Fox investing $150 million over 3 years?

[4th&long]

What's this?

https://www.al.com/news/2021/10/usfl-pr ... -2022.html

>> The league, which originally launched in 1983 and lasted three seasons, announced its return in June under the ownership of an entity called The Spring League. Fox Sports owns the league and has committed $150 million over three years to its operations. It’s also the league’s official broadcast partner. <<

[GregParks]

Big if true. Even at $50 million a year, that's a pretty healthy chunk of change, especially if Woods/Fox have other financial partners interested in joining. Playing in a hub city like Birmingham will cut down on some of the travel/stadium rental/etc. costs so that money could be spent elsewhere.

You'll have to pardon me if I'm a little skeptical, however. It seems like an odd bit to be dropped into this news article as if it's common knowledge - I don't believe that number has been reported anywhere else and hasn't been made public by Woods/Fox/USFL. Usually they'd at least include "sources have told us" on the number or something like that.

[4th&long]

Big if true. Even at $50 million a year, that's a pretty healthy chunk of change, especially if Woods/Fox have other financial partners interested in joining. Playing in a hub city like Birmingham will cut down on some of the travel/stadium rental/etc. costs so that money could be spent elsewhere.

You'll have to pardon me if I'm a little skeptical, however. It seems like an odd bit to be dropped into this news article as if it's common knowledge - I don't believe that number has been reported anywhere else and hasn't been made public by Woods/Fox/USFL. Usually they'd at least include "sources have told us" on the number or something like that.

GP,

USFL news is heating up. FOX appears to be all in. They OWN it. That's the key. I said wayyyy back, no Network is going to FUND a new league via massive TV contracts so someone else can make money. Aint happening. Hence why the XFL does not have a contract and why Fox owned USFL does. Some people didn't agree then, now they may think diff.

XFL news hub has picked up on the story (from AL.com) and "the_markcast" is hearing something too.

TOO MUCH MONEY in FB - PERIOD. Live sports is the ONLY sure thing get eyeballs on your stream or TV. By owning or controlling the USFL they control the content. They need that. Fox lost out on NHL, has no NBA. They have NFL in fall which is expensive as hell. and some CFB but they need more and spring.

[Sounder]

So when does this start? In spring? It's right around the corner and they have no teams or players. I say raise your hand if you wanna play and let's draw up plays in the dirt. Delayed until 2023.

[4th&long]

So when does this start? In spring? It's right around the corner and they have no teams or players. I say raise your hand if you wanna play and let's draw up plays in the dirt. Delayed until 2023.

April 15th - 8 teams 10 games/weeks plus 2 weeks of playoffs. Championship target date 7/3/22

[herns]

So when does this start? In spring? It's right around the corner and they have no teams or players. I say raise your hand if you wanna play and let's draw up plays in the dirt. Delayed until 2023.

I feel like they probably have a player pool and coaches set up and just haven’t announced it. Theres been a lot of rumors they signed Chad Kelly to be in the player pool

[Gopher123]

I know I feel much more comfortable with getting excited about the USFL if Fox is the owner and is committed to spending that kind of money. When the USFL first announced it was coming back I wasn’t convinced. Fox supposedly had a minority stake in it with Wood’s team of investors, (which unless I missed it were never announced) paying the bills seemed too sketchy for me. I know Woods talked of being careful as how to spend Fox’s money but we had no idea how much that was at the time.

A couple good calls here if the USFL gets it done. First, Birmingham is a great city to have games in. It’s a city that has good history with the original USFL plus a new stadium to use is a win for everyone. Secondly, if the rumors are true, it would be very fitting to have a Kelly still in the USFL. I always thought he had talent and maybe this is the jump start his career needs.

[GregParks]

Big if true. Even at $50 million a year, that's a pretty healthy chunk of change, especially if Woods/Fox have other financial partners interested in joining. Playing in a hub city like Birmingham will cut down on some of the travel/stadium rental/etc. costs so that money could be spent elsewhere.

You'll have to pardon me if I'm a little skeptical, however. It seems like an odd bit to be dropped into this news article as if it's common knowledge - I don't believe that number has been reported anywhere else and hasn't been made public by Woods/Fox/USFL. Usually they'd at least include "sources have told us" on the number or something like that.

GP,

USFL news is heating up. FOX appears to be all in. They OWN it. That's the key. I said wayyyy back, no Network is going to FUND a new league via massive TV contracts so someone else can make money. Aint happening. Hence why the XFL does not have a contract and why Fox owned USFL does. Some people didn't agree then, now they may think diff.

I certainly understand that. The question was always just HOW MUCH Fox was willing to put into the deal. They seemed to be fine with TSL being relatively cheap programming for them without a lot of money being invested in it (granted, they didn't OWN it at the time, but still, they could've poured more money in via a TV deal. Yes, a TV deal makes others money but the idea is that it makes the network money, too). There was little indication their ownership stake in the USFL would be any different other than acquiring cheap programming. I'm not yet sure the hundreds of millions of dollars they're allegedly planning to invest into the league only to draw a few hundred thousand or a million viewers, instead of drawing half that for hundreds of millions less, makes a lot of sense to me. But it ain't my money.

TOO MUCH MONEY in FB - PERIOD. Live sports is the ONLY sure thing get eyeballs on your stream or TV. By owning or controlling the USFL they control the content. They need that. Fox lost out on NHL, has no NBA. They have NFL in fall which is expensive as hell. and some CFB but they need more and spring.

And that's why this is all so interesting to me, because up 'til this point, secondary sports leagues have struggled to get any kind of substantial TV contracts while industry leaders keep seeing their deals increase exponentially. This isn't a TV contract per se, but as you mentioned, FOX bought the company so they could have football programming, which is tantamount to a TV contract. But all things being equal, what made the USFL more attractive than the XFL when it comes to FOX dipping their toe into this water again? Either the amount of $$ they're putting into USFL is still less than what the XFL was looking for (which, if true, good luck XFL), or it's all about that ownership stake.

[herns]

Big if true. Even at $50 million a year, that's a pretty healthy chunk of change, especially if Woods/Fox have other financial partners interested in joining. Playing in a hub city like Birmingham will cut down on some of the travel/stadium rental/etc. costs so that money could be spent elsewhere.

You'll have to pardon me if I'm a little skeptical, however. It seems like an odd bit to be dropped into this news article as if it's common knowledge - I don't believe that number has been reported anywhere else and hasn't been made public by Woods/Fox/USFL. Usually they'd at least include "sources have told us" on the number or something like that.

GP,

USFL news is heating up. FOX appears to be all in. They OWN it. That's the key. I said wayyyy back, no Network is going to FUND a new league via massive TV contracts so someone else can make money. Aint happening. Hence why the XFL does not have a contract and why Fox owned USFL does. Some people didn't agree then, now they may think diff.

I certainly understand that. The question was always just HOW MUCH Fox was willing to put into the deal. They seemed to be fine with TSL being relatively cheap programming for them without a lot of money being invested in it (granted, they didn't OWN it at the time, but still, they could've poured more money in via a TV deal. Yes, a TV deal makes others money but the idea is that it makes the network money, too). There was little indication their ownership stake in the USFL would be any different other than acquiring cheap programming. I'm not yet sure the hundreds of millions of dollars they're allegedly planning to invest into the league only to draw a few hundred thousand or a million viewers, instead of drawing half that for hundreds of millions less, makes a lot of sense to me. But it ain't my money.

TOO MUCH MONEY in FB - PERIOD. Live sports is the ONLY sure thing get eyeballs on your stream or TV. By owning or controlling the USFL they control the content. They need that. Fox lost out on NHL, has no NBA. They have NFL in fall which is expensive as hell. and some CFB but they need more and spring.

And that's why this is all so interesting to me, because up 'til this point, secondary sports leagues have struggled to get any kind of substantial TV contracts while industry leaders keep seeing their deals increase exponentially. This isn't a TV contract per se, but as you mentioned, FOX bought the company so they could have football programming, which is tantamount to a TV contract. But all things being equal, what made the USFL more attractive than the XFL when it comes to FOX dipping their toe into this water again? Either the amount of $$ they're putting into USFL is still less than what the XFL was looking for (which, if true, good luck XFL), or it's all about that ownership stake.

Do you think that fox is putting in that money because they see this as being something a lot bigger. The interview with the Alabama news on Markcast gave me the feeling that they believe that they’ll get an additional $250 million from outside investors, also interesting that the guy said he talked to the Birmingham counsel no one has ever heard of who Brian woods is and it was presented as fox being the sole owner of the league

[GregParks]

Do you think that fox is putting in that money because they see this as being something a lot bigger.

I'd have to imagine, because that's a lot of lettuce. It's really the only explanation that makes sense. But that's an AWFUL lot of money to throw at a big risk, especially when they're starting so small in terms of ratings expectations, doing a hub city, etc. First impressions are important and even with Fox's money, if people see the USFL starting small, it may be harder for them to gain acceptance as something more than that.