is in play for the USFL. Also Subaru Park hosts two soccer teams, so not only would the USFL have to schedule around the Philly Union, they would also have to schedule around the Philly Union 2. Plus that stadium could be saved in case an NWSL team comes to Philadelphia.

Audi field is used as was Cashman. It certainly can be done in RedBull or Subaru. The Union2 are an also ran. NWSL is not there yet.
Roughneck fan base, Gamblers fan base... what's the difference. It's 10 games. Also if the Gamblers charge < half than Roughnecks it would do fine. The biggest factor is time of year - ie weather.

Just because it can be done at Red Bull or Subaru doesn't mean it will be done. The MLS team has to play ball and allow it to happen. Not every MLS team is going to be as amenable to football as the DC Defenders have been.

[4th&long]

I have serious doubts about the Gamblers going to Houston because the Roughnecks already have an established fan base there. Pittsburgh is also going to be an issue for the league. I doubt that MetLife or Red Bull is in play for the USFL. Also Subaru Park hosts two soccer teams, so not only would the USFL have to schedule around the Philly Union, they would also have to schedule around the Philly Union 2. Plus that stadium could be saved in case an NWSL team comes to Philadelphia.

Audi field is used as was Cashman. It certainly can be done in RedBull or Subaru. The Union2 are an also ran. NWSL is not there yet.
Roughneck fan base, Gamblers fan base... what's the difference. It's 10 games. Also if the Gamblers charge < half than Roughnecks it would do fine. The biggest factor is time of year - ie weather.

Just because it can be done at Red Bull or Subaru doesn't mean it will be done. The MLS team has to play ball and allow it to happen. Not every MLS team is going to be as amenable to football as the DC Defenders have been.

Agreed, they of course need to work out a deal. But $$$ talks.

[Sykotyk]

Audi field is used as was Cashman. It certainly can be done in RedBull or Subaru. The Union2 are an also ran. NWSL is not there yet.
Roughneck fan base, Gamblers fan base... what's the difference. It's 10 games. Also if the Gamblers charge < half than Roughnecks it would do fine. The biggest factor is time of year - ie weather.

Just because it can be done at Red Bull or Subaru doesn't mean it will be done. The MLS team has to play ball and allow it to happen. Not every MLS team is going to be as amenable to football as the DC Defenders have been.

Agreed, they of course need to work out a deal. But $$$ talks.

And that's why it won't happen with the USFL. XFL had the money to go after some much bigger stadiums. There's a reason the biggest/most professional stadium USFL is in this year is Ford Field. Canton, Birmingham, and Memphis are about as cheap as you'll find. Two are perennial hosts to spring football leagues. Canton is just looking for anyone to rent their venue out for the few days a year the Hall of Fame Game and Enshrinement aren't taking place (aside from Canton McKinley games that they begrudgingly let happen, which is a story for another day).

Ford Field almost happened simply because EMU did not want their turf touched and it was a bit too late to go looking elsewhere.

There's no way USFL is bringing up the money for an unknown return at Subaru or Red Bull. And that's if either one of them WANTS to even entertain the idea of an American Football team tearing up their grass field. Audi Field is IN the district, it's incredibly expensive and anything they can do to raise revenue is worthwhile. And I'm sure XFL wasn't paying a bargain rate for the privilege. XFL also plays much earlier in the season. MLS starts end of February. XFL was done by end of April. Two months overlap. USFL would be playing through the end of June. That's a lot of mid-season wear on their grass field.

And saying Union2 is an 'also-ran'... They're part of the same organization that runs the stadium. They've building a homogeneous brand at the stadium where they get all the revenue and build their brand and support. Renting to a third party to compete with them for fan dollars isn't exactly worth the few hundred thousand a day they might be able to command.

[4th&long]

Just because it can be done at Red Bull or Subaru doesn't mean it will be done. The MLS team has to play ball and allow it to happen. Not every MLS team is going to be as amenable to football as the DC Defenders have been.

Agreed, they of course need to work out a deal. But $$$ talks.

And that's why it won't happen with the USFL. XFL had the money to go after some much bigger stadiums. There's a reason the biggest/most professional stadium USFL is in this year is Ford Field. Canton, Birmingham, and Memphis are about as cheap as you'll find. Two are perennial hosts to spring football leagues. Canton is just looking for anyone to rent their venue out for the few days a year the Hall of Fame Game and Enshrinement aren't taking place (aside from Canton McKinley games that they begrudgingly let happen, which is a story for another day).

Ford Field almost happened simply because EMU did not want their turf touched and it was a bit too late to go looking elsewhere.

There's no way USFL is bringing up the money for an unknown return at Subaru or Red Bull. And that's if either one of them WANTS to even entertain the idea of an American Football team tearing up their grass field. Audi Field is IN the district, it's incredibly expensive and anything they can do to raise revenue is worthwhile. And I'm sure XFL wasn't paying a bargain rate for the privilege. XFL also plays much earlier in the season. MLS starts end of February. XFL was done by end of April. Two months overlap. USFL would be playing through the end of June. That's a lot of mid-season wear on their grass field.

And saying Union2 is an 'also-ran'... They're part of the same organization that runs the stadium. They've building a homogeneous brand at the stadium where they get all the revenue and build their brand and support. Renting to a third party to compete with them for fan dollars isn't exactly worth the few hundred thousand a day they might be able to command.

Alot of assumptions in there. We shall see what happens. Regardless - those are the stadium options.