After 1 weekend with the USFL will it make it

[carolinakid]

For me it does not have that IT factor and i may be wrong, i just dont see this league making it..............any opinions??

 

[Tanko]

I think it will go at least 3 years based on finances. Fox invested $150M over 3 years then NBC jumped in with some $ for broadcast rights.

The math looks right:
38 players/team paid $4500/wk x 10 weeks = ~$1.7M/team
7 practice players/team paid $1500/wk x 10 weeks = $100k/team
8 teams
~$14.5M/yr for just players.

Add coaches, trainers, refs, front office, others.... Estimate an additional 20 people per team for this stuff. As a rough estimate add another 50% to the $14.5M = $7.4M/yr

Add in stadium rental (UAB pays $25K/game so use that as a starting point). $100k/weekend x 10 weeks = $1M/yr

Add players/coaches room and board (est $300/day) for 10 weeks w/ ~60 people/team = $10M/yr

Total so far = ~$25M/yr.
Double the total to cover all the stuff I've not mentioned... Insurance, fees, etc... = $50M/yr

Total for 3 years ~$150M which is what Fox committed up front.


Now the real question is will it make it long-term based on fans/ratings.

 

[Florida Fever]

They just need more teams. Maybe next year.

 

[Wagerallsports]

I hope it makes it ck

 

[lemartinsports]

if it makes it, that just means more sports and action for us so i hope it makes it. i'm a tad bummed i missed watching the games over the weekend, but i'll definitely check it out the games this upcoming weekend

 

[lemartinsports]

having more football action just sounds nice

 

[carolinakid]

i would like to see the tv ratings for the 1st weekend let say against the 5th to 6th weekend of play

 

[lemartinsports]

i would like to see the tv ratings for the 1st weekend let say against the 5th to 6th weekend of play

i would like to see this as well honestly

 

[lemartinsports]

also, have you seen this?

Dwayne Johnson’s XFL Sets Football R&D Pact With NFL

The pact calls for the leagues to collaborate on player health and safety initiatives and efforts to 'expand the game of football.'

variety.com

 

[carolinakid]

i just dont see this as a normal fan coming out to watch thing at all, just the people who bet it.

 

[carolinakid]

no i have not seen that

 

[Tanko]

With only 50 fans (likely family) in the stands for the Sunday games, that kind of shows you how much people are buying into this league. Granted it was Easter but still no one went to the game.

Like I said above, I think they are OK for 3 years financially. If the TV ratings are crap, Fox/NBC may kill it sooner than later.

 

[Tanko]

If XFL starts up, that will hurt both leagues. It'll be interesting to see if XFL out-pays USFL or vice-versa. It'll make for a cut-throat process.

XFL may even have the leg up on the USFL with backing from NFL.

 

[BobbyFK]

It needs to grow more, there needs to be more fans at the games

 

[Tanko]

It needs to grow more, there needs to be more fans at the games

Mr. Bobby is right. It doesn't look good on TV to have the stands so empty.

 

[Orbison]

i thought the NFL was subsidizing the USFL? or maybe that was something else

 

[Tanko]

i thought the NFL was subsidizing the USFL? or maybe that was something else

Are they? I cant find anything on google for ties between NFL and USFL. I could easily be wrong though.

I do believe there are ties between NFL & the XFL.

 

[carolinakid]

i did a little checking here too and i have no idea either

 

[BobbyFK]

Mr. Bobby is right. It doesn't look good on TV to have the stands so empty.

Overtime I am sure it will get better as more fans get into it and become aware of it

 

[Orbison]

Are they? I cant find anything on google for ties between NFL and USFL. I could easily be wrong though.

I do believe there are ties between NFL & the XFL.

ah ok, that must be it then