Among the limited number of professional football leagues in the U.S. other than the NFL are the Extreme Football League (XFL) and The United States Football League (USFL). The heads of these two ‘minor’ leagues have recently decided to combine into one league called the United Football League (UFL). Unlike the NFL which plays in the fall, both leagues play in the springtime.
[Photo 1 citation: Blake Jackson of the Houston Roughnecks celebrates in the endzone. (Photo by 2C2K Photography)]
Vince McMahon, media proprietor and former wrestler, established the XFL in 2001 to expand his business beyond World Wrestling Entertainment, according to Sportskeeda. Historically, the league struggled to gain momentum. It lasted only one season in 2001, and one short season in 2020 which was cut short due to COVID-19. Finally, the XFL was able to have a solid year of viewership in 2023.
The USFL had three seasons (1983 through 1985). In 1984 the USFL decided to have its 1986 season in the fall in order to compete with the NFL due to financial reasons. “…many of its teams were losing money, and the league’s television contract was not as lucrative as it had hoped,” USFL News Hub. The USFL disbanded before the 1986 season could start. “It (USFL) was unable to secure a television contract, and many of its teams were unable to compete financially with the NFL,” USFL News Hub. With an attempt to start the USFL in 2008 and once again in 2010 these efforts ultimately fell short. Finally, in 2022, the new USFL made its inaugural season.
In regards to the USFL, none of the leagues have any direct relationship with each other as they have all been managed by various entities. A new management came along with the 2020 resurgence as well.
“USFL games…averaged 601,000 viewers for 40 telecast this season…The same number of games for the XFL…averaged 622,000 viewers,” reported Sports Business Journal. The similarities in viewership (3% difference) make it a good idea for a merger, as both the XFL and USFL will benefit.
Both leagues were not big enough to sustainably reach substantial high viewership. However, this combined effort has the goal and potential to greatly promote entertainment, revenue, innovation and most importantly, expand player opportunities.
“I think this is a good move, as neither league would be able to survive if they were competing against each other,” senior Tommy Wotka said, supporting the common consensus that the leagues simply cannot generate enough viewership and revenue to support themselves independently. “Yeah I would, especially if some players I knew from their college days were to be playing,” Wotka said when asked if he would watch a UFL game this spring. Despite the NFL having the absolute highest caliber of football players, the newly formed UFL will still have tremendous talent competing on the field every single game.
With optimism present among students, some think the UFL will not only fail to compete with the NFL, but fail to survive entirely. One of those students is an avid football fan, senior George Salamoraghi. “No, I don’t think [UFL] will be able to. There’s just way too much competition and it’s competing in a very, very controlled market already.”
Salamoraghi also provided insight if the UFL will have any chance for competing market share with the NFL. “The NFL controls the market and it has all the money, capital, and the prestige to be able to get the best players the best opportunities to succeed,” Salamoraghi said. Unlike Wotka, Salamorahi would not willingly view a UFL game. In his eyes, top end talent of the UFL would be the same, if not worse than the bottom of the NFL.
“I think it’s a great merge, it’ll bring a lot more viewers and the games will be way more fun,” senior Declan Kennedy said. Kennedy is also really excited for the season to start] “[I went with my friends] last year to a DC Defenders XFL game and it was more fun than an NFL game.”
There will be eight teams in total spread across two different conferences. The teams and coaches are as listed below:
USFL conference
Birmingham Stallions: Skip Holtz
Houston Roughnecks: Curtis Johnson
Memphis Showboats: John DeFilippo
Michigan Panthers: Mike Nolan
XFL conference
Arlington Renegades: Bob Stoops
D.C. Defenders: Reggie Barlow
San Antonio Brahmas: Wade Phillips
St. Louis Battlehawks: Anthony Becht” ESPN
As for when the season kicks-off, the first game is scheduled to be between the Arlington Renegades of the XFL conference and the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL conference on March 30, 2024.
It’s very clear that students have mixed feelings about the UFL. Whether the league will last, or be able to compete in the professional football market with the NFL is unknown at this point in time.
