How the USFL/FOX changed forever the way Liberty Stadium will be on TV

[4th&long]

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/ ... 308192007/

>> So eventually, as FOX’s Brad Cheney surveyed what the network would be dealing with when it brought the USFL back to Memphis this spring, he settled on a dilemma Memphis football fans have been complaining about for years, ever since Tigers’ games were regularly on national television.

“We looked at the sun, we looked at the seating, and we said, ‘Wait a minute.’ The really nice side of the stands with shade is the press box side,” Cheney said last week. “If there’s shade, people are going to want to go there, and we want to show the fans that are in the stadium.”

Thus began a three-month project that is likely to change how Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is seen on television forever, not just over the past few months when the Memphis Showboats and Houston Gamblers were playing USFL games here.

FOX Sports, which owns the USFL, became the first entity to figure out how to position cameras on the east side of the stadium, opposite where television production trucks are traditionally stationed. It did so by investing more than $250,000 in 75,000-feet of fiber optics cabling that was installed under and around the building ahead of this spring football season. The network views it as “a long-term investment," Cheney emphasized, and one that can be used once Memphis football season arrives as well. <<

Interesting article. Fox put down a pretty penny to Liberty Stadium, hopefully they expect to stay for a while. The upcoming stadium renovations will incorporate these as well. Win-win for Memphis/Liberty Stad.

[Invaders]

Very cool. I feel like Memphis, Michigan, and Birmingham are pretty solid. I think Canton could be if they renamed one of the teams for Ohio. I'd love to see them be able to work out 4 other arrangements where they and the venue/locality can come off as winners to fill this thing out. Hopefully this type of thing opens doors with some of the other venues that they look into.

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

Very cool. I feel like Memphis, Michigan, and Birmingham are pretty solid. I think Canton could be if they renamed one of the teams for Ohio. I'd love to see them be able to work out 4 other arrangements where they and the venue/locality can come off as winners to fill this thing out. Hopefully this type of thing opens doors with some of the other venues that they look into.

Maybe they go back to the Ohio Brawlers, the name proposed by Brian Woods for one of his teams back in the day.

Think of the rivalry: Maulers vs. the Brawlers!

But seriously, this is the kind of investment work that all football leagues should be considering.

[Sykotyk]

If they're going with hubs again, it would make sense to make a new team for Ohio and maybe keep Pittsburgh there as well. NJ/PHI at least need to hub in Eastern PA somewhere. No matter what it takes, you put the two in Philly at Villanova, Franklin Field, Linc, Union's Stadium, etc... somewhere.

With their economics, I can't see them going through with the costs/advertising/community relations, etc to build a fan base that will be worth the cost of two stadiums. But for TV they need that Philly and NJ/NY market to tune in and watch.

[GDAWG]

If they're going with hubs again, it would make sense to make a new team for Ohio and maybe keep Pittsburgh there as well. NJ/PHI at least need to hub in Eastern PA somewhere. No matter what it takes, you put the two in Philly at Villanova, Franklin Field, Linc, Union's Stadium, etc... somewhere.

With their economics, I can't see them going through with the costs/advertising/community relations, etc to build a fan base that will be worth the cost of two stadiums. But for TV they need that Philly and NJ/NY market to tune in and watch.

I think if they keep the Stars and Generals in the areas they have designated, they don't need the Gamblers in Houston.

[Invaders]

I think if they keep the Stars and Generals in the areas they have designated, they don't need the Gamblers in Houston.

As I kid, I my teams were:
1. Invaders
2. Bandits
3. Gamblers

I'm not saying you're wrong, but you can imagine how I feel about your proposal! haha.

[Sykotyk]

If they're going with hubs again, it would make sense to make a new team for Ohio and maybe keep Pittsburgh there as well. NJ/PHI at least need to hub in Eastern PA somewhere. No matter what it takes, you put the two in Philly at Villanova, Franklin Field, Linc, Union's Stadium, etc... somewhere.

With their economics, I can't see them going through with the costs/advertising/community relations, etc to build a fan base that will be worth the cost of two stadiums. But for TV they need that Philly and NJ/NY market to tune in and watch.

I think if they keep the Stars and Generals in the areas they have designated, they don't need the Gamblers in Houston.

Plus, USFL is already fighting an uphill battle against an XFL team that has played 1.5 seasons now, actually plays in town, and would be essentially starting new. If they are limited on resources, it would be better suited to get the philly or NYC markets into the league and attending games. Pull a TB and put Houston on ice for now if you're going to home markets.

[GDAWG]

So the USFL Podcast says that the Showboats will continue to play at Liberty Stadium during the renovations for next season.