Breaking News..Merger approved by government

[MGB01]

March 30 (four months from today), interesting. This is the league bypassing the ESPN2/FX-dominated period where ratings, although weren't terrible (find me something that wasn't tourney-related that was a ratings goldmine), were understandably their lowest.

For reference this is the SEA/ORL-SA/ARL point (game-wise, since the Final Four is the next week). So a Sat/Sun ABC showcase, wasn't happening with ABC having NHL both days, after all?

If FOX is back in, do we see a DH with MLB opening Saturday?

[Rmbay]

where was it stated that it was a 5+3 model? Everything im seeing seems to be 4 and 4

If houston sticks with Roughnecks. If all cities will be playing in location they may go Roughnecks. If Houston plays all games in a hub (say memphis or Arlington) I can see it being Gamblers.

Just think of it this way... its not USFL or XFL teams ... its UFL or what USXFL merged league Teams now.

A bigger concern to me is the RUMORED cities only account for 11.3% of TV households and about half that is in Texas. Does that attract enough TV viewers??

I'm thinking the USFL probably looked at local ratings in NY/NJ, Philly, Pittsburgh, and NOLA and realized the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. With no Generals, perhaps the local rating in NYC drops from a .02 to .015, that's basically just static at this point.

I get the feeling they're going to the most passionate and affordable markets to establish the league and give it some cred with the average viewer. In a world of social media hot-takes positive or negative perceptions can often gain momentum and start to steamroll one way or the other. This will (hopefully) attract investor/ownership interest which in turn would probably allow the league to expand back to the northeast and to the west in due time.

[MGB01]

I like the UFL name, it has recognition to it and allows them to market the XFL and USFL as United. I’m sure less talent being divided between leagues will mean better play too.

Funny, as mocked as it was (and that other thing called the UFL was still insisting as of three weeks ago they were full sail towards 2024) leave it to Al Michaels to make it arguably more of a thing than it was when it was in existence by telling the Mike McDaniel/Steve Baylark story--I'm just glad it wasn't JDW, Papa might have come along and gone full John Creasy/Lonzo (wasn't doing Equalizer yet) on McD's ass

So at least run with the new publicity, and as much of a non-fan as I was of UBF at least put that to use--Player 54 had tones of that anyway.

[XFL4ever]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2023 ... 758335007/


Any validity to this report ??

[4th&long]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2023 ... 758335007/


Any validity to this report ??

Not according to SBJ or the USFLPA. Nothing is finalized, BUT this seems to be the latest rumor and likely at least directionally correct.

[yg1968]

I am not too happy about the 5 XFL -3 USFL Teams split, if true. I would have preferred more USFL teams.

where was it stated that it was a 5+3 model? Everything im seeing seems to be 4 and 4

[GDAWG]

If the season starts March 20th, nobody is going to attend Renegades or Houston games in May and June