n a significant development that has the potential to reshape the landscape of spring football, the XFL and USFL are reportedly in advanced talks to merge. This comes as a strategic move to forge a stronger front as NFL alternatives, leveraging the strengths and assets of both leagues, according to insiders familiar with the matter as reported by Axios.
The envisioned merger, described as a ‘merger of equals,’ is set to require regulatory approval. If everything goes as planned, football enthusiasts could witness the fusion of these two powerhouses before the onset of the 2024 seasons.
The USFL is presently under the ownership of Fox Corp while the XFL belongs to a partnership consisting of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners. Considering this merger, broadcasts of the combined league’s games are anticipated to be divided between Fox and the XFL’s media ally, Disney. Meanwhile, the USFL’s existing broadcast agreement with NBC hangs in the balance, awaiting a definitive direction.
As we anticipate official confirmation, which might surface as early as this week, let’s revisit some fascinating moments from the history of both leagues:
The original incarnation of the USFL ran for three remarkable seasons during the 1980s, emerging as a formidable adversary in scouting talents, parallel to the NFL, before dissolving in 1985. In a remarkable comeback, Fox resurrected the league in 2022 through its subsidiary, the National Spring Football League Enterprises Co.
The XFL had its inception at the helm of WWE’s Vince McMahon back in 2001 but faced cessation after just one season. 2020 saw the rebirth of a revamped XFL, only to be halted midway due to the pandemic. The league found its saviors in Johnson, Garcia, and RedBird who bought it for $15 million from bankruptcy, leading to a promising relaunch last spring. A testimony to its success, numerous XFL players have landed contracts with NFL teams.
It is noteworthy to mention that the endeavor to establish non-NFL pro football leagues has been challenging, with most attempts falling short of creating a sustainable rapport with the fans. Despite this history, Fox executives express confidence fuelled by profitable USFL stints and a viewership that reached 1.2 million for the USFL’s championship game and 1.4 million for XFL’s season closure.
In this fluid landscape where mergers like these are not just about numbers but a united vision for spring football, fans await with bated breath to see how this fusion could change the dynamics, bringing forth a season peppered with talent, dynamism, and unyielding spirit.
The XFL and USFL, through this merger, envisage bringing the fans closer to the game they adore, providing a platform for new talents, and reviving the glorious days of spring football. Stay tuned as we bring more updates on this developing story.
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Mark Perry, a devoted sports journalist and founder of XFL News Hub, has been a key figure in XFL coverage since its 2018 revival. Launching XFL News Hub soon after the league's return announcement, Mark has established the platform as a primary source for comprehensive XFL updates. Renowned for his in-depth knowledge and commitment to sports journalism, Mark actively engages the XFL community, welcoming interactions at mark.perry@xflnewshub.com.
5 Comments
5 Comments
4th&long
September 19, 2023 at 12:02 pm
The leagues are virtually identical in structure and goals. All the models diff talk is just PR from the individual leagues to spin survival.
This is the only logical move after XFL unwisely chose to come back after USFL beat them to market. Disney is unstable and can’t be relied upon for XFL either.
Hey Mark, Interesting news. My thoughts are that if this were to happen this is what it could like like and if it did not bad…..North Division….New Jersey Generals in NJ, Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders at Audi Field, St. Louis Battlehawks where else and Philadelphia Stars. South….Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, New Orleans Breakers, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas. The league would play from 2nd weekend in March, through the end of May. This would allow for all stadiums to be an option and weather issues can be limited. If you did the math right it’s a 12 game season, Yes De’veon Smith can run against the Maulers. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers are gone, though I loved those uniforms. When ready for expansion, we bring the Seatle Dragons and Oakland, San Diego, Denver or San Jose into the west and realign. A catch as to in lude both feet inbounds and finances have to make sense. There might be some type of expansion draft. No sense in the XFL teams gaining from the poor decisions to overpay it’s players. It would be interesting to see how this works because you would want to keep some players on their current teams as they are established there already. What happens with the USFL and XFL separate from each other was going to be exciting with all of these experienced players. Though I prefer them separate you can’t argue there would be some great opportunities across the board. I just trademarked USXF. I was just kidding. Don’t do that.
Wasn’t really looking for this merger, but as I look at it, it shouldn’t be too bad. Two divisions of 6 teams. The North: New Jersey Generals in NJ, Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, St.Louis Battlehawks and Philadelphia Stars. The South will be Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Memphis Showboats, New Orleans Breakers, Houston Renegades and San Antonio Brahmas. This will help limit traveling and hold expansion west for another year. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers will be gone at least for now. The season would last from 2nd weekend in March through the end of May. Yes it will be a 12 game season. Playoffs will take place in June. The Championship game can move around with the new stadium options. If we do well we can expand westward and investigate bringing back the Seatle Dragons, but with the Sea Dragons digs, except for help as well as Oakland, San Diego (Squadron), Denver, San Jose or possibly even LA, or the Bandits or the Canton Bulls, etc. It will be great to see De’veon Smith run against the Maulers. A catch must mean you have two feet down. I love the job Mike Parreira’s crew did, but Dean Blandino did a nice job as well and there will be more games to go around. We can keep them both. I like the XFL’s complete challenge. There may need to be an “expansion” draft of sorts to spread the talent a bit, but without disembodying a team fans have come to root for. As far as TV coverage goes. I see no reason that NBC, Fox and ABC/ESPN all can’t get a piece. ABC/ESPN get coverage of Monday night’s NFL games. With 12 teams there should be a better chance for each of the main channels to get at least one good game. Afterall, the XFL had the bulk of their games on ESPN anyway and not ABC a sign ABC felt it was not all that important to air the games. Next the league would have to confirm they can get these stadiums at a reasonable rate. I just trademarked USXF. They could have it for song, don’t even need the dance.
I was really looking for a merger, but it doesn’t mean it needs to be too bad. The North can include the New Jersey Generals in NJ, the Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, the Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, St.Louis Battlehawks and the Philadelphia Stars. The South can be the Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, Memphis Showboats and the New Orleans Breakers. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers are out, which is shame because I love their uniforms. The season would run from the 2nd weekend in March through the end of May for a 12 game season. The playoffs would be in June. This would allow for all stadiums to be in moderate places for the entire season and traveling costs would be very limited. If all works we can have a westward expansion so as to get the rest of the country involved. We can investigate the Seatle Dragons making a return w/ the Sea Dragon digs, except helmet. Other places like San Diego (Squadron), Oakland, Denver, San Jose can be vetted. If things don’t shake free we can always research the Canton Bulls or the Tampa Bay Bandits. De’veon Smith would be able to run against the Maulers and a catch needs to have two feet down. There would be enough games to keep both Mike Parreira and Dean Blandino. Both did a fine job and there will now be more games to police. If all three broadcast partners want to stay onboard that should be easy enough. There are now 12 teams, so it should be easier enough to keep relatively strong matchups on the board, one for each network. Another broadcast for a major station or cable channel will work. ABC/ESPN mostly showed their games on ESPN. Would that work for Monday night games like it does with the NFL. NBC and Fox should be able to have one of the broadcast quality games as well. Additonally, there may need to be an “expansion draft” to spread the talent across teams, while keeping most of the team intact for the fans that have come to root for them.
Although I wasn’t looking for a merger, it could work. The North Division: NJ Generals, Pittsburgh Maulers, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, Stl. Battlehawks and Philadelphia Stars. The South: Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Memphis Showboats, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas and New Orleans Breakers. The season could go from 2nd weekend in March to the last week of May, taking weather out of the equation and making for a 12 week season. Westward expansion could take place in season 2 if it works and we could investigate bringing back the Seatle Dragons. Oakland, San Diego (Squadron), Denver, San Jose. A couple more ideas if those don’t work. De’veon Smith against the Maulers. It takes two feet to make a reception and I like the XFL’s complete challenge, but USFL’s kickoff rules, excpet to bring it forward 5 more yards. We can keep all three broadcastong partners and see about a Monday night game. I jave some more thoughts on the matter, but let’s see what they come up with.
4th&long
September 19, 2023 at 12:02 pm
The leagues are virtually identical in structure and goals. All the models diff talk is just PR from the individual leagues to spin survival.
This is the only logical move after XFL unwisely chose to come back after USFL beat them to market. Disney is unstable and can’t be relied upon for XFL either.
Ken Granito
September 19, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Hey Mark, Interesting news. My thoughts are that if this were to happen this is what it could like like and if it did not bad…..North Division….New Jersey Generals in NJ, Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders at Audi Field, St. Louis Battlehawks where else and Philadelphia Stars. South….Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, New Orleans Breakers, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas. The league would play from 2nd weekend in March, through the end of May. This would allow for all stadiums to be an option and weather issues can be limited. If you did the math right it’s a 12 game season, Yes De’veon Smith can run against the Maulers. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers are gone, though I loved those uniforms. When ready for expansion, we bring the Seatle Dragons and Oakland, San Diego, Denver or San Jose into the west and realign. A catch as to in lude both feet inbounds and finances have to make sense. There might be some type of expansion draft. No sense in the XFL teams gaining from the poor decisions to overpay it’s players. It would be interesting to see how this works because you would want to keep some players on their current teams as they are established there already. What happens with the USFL and XFL separate from each other was going to be exciting with all of these experienced players. Though I prefer them separate you can’t argue there would be some great opportunities across the board. I just trademarked USXF. I was just kidding. Don’t do that.
Ken Granito
September 19, 2023 at 11:05 pm
Wasn’t really looking for this merger, but as I look at it, it shouldn’t be too bad. Two divisions of 6 teams. The North: New Jersey Generals in NJ, Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, St.Louis Battlehawks and Philadelphia Stars. The South will be Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Memphis Showboats, New Orleans Breakers, Houston Renegades and San Antonio Brahmas. This will help limit traveling and hold expansion west for another year. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers will be gone at least for now. The season would last from 2nd weekend in March through the end of May. Yes it will be a 12 game season. Playoffs will take place in June. The Championship game can move around with the new stadium options. If we do well we can expand westward and investigate bringing back the Seatle Dragons, but with the Sea Dragons digs, except for help as well as Oakland, San Diego (Squadron), Denver, San Jose or possibly even LA, or the Bandits or the Canton Bulls, etc. It will be great to see De’veon Smith run against the Maulers. A catch must mean you have two feet down. I love the job Mike Parreira’s crew did, but Dean Blandino did a nice job as well and there will be more games to go around. We can keep them both. I like the XFL’s complete challenge. There may need to be an “expansion” draft of sorts to spread the talent a bit, but without disembodying a team fans have come to root for. As far as TV coverage goes. I see no reason that NBC, Fox and ABC/ESPN all can’t get a piece. ABC/ESPN get coverage of Monday night’s NFL games. With 12 teams there should be a better chance for each of the main channels to get at least one good game. Afterall, the XFL had the bulk of their games on ESPN anyway and not ABC a sign ABC felt it was not all that important to air the games. Next the league would have to confirm they can get these stadiums at a reasonable rate. I just trademarked USXF. They could have it for song, don’t even need the dance.
Ken Granito
September 19, 2023 at 11:23 pm
I was really looking for a merger, but it doesn’t mean it needs to be too bad. The North can include the New Jersey Generals in NJ, the Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, the Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, St.Louis Battlehawks and the Philadelphia Stars. The South can be the Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas, Memphis Showboats and the New Orleans Breakers. The Orlando Guardians, Vegas Vipers and Houston Gamblers are out, which is shame because I love their uniforms. The season would run from the 2nd weekend in March through the end of May for a 12 game season. The playoffs would be in June. This would allow for all stadiums to be in moderate places for the entire season and traveling costs would be very limited. If all works we can have a westward expansion so as to get the rest of the country involved. We can investigate the Seatle Dragons making a return w/ the Sea Dragon digs, except helmet. Other places like San Diego (Squadron), Oakland, Denver, San Jose can be vetted. If things don’t shake free we can always research the Canton Bulls or the Tampa Bay Bandits. De’veon Smith would be able to run against the Maulers and a catch needs to have two feet down. There would be enough games to keep both Mike Parreira and Dean Blandino. Both did a fine job and there will now be more games to police. If all three broadcast partners want to stay onboard that should be easy enough. There are now 12 teams, so it should be easier enough to keep relatively strong matchups on the board, one for each network. Another broadcast for a major station or cable channel will work. ABC/ESPN mostly showed their games on ESPN. Would that work for Monday night games like it does with the NFL. NBC and Fox should be able to have one of the broadcast quality games as well. Additonally, there may need to be an “expansion draft” to spread the talent across teams, while keeping most of the team intact for the fans that have come to root for them.
Ken Granito
September 20, 2023 at 7:13 am
Although I wasn’t looking for a merger, it could work. The North Division: NJ Generals, Pittsburgh Maulers, Michigan Panthers, DC Defenders, Stl. Battlehawks and Philadelphia Stars. The South: Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Memphis Showboats, Houston Roughnecks, San Antonio Brahmas and New Orleans Breakers. The season could go from 2nd weekend in March to the last week of May, taking weather out of the equation and making for a 12 week season. Westward expansion could take place in season 2 if it works and we could investigate bringing back the Seatle Dragons. Oakland, San Diego (Squadron), Denver, San Jose. A couple more ideas if those don’t work. De’veon Smith against the Maulers. It takes two feet to make a reception and I like the XFL’s complete challenge, but USFL’s kickoff rules, excpet to bring it forward 5 more yards. We can keep all three broadcastong partners and see about a Monday night game. I jave some more thoughts on the matter, but let’s see what they come up with.