UFL expansion plans begin

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/novemb ... am-markets

The United Football League today announced it has officially launched its first expansion process. The UFL is accepting proposals from prospective markets looking to bring spring football to their communities and be a part of the growth of the sport. In its search to identify the strongest markets to support its ambitious growth goals, the UFL is looking at several core attributes when selecting its new cities, including fan interest and existing sports culture, geography and population and venue and infrastructure availability.

[GregParks]

This is not an announcement I expected to wake up to on this Monday morning. 

[GDAWG]

waits for UFL fans on Reddit to post "the UFL should expand into Canada"  

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

waits for UFL fans on Reddit to post "the UFL should expand into Canada"  
 

I mean, I'd love to see Halifax, Quebec City and St. John's, Newfoundland get teams if only for the broadcast windows that would open up with them (a 10:30 a.m. ET start time without having to go to Europe? What other sport is playing at that hour on this continent?). Do I think it's realistic? Not at all.

But my favorite will be the long list of cities where all the fanboys will want to bring the UFL for nonsensical reasons. "We've gotta go to Chicago! Sure, they've failed at every other alt-league but think of the market size!" Or "why don't they put a team in Podunk? All the other cities already have sports teams."

[GDAWG]

waits for UFL fans on Reddit to post "the UFL should expand into Canada"  

 

I mean, I'd love to see Halifax, Quebec City and St. John's, Newfoundland get teams if only for the broadcast windows that would open up with them (a 10:30 a.m. ET start time without having to go to Europe? What other sport is playing at that hour on this continent?). Do I think it's realistic? Not at all.

But my favorite will be the long list of cities where all the fanboys will want to bring the UFL for nonsensical reasons. "We've gotta go to Chicago! Sure, they've failed at every other alt-league but think of the market size!" Or "why don't they put a team in Podunk? All the other cities already have sports teams."

We both know of a certain poster on here who will say that about Chicago.  

[4th&long]

https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/novemb ... am-markets

The United Football League today announced it has officially launched its first expansion process. The UFL is accepting proposals from prospective markets looking to bring spring football to their communities and be a part of the growth of the sport. In its search to identify the strongest markets to support its ambitious growth goals, the UFL is looking at several core attributes when selecting its new cities, including fan interest and existing sports culture, geography and population and venue and infrastructure availability.

 

My kinda Day!!

After that conference at SBJ - I'm less surprised.  They seemed more up beat.

NJ Generals!  TB Bandits!  Philly Stars! Orlando?  Seattle?

[GregParks]

Interested to see if former USFL/XFL franchise cities are given preferential treatment over new ones. If, say, Nashville and Seattle both put in "bids," will the UFL defer to Seattle since they have a previous history there?

[4th&long]

Interested to see if former USFL/XFL franchise cities are given preferential treatment over new ones. If, say, Nashville and Seattle both put in "bids," will the UFL defer to Seattle since they have a previous history there?

 

1) what generates the most TV ratings (they mentioned population)
2) Cost effective (ie low operating costs)
3) Has potential for solid attendance
4) Stadiums available
5) Ticket pricing power
6) City that makes concessions
7) Potential ownership groups

That's what's going to be the driver.  Now there is overlap with prior markets but its all about the $$$ benefit

[Coffeeeyes]

Begin westward expansion.

Bring back Seattle and put a franchise in San Diego or Oakland, that’s the best bet.

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

Interested to see if former USFL/XFL franchise cities are given preferential treatment over new ones. If, say, Nashville and Seattle both put in "bids," will the UFL defer to Seattle since they have a previous history there?

 

 

Seattle's tough because not only is the environment different from when they were a runaway success in 2020 (the Kraken have arrived and the season is now in the spring up against the Sounders and Mariners) but because it's so far out of the way. I seriously think they're out of the question now.  Literally the only thing they have going for them is more time slot flexibility (which was more of a benefit in 2023 when the league loved to bury them and Vegas in late Thursday time slots on FX to fulfill the TV contract).

So no, I really don't think there will be that much of a deference because there were only two other markets outside Seattle that actually hosted games in 2023, Vegas (which was a flop) and Orlando (likewise). Both teams were awful on and off the field. Orlando was kind of an anomaly because of how badly the whole situation was managed (shoehorning the Guardians name custom-designed for NYC just to keep the copyright) but Vegas simply has a really bad track record.

On the USFL side, we know that New Orleans very nearly got to see the Breakers in their home market had they been accepted with the merger. That's really the only example of deference I could see. If Pittsburgh and Philadelphia submit bids, it will be on equal footing with the other cities' bids; I didn't really see either team build an effective following in the two years they played never setting foot in PA.

I stand corrected... MAYBE a New York / New Jersey bid would get some deference thanks to the Guardians in 2020, a huge market size and a surprisingly good track record with second-tier ball (the last team to underperform compared to the rest of the league was back in the 70s). If they can make expenses work, I'd have to think they'd get to the front of the line because TV networks will eat that up.