As the countdown to kickoff on March 30th continues, with less than 95 days on the calendar, the anticipation for a formal announcement on the XFL and USFL merger intensifies. Amidst the uncertainty, the fate of two Houston teams—the Houston Gamblers and the potentially rebranded Roughnecks—remains undecided, leaving the question of a home venue for their games up in the air.
What will this new league be called? Is it the United Football League, National Spring Football League or something else. How many teams, what are the rules, when will the schedule come out, what channels will it be on and so on.
The looming merger has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the players, coaches and staff, with many concerned about their future and employment in the 2024 season. The lack of clarity has left players and fans alike in a state of limbo, eagerly awaiting concrete information. We might finally learn it all next week.
In a recent communication, the USFL Players Association (USFLPA) relayed the following message to its members, indicating a delay and the forthcoming details:
“USFLPA Player Allocation & League Announcement: Your Union has been informed of the following updates: The player allocation period (Phase 1 & 2) has been pushed back until next week. New dates/times have not been confirmed. The league plans to make an announcement in the upcoming week regarding full details of the newly merged league. As always, we will pass along updates as we get them in real time.”
Amidst this atmosphere of speculation and rumors, sources close to XFL News Hub have weeks ago stated that no official announcements would be expected until January 2024. Next week will be critical window between the 2nd and 4th to make a decisive announcement. Failure to receive an update within this timeframe could spell trouble for the merger’s progress and raise concerns over the future direction of the combined league. It would be less than 90 days before kickoff.
As the situation continues to evolve, stakeholders from all corners of the football community are keeping a close watch. The forthcoming announcement is not just about the merger but a defining moment for the future of Spring football beyond the NFL. The next week could set the tone for the next season and beyond, marking a pivotal chapter in the sport’s history.
