I never understood why these start-up leagues insist on spreading their teams across the country. The Arena league did that and look what happened? The same with when the CFL expanded in the '90s, the AAF, and then the XFL. The travel expenses has to astronomical. If the teams are relatively close to each other the travel expenses would be less, so I understand wanting teams in under served cities it doesn't make sense to have them located all over the country. The league should focus on one geographical area, say SEC country, to keep travel expenses down.
They do it because you have no chance getting fans to have "their" team by limited yourself to a regional area. They need mass appear and full stadiums to survive. You need metropolitan areas for that. They need national viewing for ratings and selling advertising.I never understood why these start-up leagues insist on spreading their teams across the country. The Arena league did that and look what happened? The same with when the CFL expanded in the '90s, the AAF, and then the XFL. The travel expenses has to astronomical. If the teams are relatively close to each other the travel expenses would be less, so I understand wanting teams in under served cities it doesn't make sense to have them located all over the country. The league should focus on one geographical area, say SEC country, to keep travel expenses down.
The CFL tried just that in the 90s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Football_League_in_the_United_States
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The Baltimore Stallions even won a Grey Cup.
I liked how Baltimore decided to roll with the "Colts" name.
CFL ball should be fun, but it just isn't quite football. Like arena ball....
Football-ish
I am sad we never got to see the Miami Manatees take the field.
Not a bad uniform -- kind of has a Wyoming Cowboys feel about it.
Weird color scheme for South Beach, though. That's a midwest or rust belt look if I've ever seen one.
I would argue is the obsession with being in a well established NFL city that hurts these ventures. They keep trying to make New York or LA work for these, when cities like St Louis in the XFL, and San Antonio in the AAF did awesome and were well attended. But the key is making the TV product viable or getting the NFL to foot the bill and make it a true developmental league.
Ok, I understand what you are saying, but the NFL doesn't need a development league. It has NCAA football for that. Now, having said that, if there is room for an alternative league why not something with college aged kids? There has to be enough kids that can play but cannot make it at college, or shouldn't be in college, or some such. It doesn't have to be a big league, but maybe an eight team league? One thing I hate about the XFL (or AAF) is I don't want to watch Trent Richardson or some other NFL washout play anymore.
Ok, I understand what you are saying, but the NFL doesn't need a development league. It has NCAA football for that. Now, having said that, if there is room for an alternative league why not something with college aged kids? There has to be enough kids that can play but cannot make it at college, or shouldn't be in college, or some such. It doesn't have to be a big league, but maybe an eight team league? One thing I hate about the XFL (or AAF) is I don't want to watch Trent Richardson or some other NFL washout play anymore.
XFL now being in partnership with the NFL is actually kind of a big deal.
XFL to provide NFL 'petri dish' as part of deal
The XFL, under its new partnership agreement with the NFL, will experiment with proposed rule changes, test new equipment and develop prospective officials and coaches.www.espn.com
I actually was really enjoying the XFL in 2020 before COVID came along and ruined everything. Not the NFL but it doesn't need to be. I would love to see some former ISU players get a shot to continue playing the game at a "next" level if they desire. The NFL is a really tough league to crack for all but the elite.XFL now being in partnership with the NFL is actually kind of a big deal.
XFL to provide NFL 'petri dish' as part of deal
The XFL, under its new partnership agreement with the NFL, will experiment with proposed rule changes, test new equipment and develop prospective officials and coaches.www.espn.com
Bring back the end zone to 50 yard line dash to the ball to start the game.
XFL now being in partnership with the NFL is actually kind of a big deal.
XFL to provide NFL 'petri dish' as part of deal
The XFL, under its new partnership agreement with the NFL, will experiment with proposed rule changes, test new equipment and develop prospective officials and coaches.www.espn.com
Somebody did get a separated shoulder the first week but I can’t find anything that says they scrapped it after the first week. Are you sure they got rid of it? I agree the whole idea is best left on the scrap heap of history.They literally scrapped that after week 1 after someone got seriously hurt doing that. That is never coming back in any form of football, especially in an era where the focus is on player safety - nor should it. And I don't know why people keep saying it should. Yeah, it was a fun concept - until, like I said, someone got seriously hurt on a novel idea.
Somebody did get a separated shoulder the first week but I can’t find anything that says they scrapped it after the first week. Are you sure they got rid of it? I agree the whole idea is best left on the scrap heap of history.