ESPN101 - UFL VP D Johnston

[4th&long]

Radio interview:

https://www.101espn.com/episode/ufl-exe ... -johnston/

Talking typical stuff - pumping StL tix too

[MarkNelson]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

[MGB01]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

And? Would pushing it for five minutes today during Dolphins/Colts make you feel better (although in that case it might be an improvement)? Please to tell me where a secondary professional league is a thing anywhere nearly five months into its offseason. I care about March to June, might be just me.

Hell we'll have either Yankees/Dodgers for the first time in over 40 years or the Subway Series and the only thing anyone wants to talk about there is how many pitchforks should be out for Dave Roberts if the Dodgers choke. I'm sure that's a great thing for MLB's bottom line.................................

[GregParks]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

 I care about March to June, might be just me.

The problem with this attitude is there aren't enough people who even care about March to June yet. The point of the off-season should be an outreach to people who don't even know this league is a thing yet. They need to grow their audience to survive over the long term, and some of that growth can happen during the off-season where you have the opportunity make more people aware of your brand. 

Sure, it's difficult for a secondary professional league to break into the consciousness of the casual fan during its off-season, as you suggest; I'm not sure that means they shouldn't try. 

[4th&long]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

 I care about March to June, might be just me.

The problem with this attitude is there aren't enough people who even care about March to June yet. The point of the off-season should be an outreach to people who don't even know this league is a thing yet. They need to grow their audience to survive over the long term, and some of that growth can happen during the off-season where you have the opportunity make more people aware of your brand. 

Sure, it's difficult for a secondary professional league to break into the consciousness of the casual fan during its off-season, as you suggest; I'm not sure that means they shouldn't try. 

Being on Prime Time TV for 10-11 weeks will help. 

Being in Major markets will help too. XFL did add, DC and Dallas which was a plus - but being in NY/NJ would help. 

As far as being a secondary league... There is one MAJOR difference between all the other sports 'minor' or 'lesser leagues' ...
The UFL season does not overlap NFL (or CFB for that matter) season - at all.  If you like good FB its now on late March thru mid June.  It should be marketed to FB fans - of course.  But acting like its a farm system - I was ALWAYS against - it should be like the CFL of America.

Ratings improved last year and all 3 playoffs broke 1mm viewers.  Its rising, does RBC/Fox have the stomach to keep it going as it continues to grow?  That's the question.   I believe we all hope so.

[XFL Crusader]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

Where should the UFL sit in the sports hierarchy? 

I would argue higher than the WNBA but right now we have the 800-pound NFL, MLB playoffs, and the NHL and NBA just started. 

It is spring football. 

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

He's trying to promote the league, as he should. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes how deep a hole his spring league sits when it comes to the overall sports world. 

Where should the UFL sit in the sports hierarchy? 

I would argue higher than the WNBA but right now we have the 800-pound NFL, MLB playoffs, and the NHL and NBA just started. 

It is spring football. 

And the WNBA is summer basketball. What we are seeing with Clarkamania is the biggest wild card that sport has ever seen. Clarkamania trounced the UFL head-to-head earlier this year.

In an ideal world, the UFL has to be high enough to justify network TV without a brokerage deal. That means at least NHL, higher than MLS. That's doable, and the UFL is there now, but eventually I'd like to see at least some games bounce back to what we saw in 2020 before the world fell apart.