So here are the team names for the first year of the AAF.

Atlanta Legends
Birmingham Iron
Memphis Express
Orlando Apollos

Arizona Hotshots
Salt Lake Stallions
San Antonio Commanders
San Diego Fleet

I think the AAF was very wise in the markets they chose. They focused on adding Southern teams, as well as getting into markets that have been passed over by the NFL (San Diego, San Antonio, Memphis, Orlando).

It will be very interesting to see which markets the XFL targets for its league as well. I doubt the league would not want a presence in California, Texas and Florida. With Vince McMahon's (and the WWE's) strong relationships with major metropolitan areas, I can envision an eight-team league that sees teams in New York, Chicago, Houston, St. Louis, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

(09-30-2018 12:10 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I think the AAF was very wise in the markets they chose. They focused on adding Southern teams, as well as getting into markets that have been passed over by the NFL (San Diego, San Antonio, Memphis, Orlando).

It will be very interesting to see which markets the XFL targets for its league as well. I doubt the league would not want a presence in California, Texas and Florida. With Vince McMahon's (and the WWE's) strong relationships with major metropolitan areas, I can envision an eight-team league that sees teams in New York, Chicago, Houston, St. Louis, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

And these leagues, after years of success, will be merged with the NFL just like the AFL.

[quote='Curumim' pid='15553122' dateline='1538591429'

And these leagues, after years of success, will be merged with the NFL just like the AFL.
[/quote]

IF (and it's an awfully big IF) the NFL were to absorb the AAF teams, I think that Atlanta and Arizona would have to move since they already have those markets covered.

Atlanta could move to St Louis, Columbus or Louisville and Arizona could move to Oklahoma City, Sacramento or Portland.

Again, it's a big IF.

I think if a merger happens, we’d be more likely to see four AAF teams get dropped for a 6x6 alignment:

NFC
West - Seattle, LA Rams, San Francisco, Arizona, Salt Lake, San Antonio
East - NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas
Central - Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta

AFC
West - Houston, San Diego, LA Chargers, Las Vegas, Denver, Kansas City
East - NY Jets, New England, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando
Central - Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Baltimore

I just don’t see Memphis and Birmingham being able to get up to NFL facility standards. I could also see Orlando relocating to Saint Louis given its proximity to Tampa Bay.[/i]

Games haven't started and you are already talking a merger? More likely the league folds than a merger.

(10-03-2018 04:50 PM)TardisCaptain Wrote:  [quote='Curumim' pid='15553122' dateline='1538591429'

And these leagues, after years of success, will be merged with the NFL just like the AFL.

IF (and it's an awfully big IF) the NFL were to absorb the AAF teams, I think that Atlanta and Arizona would have to move since they already have those markets covered.

Atlanta could move to St Louis, Columbus or Louisville and Arizona could move to Oklahoma City, Sacramento or Portland.

Again, it's a big IF.
[/quote]

No Atlanta becomes the London Legends and Arizona becomes the Mexico City Hotshots. This is how I see it being absorbed:
The Orlando Apollo’s go the NFC East
The NFC South take San Antonio Commanders
The NFC North takes on the Memphis Express as a southern outpost
While the NFC West absorbs The San Diego Fleet
Meanwhile...
The AFC East takes the London Legends
The AFC South shifts the Indianapolis Colts to the North and takes a double dose of Birmingham Iron and Mexico City Hotshots
Salt Lake Stallions round out the AFC West

That’s near perfect expansion. It restores SD back to the NFL and gets the NFL into Central America and Europe.

Oakland could get Atlanta’s team, since St. Louis is anti-NFL

I am still not sure this is all going to work out? That is just my humble opinion. I think that it's best that wait for the XFL to be relaunched and look at that as a more football fix.

AAF has announced its 2019 regular season schedule, which starts on February 9, six days after the Super Bowl.

https://aaf.com/2019-season-schedule/

(10-16-2018 04:04 PM)Wedge Wrote:  AAF has announced its 2019 regular season schedule, which starts on February 9, six days after the Super Bowl.

https://aaf.com/2019-season-schedule/

IMHO February is too soon. They should have pushed the schedule back a month.

At least they’re not trying to go head to head vs the NFL