|
| |
 |
|
|
|
Webmaster speaks his mind
April, 2003 |
| |
Here I am 2 years after the demise of the XFL,
and the bitterness still lingers. Las Vegas Outlaws fans turned
out in force to give the team the strongest local TV ratings and
the #2 market overall, yet the Outlaws are now but a fading memory.
The WWF/E still refuses to sell the rights of the XFL, or even talk
to anyone about the league without millions of dollars up front.
The XFL was bold in many ways, perhaps most by picking up where
the NFL left off by beginning play in the spring. Spring professional
football is no new phenomenon in America; since 1960 a new professional
football league has been formed every 10 years in order to challenge
the NFL, and since the 1970s these new leagues have all played in
the spring.
Yet, it seems that we have seen the last of outdoor professional
football being played in the spring. With the Arena Football
League moving their schedule back to February (right after the Super
Bowl) and their network TV contract with NBC, any new league starting
play in the fall in virtually doomed from the start. CBS and
Fox are already under contract to the NFL (and Fox does NFL-Europe
broadcasts as well), and the AFL has NBC. Add to the mix the
fact that the NFL is basically a silent partner in the Arena Football
League, and the NFL has a virtual lock on network television
from August to May each year! So instead of the Arena
League gaining more mainstream popularity, the move to an earlier
schedule and the NBC agreement are more of a proxy move by the NFL
to lock out future competing professional spring leagues.
Spring football does have a steady following in this country, and
the increase in attendance to AFL games tends to prove this.
The World Football League really kicked off the notion of spring
football back in 1973. Without substantial network TV contracts,
however, the league was doomed from the beginning (this was before
the days of cable).
Next up was the United States Football League, perhaps the most
fondly remembered of all the spring leagues. The USFL enjoyed
two successful seasons in 1983-84, but in 1985 things began to unravel
for the league with the announcement of a change to a fall schedule
in the 1986 season...this would have put the league head-to-head
against the NFL, and immediately several USFL teams (who shared
stadiums with NFL teams) found themselves without homes, and the
league was forced to either eliminate or merge existing teams in
order to survive into the 1985 season. At the end of the '85
season, few teams were able to stay afloat financially, and the
failed Anti-Trust lawsuit against the NFL sealed the fate of the
USFL. Another factor working against the USFL were several
blatant & not-so-blatant violations of the league's vague salary
cap (Los Angeles Express & New Jersey Generals being the two
worst violators). Other teams, such as San Antonio Gunslingers and
Birmingham Stallions, fell victims of their owners' financial misfortunes
and found themselves insolvent. The USFL still has a loyal
following of fans, and you can find more information about the league
with the best potential to compete with the NFL on Rick Smith's
website, (awesome site, too!!).
In 1991 the World League of American Football (WLAF) started play,
with teams across the United States and in Europe, and its primary
purpose was as a developmental league for the NFL. The NFL
was a minority partner in this league, and after the WLAF folded
following the 1992 season, the NFL bought the leagues' rights.
In 1995, the NFL basically resurrected the WLAF as NFL-Europe, and
retained a couple of the teams (Barcelona Dragons, London Monarchs).
This league continues as a developmental league for the NFL, but
its games are only broadcast on satellite (not cable) early on weekend
mornings.
Which brings us to our subject, the XFL. A great idea, but
not completely thought-out nor backed by those willing to go the
distance to ensure its success and survival. What a shame! |
| |
| |
|
|
