USFL 2023 Season

[Red Wolf]

And since then we've let it play out with the WFL (less than two seasons), USFL (three seasons), XFL 1 (one season), AAF (less than a season), XFL 2 (COVID cancellation so we'll see later I guess). It's not exactly a mystery as to why people expect the worst. Our most recent example of a supposedly successful alternative league was the USFL which was rife with turmoil and financial issues even before the ill-fated attempt at a fall season.

[FiddySicks]

3 hours ago, Red Wolf said:

 

Is there compelling evidence that spring football could work long term? We've been chasing the high of the original USFL for decades with diminishing returns. I'm certainly not wishing for failure, but the crown jewel of spring football was a league that lasted three seasons nearly 40 years ago.

Yeah, this is pretty much where I’m at with it. I think it’s a bit dramatic to say people are “rooting” for these leagues to fail, when all people are really doing is following the evidence. We’ve had nearly 40 years of these leagues popping up, and the majority of them don’t last more than a season. In fact, have any of these leagues made it to the five year mark? 
 

Look, I really couldn’t care any less if leagues like this succeed. Hell, the idea of a sustainable spring league is something I would really like to see, because it means more football. But we’ve been shown time and time again that there’s very little room for error with these leagues, and a rough opening weekend like that probably doesn’t help. 
 

So really, it’s not cheering for the demise of the USFL, it’s just being realistic. I think people want this idea of spring football to work so bad that they’re kind of overlooking the reality of the situation. 

[MJWalker45]

3 hours ago, oldschoolvikings said:

Yikes. I remember when the AAF got started and DFWable seemed to take it upon himself to make it his mission to cheer for it's quick death.  I see some of you gloomy mopes are applying for a similar position here. 

 

You guys must be fun at parties.

I'm more worried about Sunday's attendance than I am about the league going bust. I wasn't aware of how severe the weather was, nor the delays because I was switching over from the EPL. I'm guessing tonight's game will be on Peacock? I figure Monday Night Raw and American Song Contest wouldn't be moved since they're both live as well. 

2 hours ago, Red Comet said:

Also, they’re saving a lot of money by not traveling. This really seems more like a soft launch than anything else. 

Yesterday's games reminded me more of the Spring League, while Saturday's game had a better feel to it. I originally thought they'd be using both stadiums every week instead of one stadium each week. The delays yesterday, even though they had no control  over it, could have been aided if the second game was played at Legion Field instead of having to wait until the first game concluded. You may have even got a better crowd at that and the third game as a result.  Maybe they should have picked a dome, but I think if we see a weekend with decent weather throughout you'll see around 15,00-20,000 per game, probably even more when the Stallions are teh ones playing. 

14 hours ago, gosioux76 said:

You ask why they keep trying these spring leagues? Because there’s enough compelling evidence that it could work that people keep trying to unlock the formula. 

There's a reason they picked Birmingham, and that reason was the Birmingham Iron. Fans will come to the games. The Iron proved that, same as St. Louis, San Antonio and San Diego. 

 

[gosioux76]

8 minutes ago, Red Wolf said:

And since then we've let it play out with the WFL (less than two seasons), USFL (three seasons), XFL 1 (one season), AAF (less than a season), XFL 2 (COVID cancellation so we'll see later I guess). It's not exactly a mystery as to why people expect the worst. Our most recent example of a supposedly successful alternative league was the USFL which was rife with turmoil and financial issues even before the ill-fated attempt at a fall season.

 

I don't think anybody is questioning why people expect the worst. Nobody's blind to the struggles of prior spring football leagues. This one could just as easily fail, too. In fact, I'll even submit that, perhaps, it's the likeliest outcome, considering the prior history. But to go into it seemingly assuming that failure is pre-ordained is, well, useless noise. And doing so ignores the real intrigue, which is whether, maybe, this one can figure it out.  

 

I, and I assume many others on here, would like nothing more than to see one of these spring leagues finally gain traction. Because then it will be followed by growth, expansion into new cities, more uniforms and branding to discuss, more prominence, and mostly, more enjoyment. 

 

There's nothing wrong with, as @Redwolfsaid, being realistic about the situation. It just, I don't know, seems tired. But to each their own. 

[heavybass]

The Maulers cut a RB OVER a slice of pizza...

[GDAWG]

While I question the choosing of Birmingham as a hub site (New Orleans would have been better because they at least have a dome there), I see the quality of the games being more like G5 FBS football.  

 

The postponement isn't great for the USFL, but it's not a huge setback.  The rationale likely from the USFL is "MLB does it all of the time, postponing games due to weather, and reschedule as part of a doubleheader."

[MJWalker45]

16 minutes ago, heavybass said:

The Maulers cut a RB OVER a slice of pizza...

https://www.sbnation.com/2022/4/18/23030223/deveon-smith-usfl-cut-pizza-chicken-salad-maulers

I was just getting ready to mention this. IF it went the way it's presented here, that's a superb level of petty by the team. If my options are chicken salad and pizza, I'm going for pizza too. 

 

[GDAWG]

 

[heavybass]

And if you think I was joking.... it was because he didn't want a chicken salad, that is a big major YIKES. 
 

Jesus.... not a good start to the USFL.

[MJWalker45]

16 minutes ago, GDAWG said:

While I question the choosing of Birmingham as a hub site (New Orleans would have been better because they at least have a dome there), I see the quality of the games being more like G5 FBS football.  

 

The postponement isn't great for the USFL, but it's not a huge setback.  The rationale likely from the USFL is "MLB does it all of the time, postponing games due to weather, and reschedule as part of a doubleheader."

I think it was less about baseball and more about a game possibly ending after midnight and looking even worse when the game ends and the only people left are the players. Just bite the bullet and come back tomorrow. 

[heavybass]

Also Bandits picked him up so first match is now a revenge game?

[gosioux76]

21 minutes ago, MJWalker45 said:

I think it was less about baseball and more about a game possibly ending after midnight and looking even worse when the game ends and the only people left are the players. Just bite the bullet and come back tomorrow. 

 

I think, in the end, it works out better because it stretches the league across three nights and in a better time slot. Speaking personally, I'd rather watch another game on a third night than power through three consecutively on a Sunday with a lot of other sports on TV. 

[Ferdinand Cesarano]

18 hours ago, gosioux76 said:

I guess I just don’t understand how anybody can essentially insinuate  something is bound for failure after such a limited sample size. 
 

You ask why they keep trying these spring leagues? Because there’s enough compelling evidence that it could work that people keep trying to unlock the formula. 
 

So if you ask me, you’re judging the wrong things. Let the string play out on the strategy. Give it the time it needs. And see if the people behind this venture finally unlock the formula. 
 

Suggesting it’s a failure when it’s barely started? That’s just annoying.

 

Right.  The XFL would have been fine if not for the pandemic hitting.  And even the AAF would have survived if it had had the money that its founder claimed that it had.

This hub thing might have been forced on the USFL; but, with the pandemic ending, that won't be a necessity going forward. With the proper marketing in the teams' home cities, and (most important) with ownership that can withstand initial financial losses, a spring league can definitely make it.

[FiddySicks]

3 hours ago, heavybass said:

And if you think I was joking.... it was because he didn't want a chicken salad, that is a big major YIKES. 
 

Jesus.... not a good start to the USFL.

Lol, THIS is the league y’all are freaking out so hard about when we say it’s not starting out well? 

[FiddySicks]

@Skycast are you like a burner account for the USFL or something? 

[CrimsonBull9584]

[Ridleylash]

Apparently Pittsburgh really can't go without at least one of their football teams being a joke on the management front lmao

 

Who cuts a guy for what he eats? As long as it doesn't impact his on-field performance, that shouldn't be a thing you worry about.

[CrimsonBull9584]

5 minutes ago, Ridleylash said:

Apparently Pittsburgh really can't go without at least one of their football teams being a joke on the management front lmao

 

Who cuts a guy for what he eats? As long as it doesn't impact his on-field performance, that shouldn't be a thing you worry about.

It was about being his 3rd strike on team rules violations. And disrespecting a food service worker, when you're guests at the hotel is not something that any team should put up with. 

[Seadragon76]

Oh, I get it now: The pizza incident was Strike Three for him... kind of glad to have some sort of statement saying "Hey, he wasn't let go because he wanted pizza instead of chicken salad... he was let go because he was habitual rule breaker and the pizza incident was the last straw"

[heavybass]

I would take that with a grain of salt as of this moment.