The USFL is officially back in 2022 as it once again tries to cement itself as a legitimate spring football league in the United States. This iteration is getting underway with eight teams, all playing in Birmingham, Alabama for the inaugural season.
Spring leagues such as the USFL are notorious for keeping certain financial information private. That makes sense, as the entire goal from the start is to build hype and not mention any potential financial issues.
Yet fans may want to know who owns the teams and how much each one costs to purchase. The answer is complex and also interesting.
How much does it cost to own a USFL team in 2022?
The answer is a unique one. Each USFL team does not have an individual owner. Instead, FOX Sports owns each team under a subsidiary known as National Spring Football League Enterprises.
Per reports, FOX Sports has committed $150 million over a period of three years to operate the league. Outside funding is also being sought. So the easy answer is that FOX is commmitting $50 million annually for a period of three years. Yet the goal still remains to just complete one full season and move forward from there.
Thus, there are no individual owners in the USFL at the moment. Could that change? That is anyone's guess, and will likely depend on the financial success of the league in 2022 and beyond.
The rest of the structure is unique as well, as the head coaches of each team also serve as general managers. This goes in line with a compact coaching staff and an active roster of only 38 players. Compared to the NFL, everything is a bit smaller in the USFL.
Again, the entire goal of the league is to complete a full season. That is something the AAF and XFL could not do recently, although the latter is returning in 2023 as a direct competitor in the spring season.
As for an investment, FOX Sports is not committing too much to the USFL compared to the billions spent by networks on broadcasting the NFL. The network can also make money back easily by broadcasting the games and selling ads.
So what is the future of ownership in the league? If it takes off, FOX can always open bidding and sell to potential buyers. That would be a natural progression if the league succeeds and grows beyond its current eight teams.
For now, the goal is to survive the 2022 season and start up again in 2023. Keeping ownership under one wing ensures everything is fair as the entire league tries to stay afloat.
Edited by Jay Lokegaonkar
Feedback Thank You!
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
";modalText += "
"modalText += "
Please select an option.
Please provide your feedback.
"modalText += "
"modalPopup.closeOnEsc = false;modalPopup.setHeader("Why did you not like this content?");modalPopup.setContentText(modalText);modalPopup.addCancelOkButton("Submit", resetRatingAndFeedbackForm, sendRating);modalPopup.removeCloseModalIcon();modalPopup.disableDismissPopup();modalPopup.open();} else {sendRating(index);}}function sendRating() {var requestPayload = {"post_id": 1083832,"rating_value": ratingValue}if (ratingValue > 3) {requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = null;requestPayload.rating_feedback = null;} else {if (!$('input[name="drone"]:checked') || !$('input[name="drone"]:checked').value) {showErrorMessage('option');return;}if (!$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea") || !$(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value) {showErrorMessage('note');return;}var selectedOption = $('input[name="drone"]:checked').value;var feedbackNote = $(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea").value;requestPayload.rating_feedback_type = selectedOption;requestPayload.rating_feedback = feedbackNote;}pureJSAjaxPost(addratingAPI, requestPayload, onsaveRatingSuccess, onsaveRatingFail, function() {}, true);}function resetRatingAndFeedbackForm() {var activeStars = Array.from($all('.rating span.rating-star.active'));for (var i=0; i < activeStars.length; i++) {activeStars[i].classList.remove("active");}if ($('input[name="drone"]:checked')) {$('input[name="drone"]:checked').checked = false;}var userNote = document.querySelector(".post-rating-feedback-note textarea");userNote.value = '';modalPopup.close();}function onsaveRatingSuccess() {modalPopup.close();savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie();$("#post-rating-layout").classList.add("hidden");$("#post-rating-message").classList.remove("hidden");window.setInterval(function showMessage() {$("#post-rating-widget").classList.add("hidden");}, 3000);}function onsaveRatingFail() {console.error('Saving post rating failed!');modalPopup.close();}function savePostIdInUserRatedPostsCookie() {userRatedPostIds.push(1083832);var expiryTime = new Date();expiryTime.setMonth(expiryTime.getMonth() + 12); // Expiry after 1 yearsetCookie("user_rated_post_ids", JSON.stringify(userRatedPostIds), expiryTime);}function isPostRatedByUser() {var userRatedPostIds = getCookie('user_rated_post_ids');if (userRatedPostIds) {try {userRatedPostIds = JSON.parse(userRatedPostIds);} catch (err) {console.error(err);return false;}} else {return false;}if(userRatedPostIds.indexOf(1083832) >= 0) {return true;} else {return false;}}function getRatingCountByPostId(postId) {return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {pureJSAjaxGet(getRatingCountBaseURL + postId + '/rating/count',function(data) {try {data = JSON.parse(data);if (data.meta_value) {resolve(data.meta_value);}reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);} catch (err) {reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);}},function(err) {reject("Failed to fetch rating count for the post:" + postId);}, true);});}function showErrorMessage(messageType) {var messageContainerId = '#' + messageType + '-error';$(messageContainerId).classList.remove('hidden');window.setInterval(function () {$(messageContainerId).classList.add("hidden");}, 5000);}(function() {var callFired = false;function lazyLoadPostRating() {if (callFired) return;callFired = true;if (!isPostRatedByUser()) {getRatingCountByPostId(1083832).then(function(ratingCount) {if (ratingCount < 10) {$("#post-rating-widget").classList.remove("hidden");}}).catch(function(err){console.error(err);});}}document.addEventListener("scroll", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });document.addEventListener("mousemove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });document.addEventListener("touchmove", lazyLoadPostRating, { passive: true, once: true });})();
As a seasoned expert in sports and media, it's clear that the return of the USFL in 2022 is a significant event in the landscape of spring football leagues in the United States. The information provided in the article suggests a unique ownership structure and financial model for the league, and my in-depth knowledge allows me to dissect and elaborate on these key concepts.
1. Ownership Structure:
- Unlike traditional sports leagues where individual entities or investors own teams, the USFL has a distinctive approach. Each of the eight teams in the league is owned by FOX Sports under a subsidiary named National Spring Football League Enterprises.
- This centralized ownership model, with FOX Sports at the helm, sets the USFL apart from other leagues and has implications for decision-making and financial commitments.
2. Financial Commitment:
- FOX Sports has committed a substantial sum of $150 million over a three-year period to operate the league. This translates to an annual commitment of $50 million.
- The financial commitment by FOX Sports is a crucial factor in ensuring the league's stability and successful operation. It reflects the network's belief in the potential success of the USFL.
3. Financial Privacy and Revenue Generation:
- Spring football leagues, including the USFL, are known for keeping financial details private. The article acknowledges the tendency of such leagues to build hype while keeping financial information confidential.
- FOX Sports aims to recoup its investment and potentially generate revenue through broadcasting the games and selling advertisem*nts. This contrasts with the massive broadcasting deals seen in the NFL.
4. Team Operations:
- The structure of the USFL includes a compact coaching staff, with head coaches also serving as general managers. This streamlined approach aligns with the league's emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- The active roster for each team is limited to 38 players, a notable difference from the larger rosters typically seen in the NFL.
5. Future Ownership and League Growth:
- The future of ownership in the league remains open-ended. If the USFL proves successful and expands beyond its initial eight teams, FOX Sports may open bidding and sell teams to potential buyers.
- The overarching goal for now is to successfully complete the 2022 season and set the stage for future growth. The article emphasizes that the league's structure, with centralized ownership, ensures fairness as it strives to establish itself.
In summary, the USFL's return in 2022 brings a unique ownership model, a significant financial commitment from FOX Sports, and a focus on efficiency in team operations. The league's success and potential for growth will likely influence its ownership structure in the future. As a well-versed expert, I remain attentive to developments in the sports industry, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of such key events.
