SBJ: UFL’s first season provides a building block
Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 10:35 am
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/A ... Source=sbd
>> The UFL was not profitable in Year 1, and Fox Sports and RedBird Capital Partners are providing business services to the league for the foreseeable future. But its sustainability is ahead of the projected pace, said Shanks.“We’re on target with our business plan, but we’re definitely still in investment mode,” Shanks said. “In the business plan, each year there’s less cash investment that has to come in, and we’re on target for this thing being way more sustainable going into next season than it was going into the startup season. So we feel really good about it, and I think RedBird does, too.”Football credibility and real connections with the NFL are also key to the UFL vision, which is to be a free-standing league that also is a credible developmental option for aspirational NFL players. Next season, expect some games to move to Friday night broadcast windows, partially to clear up weekend afternoon space to accommodate Fox’s new IndyCar deal and to fill the vacancy from WWE’s “SmackDown,” which leaves Fox for USA Network in September.“The strategy is really simple,” said Mike Mulvihill, president of insights and analytics at Fox. “It’s just to get as many games as possible on a broadcast network or on the flagship ESPN network.” <<
Also >> Disney and Fox closely collaborate when it comes to the UFL, as both are shareholders and rights holders.
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Cost containment also will remain a priority, but the UFL will invest in local sales teams in each market, pushing season tickets, group and premium products with continued help from the league-level ticketing division, led by Senior Vice President Jason Gonella. <<
This is a great article. It further confirms what we've discussed. Including that both RBC and Fox are providing biz services. UFL not profitable yet. Used to fill Smackdown and provide some dates to Indy car now that the deal is done. etc...
There's lots of information here... good stuff, must read.
>> The UFL was not profitable in Year 1, and Fox Sports and RedBird Capital Partners are providing business services to the league for the foreseeable future. But its sustainability is ahead of the projected pace, said Shanks.“We’re on target with our business plan, but we’re definitely still in investment mode,” Shanks said. “In the business plan, each year there’s less cash investment that has to come in, and we’re on target for this thing being way more sustainable going into next season than it was going into the startup season. So we feel really good about it, and I think RedBird does, too.”Football credibility and real connections with the NFL are also key to the UFL vision, which is to be a free-standing league that also is a credible developmental option for aspirational NFL players. Next season, expect some games to move to Friday night broadcast windows, partially to clear up weekend afternoon space to accommodate Fox’s new IndyCar deal and to fill the vacancy from WWE’s “SmackDown,” which leaves Fox for USA Network in September.“The strategy is really simple,” said Mike Mulvihill, president of insights and analytics at Fox. “It’s just to get as many games as possible on a broadcast network or on the flagship ESPN network.” <<
Also >> Disney and Fox closely collaborate when it comes to the UFL, as both are shareholders and rights holders.
~
Cost containment also will remain a priority, but the UFL will invest in local sales teams in each market, pushing season tickets, group and premium products with continued help from the league-level ticketing division, led by Senior Vice President Jason Gonella. <<
This is a great article. It further confirms what we've discussed. Including that both RBC and Fox are providing biz services. UFL not profitable yet. Used to fill Smackdown and provide some dates to Indy car now that the deal is done. etc...
There's lots of information here... good stuff, must read.