Apparently another pro FB league has failed -- is XFL next?
Another thing that bothers me is that some will say "Another B'ham team fails" when the Iron was doing relatively well, but the league collapsed around it. This has happened to the city before.
Word on the street is that the Carolina Panther owner took his ball & headed home.
He wanted lower end NFL players to be allowed to play in the league.
He might have also wanted to steal some of the technology that supposedly was incorporated in the league.
Not sure how he wasn't losing a ton of money of it though.
Back in the day the Stallions majority owner - Warner ran into some financial problems. We thought that the Stallions would be in trouble. They were able to get some financing and last as long as the league lasted.
(04-02-2019 01:22 PM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Word on the street is that the Carolina Panther owner took his ball & headed home.
He wanted lower end NFL players to be allowed to play in the league.
He might have also wanted to steal some of the technology that supposedly was incorporated in the league.
Not sure how he wasn't losing a ton of money of it though.
Back in the day the Stallions majority owner - Warner ran into some financial problems. We thought that the Stallions would be in trouble. They were able to get some financing and last as long as the league lasted.
That may tie into reports that the NFLPA wanted no connections with a possible farm system for NFL teams.
It leads to serious issues if the players get injured.
Even in this league the Orlando team couldn't practice in Orlando due to insurance reasons.
This sucks because I supported the team and wanted them to succeed but the writing was on the wall after week 2 when the league needed the huge bailout to make payroll. There was obviously no real business plan in place from the beginning and the original owners rushed to get everything started this season, obviously to get the jump on the XFL. I don't want to say there is no market for spring football, because I think if done right it can work, but it's a hard venture to pull off. I think the XFL will meet the same fate because A. F Vince McMahon B. I doubt the people of New York, LA, Dalla etc will care about second rate football when they have real football and C. the whole league seems to have been founded as a response to players kneeling for the anthem.
(04-02-2019 01:55 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]I don't want to say there is no market for spring football
I will say it: There is no market for spring football.
Well, unless the NFL or NCAA decides to start playing in the spring, there won't be.
The Bham Fire & WLAF were backed by the NFL.
Out of all of the leagues I have seen, the current one seemed to have the crappiest play on the field.
The Stallions by far were the best on the field.
(04-02-2019 02:28 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: [ -> ] (04-02-2019 01:55 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]I don't want to say there is no market for spring football
I will say it: There is no market for spring football.
Well, unless the NFL or NCAA decides to start playing in the spring, there won't be.
I wasn't against the Iron, I just thought we already had plenty of football. Late August until early February is long enough.
(04-02-2019 01:22 PM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Word on the street is that the Carolina Panther owner took his ball & headed home.
He wanted lower end NFL players to be allowed to play in the league.
He might have also wanted to steal some of the technology that supposedly was incorporated in the league.
Not sure how he wasn't losing a ton of money of it though.
Back in the day the Stallions majority owner - Warner ran into some financial problems. We thought that the Stallions would be in trouble. They were able to get some financing and last as long as the league lasted.
This. Lawsuits coming...
& me not knowing owners said Panthers owner when it was the NHL team owner.
San Antonio was getting 30k fans a game, which I think is more than or about what the LA Chargers were averaging. Either means spring ball can work in the right markets or SA is just a football starved city and should really be considered for future NFL expansion/relocation. Probably the latter.
Well I got my season ticket"s worth at least. I dont recall getting refund for Bham Vulcans in WFL. The Iron game experience was pretty good and there was a core of dedicated fans. Lots of team merchandise was visible. The offense was miserable, figure defense as they left the field told the Offense to hold them....sort of a league issue except Orlando and HBC Superior. The WLAF offenses were equally painful because all teams had the same play book basically as mandated by the league. Hate to see a chance for players to play, go away.
Either the Vulcans or the Americans packed up immediately following the last game - may have been a championship game.
The WLAF fizzled slowly by first going all Europe.
The USFL shut the doors after the settlement for $3.
(04-02-2019 02:43 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ]I wasn't against the Iron, I just thought we already had plenty of football. Late August until early February is long enough.
Isn't that pretty close to the UA BOT member saying UAB people already have a UA team to support?
I am very disappointed that the AAF folded, but expecting NFL quality play with a 3 week preseason with thrown together teams was unrealistic. The level of play could have improved as better players were added each season. It seems today's money people want a profitable return yesterday, not next season. I have seen that criticism in invention / innovation fields as well.
The reports of Dundon investing to steal the tech and then basically going rogue and shutting down the league are really interesting. The aftermath of this league may be more interesting than the actual games.
(04-02-2019 02:43 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (04-02-2019 02:28 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: [ -> ] (04-02-2019 01:55 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]I don't want to say there is no market for spring football
I will say it: There is no market for spring football.
Well, unless the NFL or NCAA decides to start playing in the spring, there won't be.
I wasn't against the Iron, I just thought we already had plenty of football. Late August until early February is long enough.
I've had the same thought. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. You start really gearing up for football in August, are invested through the end of the year, college ends and it's NFL playoffs time. February when the Super Bowl is over, and by then you've been in football mode for nearly 6 months. At that point I find that I'm kinda done with football for a while, and I'm sure a lot of people are the same way.
(04-02-2019 03:47 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]The reports of Dundon investing to steal the tech and then basically going rogue and shutting down the league are really interesting. The aftermath of this league may be more interesting than the actual games.
The rumored terms of the Dundon deal showed desperation on part of AAF. I believe he had no intention of keeping the league open. The player tracking tech was their best asset and he got it. I wonder how much cash he actually expended?
CUSA needs to hire whoever secured the TV coverage for the AAF.
(04-02-2019 03:59 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ]CUSA needs to hire whoever secured the TV coverage for the AAF.
If that would happen
The league was cancelled because a hockey team owner wanted a tracking app.
(04-02-2019 03:59 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (04-02-2019 03:47 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]The reports of Dundon investing to steal the tech and then basically going rogue and shutting down the league are really interesting. The aftermath of this league may be more interesting than the actual games.
The rumored terms of the Dundon deal showed desperation on part of AAF. I believe he had no intention of keeping the league open. The player tracking tech was their best asset and he got it. I wonder how much cash he actually expended?
CUSA needs to hire whoever secured the TV coverage for the AAF.
Dundon lost $70m of his investment. I can understand pulling the plug at that point. As to the app, he could have bought/designed one for far less than he lost.
The only ones making money from this league from now on are the lawyers.