Jump to content

The dead UFL


EJ_Barlik

Recommended Posts

Interesting....

http://www.behance.net/gallery/UFL/13960187

this makes it look like there were supposed to be 8 teams on the field at some point. I'm not sure I buy that with all the issues they had, but at least we have a full logo set now, and can reference them on this site if needed.

I also find it interesting that StubHub was apparently going to sponsor the Tuskers (take a close look at the helmet bar on the front in the 3/4 view).

Would certainly prove out the theory that they were hurting for money from the beginning.

Either that, or this is an ex-post-facto retrospective.....

spacer.png  5-time Defending NL East Champions spacer.png 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I followed the UFL. The NY Sentinels became the Hartford Colonials. The California Redwoods became the Sacramento Mountain Lions. The Tuskers were sponsored by Stubhub at one time (and also partially owned by the Tampa Bay Rays). The Tuskers became the Virginia Destroyers.

EDIT: The league had 5 franchises total, 3 of which rebranded at some point. NY/Hartford, California/Sacramento, Florida/Virginia, Las Vegas & Omaha

Hotter Than July > Thriller

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I followed the UFL. The NY Sentinels became the Hartford Colonials. The California Redwoods became the Sacramento Mountain Lions. The Tuskers were sponsored by Stubhub at one time (and also partially owned by the Tampa Bay Rays). The Tuskers became the Virginia Destroyers.

EDIT: The league had 5 franchises total, 3 of which rebranded at some point. NY/Hartford, California/Sacramento, Florida/Virginia, Las Vegas & Omaha

That's weird. A team owning a team in another sport.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember watching the finals of the UFL in the inagural season. Thought the logos weren't half bad, but damn, those were some terrible uniforms.

They really tried to do some bizzarre marketing scheme by making all the teams very similar. Original teams had colors the same as the UFL logo. I believe all of the uniforms had the same striping as well. I guess they were really pushing the "United" look. :lol:

But the Tuskers logo was, in my opinion, a good logo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The link says "The United Football League (UFL) was created to bring authentic , professional level play to underserved football markets and provide a platform for talented, un-signed players to showcase their skills to the National Football League (NFL)."

UNDESERVED markets? That sounds harsh.

The UFL actually lasted longer than I thought it would.

Funny, the Redskins have two UFL coaches on staff now. Jay Gruden was HC AND General Manager, and Jim Haslett was HC...same team too, the Florida Tuckers.

87Redskins.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They really tried to do some bizzarre marketing scheme by making all the teams very similar. Original teams had colors the same as the UFL logo. I believe all of the uniforms had the same striping as well. I guess they were really pushing the "United" look. :lol:

Basically, the first "season" was really just an excuse to show off the UFL brand rather than an actual honest attempt at a season. Hence why all the logos/uniform concepts were designed around the gaudy neon green and electric blue.

The logos and uniform designs certainly got better by season 2/3, but still nothing particularly exciting or stylish. Probably the best of the bunch IMO was Sacramento.

The word is "underserved", not undeserved.

Those markets in no way deserved UFL "football". It was an embarrassment of near-epic proportions, perpetrated by a small group of people who had no idea what they were doing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People give the UFL crap, but the on field product was actually good. Way better than NFL Europe or the XFL.

The main problem with upstart leagues always will be $$$. Real Investors would need to have at least 5-10 years of operating costs at their disposal for a league to take off. Look at MLS and all of their missteps before they got to where they are. I think nearly half the founding clubs folded and 3/4 have rebranded.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll always be thankful for the UFL because they essentially paid for much needed renovations/upkeep to Hornet Stadium. It's still a very basic erector set, but we got the pricy turf, a video board, and locker room/player facilities upgrades on the Mountain Lions dime. Funny enough, they moved to Raley Field shortly after.

I don't know how the league did in its other markets, but they sold out Hornet. They were never really a major presence in the city, but they did well at the gate at least. I got free tickets once through a Sac State club I was involved with, and it was a genuinely entertaining experience. Lots of vendors and entertainment before and during the game, and the on field product was surprisingly good. The league was never going to be a contender, but it had the promise of becoming a respectable minor league or feeder series. I hope the new A11 can succeed where the UFL failed, and maintain a long term presence, and give communities that don't have the professional game a team to call their own. I know they are occupying NFL markets, but if they do well, expand to non represented cities. The branding is already head over heels better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I followed the UFL. The NY Sentinels became the Hartford Colonials. The California Redwoods became the Sacramento Mountain Lions. The Tuskers were sponsored by Stubhub at one time (and also partially owned by the Tampa Bay Rays). The Tuskers became the Virginia Destroyers.

EDIT: The league had 5 franchises total, 3 of which rebranded at some point. NY/Hartford, California/Sacramento, Florida/Virginia, Las Vegas & Omaha

That's weird. A team owning a team in another sport.
It's somewhat common here in Canada. The Flames own the Stampeders and the Roughnecks. They also own the Hitmen but that's also hockey.

MLSE (Maple Leafs) owns the Raptors and TFC and it looks like they might buy the Argos as well.

IEI5Tg1.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally, the entire league was going to have white helmets the first season. The idea was that it would be easier for the league to buy a bunch of the same color instead of keeping stock in four different ones. At this time, the entire league was operating out of the same hotel in Florida. Of course, things changed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People give the UFL crap, but the on field product was actually good. Way better than NFL Europe or the XFL.

The main problem with upstart leagues always will be $$$. Real Investors would need to have at least 5-10 years of operating costs at their disposal for a league to take off. Look at MLS and all of their missteps before they got to where they are. I think nearly half the founding clubs folded and 3/4 have rebranded.

Only one club folded, Tampa Bay. But we have seen rebrands for San Jose, Dallas, L.A. and N.Y. Every new league tries to copy the MLS single entity idea to keep costs down, but few truly embraced it. The presentation has to be good too. The XFL tried to bank on hard nosed football and the UFL tried to provide a cheaper price for games. In the end it does take owners willing to operate in the black for a few years. No one wants to take that risk any more.

km3S7lo.jpg

 

Zqy6osx.png

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Brewers and Spurs own the Milwaukee Admirals and San Antonio Rampage, respectively.

On September 20, 2012 at 0:50 AM, 'CS85 said:

It's like watching the hellish undead creakily shuffling their way out of the flames of a liposuction clinic dumpster fire.

On February 19, 2012 at 9:30 AM, 'pianoknight said:

Story B: Red Wings go undefeated and score 100 goals in every game. They also beat a team comprised of Godzilla, the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, 2 Power Rangers and Betty White. Oh, and they played in the middle of Iraq on a military base. In the sand. With no ice. Santa gave them special sand-skates that allowed them to play in shorts and t-shirts in 115 degree weather. Jesus, Zeus and Buddha watched from the sidelines and ate cotton candy.

POTD 5/24/12POTD 2/26/17

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.