AAF Announces Starting Times For Week 1 Games

[XFL_FAN]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

2/9/19 Legends-Apollos @ 8PM
2/9/19 Fleet-Commanders @ 8PM
2/10/19 Express-Iron @ 2PM
2/10/19 Stallions-Hotshots @ 4PM

Weird that they have 2 games going on at once on Saturday, and they have 2 games 2 hours apart on Sunday... if the games are 2 hours long it works but I hope the XFL doesn't have this kind of time slotting for their games.

Potential XFL Week 1 games 2020:

2/8/20 Tampa Bay-Seattle @5PM
2/8/20 LA-STL @8PM
2/9/20 Dallas-Houston @5PM
2/9/20 NY-Washington @8PM

[MikeMitchell]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

2/9/19 Legends-Apollos @ 8PM
2/9/19 Fleet-Commanders @ 8PM
2/10/19 Express-Iron @ 2PM
2/10/19 Stallions-Hotshots @ 4PM

Weird that they have 2 games going on at once on Saturday, and they have 2 games 2 hours apart on Sunday... if the games are 2 hours long it works but I hope the XFL doesn't have this kind of time slotting for their games.

Potential XFL Week 1 games 2020:

2/8/20 Tampa Bay-Seattle @5PM
2/8/20 LA-STL @8PM
2/9/20 Dallas-Houston @5PM
2/9/20 NY-Washington @8PM

The AAF announced 1st down from the 25 yard line times.


Some quick observations:

Which games get the primetime CBS treatment in Week 1. Atlanta is their biggest tv market with the draw of Michael Vick as their OC on the road against Steve Spurrier and the Orlando team. The idea behind two Saturday night games is the ability to flex depending on which matchup is more interesting. Teams like Birmingham, Memphis and Salt Lake are going to get non primetime treatment. The weather shouldn't be an issue in these week 1 games. Barring heavy rain in Orlando. Their backup game is indoors at The Alamo Dome. You also need a backup game if one of the games is a blowout or if there are technical difficulties. A team like Salt Lake starts the season on the road 2 weeks in a row, that's probably designed to avoid bad weather.


I like your week 1 XFL schedule. If I was petitioning to the league. I would suggest the league launch opener takes place on Thursday Night February 6th in Prime time on either NBC or Fox. You want maximum eyeballs in that first game. LA or NY at St.Louis. Kickoff the league with pro football back in St. Louis. After week one, go back to standard Saturday/Sunday scheduling. I want Audi Field to get primetime treatment in The XFL. That setting should be great. That Seattle crowd has to also be on display in week one. It wouldn't shock me if NY opens up the road the first 2 weeks, just to avoid crazy early February weather. Dallas at Houston is the way to go in week one. You have a chance to fill either stadium with fans from both markets.

Both leagues need preseason games, even if they are not televised to the public. You want to iron out the kinks with rules, officiating etc... You also want to do a rehearsal of sorts for the broadcasts before taking it to primetime. If there are going to be brand new broadcast innovations, you want to test them out first before doing them live. You won't get a second chance to make a first impression.

[XFL_FAN]

The AAF announced 1st down from the 25 yard line times.

I made the dates and times based on what the XFL said when the league would kick off, but I do agree the XFL should make it a TNF game on prime time.

[MikeMitchell]

The AAF announced 1st down from the 25 yard line times.

I made the dates and times based on what the XFL said when the league would kick off, but I do agree the XFL should make it a TNF game on prime time.

Just for 1 week. Like the NFL’s regular season opener. Thursday night because WWE Smackdown will be on Fox by then on Friday nights. Also no head to head competition with The AAF on Thursday February 6th. Have all football fans watching. You can have 3 prime time games on opening week. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Have NY-DC as the Saturday game. Houston-Dallas on Sunday night. That Seattle Tampa game can be Sunday afternoon.

[XFL_FAN]

The AAF announced 1st down from the 25 yard line times.

I made the dates and times based on what the XFL said when the league would kick off, but I do agree the XFL should make it a TNF game on prime time.

Just for 1 week. Like the NFL’s regular season opener. Thursday night because WWE Smackdown will be on Fox by then on Friday nights. Also no head to head competition with The AAF on Thursday February 6th. Have all football fans watching. You can have 3 prime time games on opening week. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Have NY-DC as the Saturday game. Houston-Dallas on Sunday night. That Seattle Tampa game can be Sunday afternoon.

I actually like that schedule a lot. Maybe that's what the XFL would do, but probably not

[Regular Joe]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

[/b]

thats the problem with the AAF and I think it will ultimately fail. When viewers tune in, the first thing they will see is NOT A KICKOFF. It won't set up like a traditional game. To a first time viewer, it will be a turnoff. That is enough reason to start slamming the league about everything because its not the NFL, and thats what everyone will compare it too.

The UFL had that problem too, stupid crap like dayglo green markers. Seems harmless, but as soon as you see it, it aint football. Change the channel. Anybody who might give it a shot, casual fans are gone. Not Cowboys? wheres Peyton Manning? Ya know?!!

The AAF doesn't even have a channel, and if your at the game I thing its going to look minor league. like a practice.

[MikeMitchell]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

[/b]

thats the problem with the AAF and I think it will ultimately fail. When viewers tune in, the first thing they will see is NOT A KICKOFF. It won't set up like a traditional game. To a first time viewer, it will be a turnoff. That is enough reason to start slamming the league about everything because its not the NFL, and thats what everyone will compare it too.

The UFL had that problem too, stupid crap like dayglo green markers. Seems harmless, but as soon as you see it, it aint football. Change the channel. Anybody who might give it a shot, casual fans are gone. Not Cowboys? wheres Peyton Manning? Ya know?!!

The AAF doesn't even have a channel, and if your at the game I thing its going to look minor league. like a practice.

Where to start?

The interesting thing is that Oliver Luck made a point when he first got The XFL Commissioner job, to meet with execs and people who were involved in all these startup leagues. From The USFL all the way to The UFL. He mentioned in an interview with AJ Hawk that me met with the owners of The UFL. Ironically, Vince McMahon trademarked the United Football League when it's trademark was abandoned. He thought about using the name for this league but settled upon reviving the brand equity and attachment that he had with The XFL name.


The UFL went wrong in so many ways. They had some good coaches and players. They went the veteran route with some recognizable names but they messed up by making the league a weekday league in the fall. That color scheme thing forcing every team to have that dayglo green color on the uniforms was not only ugly but stupid. It was embarrassing how the games looked on TV. They had almost no one in the stands. It looked so bush league. No energy, horrible presentation and just bland football.


The AAF has a chance to stick. Their goal is to be a minor league to the NFL. Like a developmental league. The problem with that is when you push yourself as minor. People treat you that way. NFL Europe never took off in the states because it looked like glorified preseason games. Not real competition. QB's would rotate in and out of games just to get reps and it ended up being a league where it was more about players getting playing time than the outcome of the games. Don't get me wrong, that league ended up being very good for the football player, coaches, execs etc...but it never had that feel of a real pro football league.


That's what The USFL had going for itself early on. It felt like legit competition. The XFL's goal has to be them being the 2nd best pro football league in the world. Think of it as 8 NFL expansion teams. Teams #33 to #40. They need to present the best quality football outside of the NFL.

[MikeMitchell]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

[/b]

thats the problem with the AAF and I think it will ultimately fail. When viewers tune in, the first thing they will see is NOT A KICKOFF. It won't set up like a traditional game. To a first time viewer, it will be a turnoff. That is enough reason to start slamming the league about everything because its not the NFL, and thats what everyone will compare it too.

The UFL had that problem too, stupid crap like dayglo green markers. Seems harmless, but as soon as you see it, it aint football. Change the channel. Anybody who might give it a shot, casual fans are gone. Not Cowboys? wheres Peyton Manning? Ya know?!!

The AAF doesn't even have a channel, and if your at the game I thing its going to look minor league. like a practice.

Where to start?

The interesting thing is that Oliver Luck made a point when he first got The XFL Commissioner job, to meet with execs and people who were involved in all these startup leagues. From The USFL all the way to The UFL. He mentioned in an interview with AJ Hawk that me met with the owners of The UFL. Ironically, Vince McMahon trademarked the United Football League when it's trademark was abandoned. He thought about using the name for this league but settled upon reviving the brand equity and attachment that he had with The XFL name.


The UFL went wrong in so many ways. They had some good coaches and players. They went the veteran route with some recognizable names but they messed up by making the league a weekday league in the fall. That color scheme thing forcing every team to have that dayglo green color on the uniforms was not only ugly but stupid. It was embarrassing how the games looked on TV. They had almost no one in the stands. It looked so bush league. No energy, horrible presentation and just bland football. With the exception of The Nighthawks opening game, there was just no enthusiasm in the markets for the UFL.


The AAF has a chance to stick. Their goal is to be a minor league to the NFL. Like a developmental league. The problem with that is when you push yourself as minor. People treat you that way. NFL Europe never took off in the states because it looked like glorified preseason games. Not real competition. QB's would rotate in and out of games just to get reps and it ended up being a league where it was more about players getting playing time than the outcome of the games. Don't get me wrong, that league ended up being very good for the football player, coaches, execs etc...but it never had that feel of a real pro football league.


That's what The USFL had going for itself early on. It felt like legit competition. The XFL's goal has to be them being the 2nd best pro football league in the world. Think of it as 8 NFL expansion teams. Teams #33 to #40. They need to present the best quality football outside of the NFL.

[XFL_FAN]

The AAF announced "kickoff" times for their week 1 games: (they don't have kickoffs, but you get what I'm saying )

thats the problem with the AAF and I think it will ultimately fail. When viewers tune in, the first thing they will see is NOT A KICKOFF. It won't set up like a traditional game. To a first time viewer, it will be a turnoff. That is enough reason to start slamming the league about everything because its not the NFL, and thats what everyone will compare it too.

The UFL had that problem too, stupid crap like dayglo green markers. Seems harmless, but as soon as you see it, it aint football. Change the channel. Anybody who might give it a shot, casual fans are gone. Not Cowboys? wheres Peyton Manning? Ya know?!!

The AAF doesn't even have a channel, and if your at the game I thing its going to look minor league. like a practice.

The AAF will have the opener and championship game on CBS with 1 game a week on CBSSN. The XFL is looking like they'll get a better deal than that though with NBC. But I do agree "keep the foot in football" and that's what the XFL is going to do. In their rule videos they said innovate the game but not to the point where it's just plain gimmicks. If the XFL sticks to that, it can be around for a long time.