>> “We enjoyed our relationship with the USFL and Fox, but the new earlier schedule made it impossible for us to continue,” NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes told Ourand. “We wish them success with the new league and their new partners.”
Previously, Fox and NBC shared the games of the USFL. As Ourand notes, the USFL/XFL combo platter likely will be televised by Fox and ESPN/ABC.
More details are expected in the not-too-distant future. A tweet from last week identifying the eight teams of the new league is, we’re told, premature.
Regardless, the clock is ticking. The new league debuts in less than four months. <<
>> “We enjoyed our relationship with the USFL and Fox, but the new earlier schedule made it impossible for us to continue,” NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes told Ourand. “We wish them success with the new league and their new partners.”
Previously, Fox and NBC shared the games of the USFL. As Ourand notes, the USFL/XFL combo platter likely will be televised by Fox and ESPN/ABC.
More details are expected in the not-too-distant future. A tweet from last week identifying the eight teams of the new league is, we’re told, premature.
Regardless, the clock is ticking. The new league debuts in less than four months. <<
Premature... Shocking !!
Time is a ticking
Ah yes, Mike Florio, who 5 years from now, when Tom Brady gets his bust and gold jacket in Canton, will still say "anytime now, Brady will return to play QB for the Dolphins or 49ers."
While it's understandable that people are grumbling about an eight-team league for any number of reasons, the thing to remember is that this merger happened as an effort to save money on the part of both Fox and RBC. Minimizing the number of teams in the league will greatly do that (though I don't think you can realistically go lower than eight).
At least for the first year, keep the franchises that can draw well in their respective markets (or have a reasonable lease agreement), hopefully to avoid the need for a hub, and build from there. Again, it's not the preferred way of doing things, but it may be a cost-saving measure necessary to get through year one and beyond.
I think of the teams that are going to be on hiatus, I can't see the Vegas Vipers or Pittsburgh Maulers ever coming back, at least not in the cities they were intended for anyways, unless Las Vegas gets an MLS team (and I don't know if Vegas wants to pay for yet another pro sports stadium when they will probably suggest the Vegas MLS team play at Allegiant Stadium, although seems unlikely unless Mark Davis is the owner). If the Maulers return for 2024, it will be in Ohio. All Pittsburgh has that is considered a suitable venue for the merged league is Acrisure Stadium and that holds 68,400.
GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:31 pm
While it's understandable that people are grumbling about an eight-team league for any number of reasons, the thing to remember is that this merger happened as an effort to save money on the part of both Fox and RBC. Minimizing the number of teams in the league will greatly do that (though I don't think you can realistically go lower than eight).
At least for the first year, keep the franchises that can draw well in their respective markets (or have a reasonable lease agreement), hopefully to avoid the need for a hub, and build from there. Again, it's not the preferred way of doing things, but it may be a cost-saving measure necessary to get through year one and beyond.
Not grumbling at all about 8 team league... I predicted it for said cost saving. But I think Florio was referencing WHERE the teams will be located ie Identifying the teams
The way it's worded does seem to point to who the teams are and not so much the number of teams. However you do also get the message DJ posted on his Instagram the other day which reads:
"...and now we all continue to work hard to create even greater opportunities for players, coaches & staffs in our 2024 season this spring"
Obviously this is open to interpretation but it sounds a lot like the concept of all the jobs being lost hasn't fallen on deaf ears, especially since he also mentions coaches and staffs.
Rmbay wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:17 am
The way it's worded does seem to point to who the teams are and not so much the number of teams.
Yeah, I guess I was more basing my post on people I've seen on social media who are agitated that "only" eight teams are projected to survive the merger. But yes, I see now that this particular link seems to indicate which teams is up for dispute, rather than the number.
