Competing with the NFL
May 30th 2007 7:31PM
is it crazy to try to compete with the NFL ?
I don't think so. Here is why:
1. There is obviously demand for top level professional football. That is exactly what the UFL hopes to be someday, an equal of the NFL, if not more.
2. The NFL wants and needs competition. They have grown so big and powerful that every move they make is scrutinized by local or federal officials. A competitor allows them to point to us and explain that their moves are for competitive reasons rather than the move of a monopoly.
3. They just extended their CBA. Their CBA structure is not designed for a competitive environment. Competition for top players, even if the UFL gets just a few, increases prices at the top end for all teams. Every star will get paid more, but still have to fit under the cap. That forces teams to use more low cost players, at the expense of signing the middle of the roster. That gives us access to quite a few very, very good NFL players. The downside is that it will significantly impact small market NFL teams and its unclear how the NFL would respond to that and what the impact would be on the UFL.
4. There are a lot of markets that are bigger than some current NFL markets that do not have teams that would love to have a pro football team.
5. There are a lot of smart people involved in the UFL
6. Its a great TV product.
These are just my personal reasons for having an interest in being involved with the UFL. They still have a ton of work to do before a game can be played. Like all good ideas with a great opportunity available to it, the hard part is in the execution.
Hopefully they can get it done.
Poi però girovagavo per la rete e ho scoperto che qualche mese fa sarebbe dovuta partire la All American Football League, che però ha posticipato il tutto al 2008.
Tale lega sembra messa in piedi da gente che qualcosa ne sa, il commissioner è Cedric W. Dempsey, ex presidente della NCAA e conta questo staff tra i dirigenti:
# Doug Dickey, former AD at the University of Tennessee, former Head Coach at the University of Tennessee and former Head Coach at the University of Florida.
# Dr. Martin Massengale, former Chancellor and President of the University of Nebraska.
# Dr. Charles Young, former president at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Florida.
# Gene Corrigan, former athletic director of the University of Notre Dame and Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
# Marcus Katz, former student loan executive.
# Pete Dalis, retired Athletic Director at UCLA.
# Jack Lengyel, former AD at the U.S. Naval Academy and President of the National Association of College Athletic Directors. Former Head Coach at Marshall University.
# Gary Roberts, Dean of the School of Law of Indiana University and former Vice Dean, Professor of Law and Director of Sports Law at Tulane University.
# Charles Wethington, former President of the University of Kentucky and Chairman of the NCAA Executive Committee.
La Lgea ha già un sito, basi dove giocherà e pensa di sfruttare tutti quegli atleti che, dopo l'anno da senior, non troveranno posto in Nfl retribuendoli in media con 100.000 dollari annui, a quanto pare il miglior ingaggio offerto da una lega "non Nfl". I giocatori, inoltre, non saranno di proprietà delle squadre, ma della Lega stessa che, a questo punto, penso potrà gestirne ogni cosa.
L'idea è comunque quella di dare una continuità alle università, praticamente facendo giocare queste nuove squadre negli impianti degli atenei, anche se si tratterà di professionismo e di legare i team a uno stato. Hanno già dato disponibilità per i propri impianti Purdue University, University of Tennessee, North Carolina State University, University of Florida e Florida State University, più, tra gli altri, il Ford Field di Detroit, l'Alamodome in Texas, e il Legion Field in Alabama. Mentre le squadre già create e che in parte stanno costruendo il proprio roster abbiamo Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee e Texas.
Questa l'idea di partenza
Teams will initially operate as divisions of League whose football operations will be run by a quasi-independent board and General Manager. Some of the League's teams will be hosted by universities with Division IA football programs and other teams will play in independent venues. Games will be scheduled in the spring and early summer.
League teams will employ only those players who have both completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree. This policy is expected to have a very positive impact on universities’ NCAA Graduation Success Rate and their Academic Progress Rate. To the extent practical, graduates of host universities will play for the team hosted by their alma mater.
The League intends that each League team will sell memberships to its fans and supporters. Members may be entitled to renewable season tickets in preferred locations, preferred parking, and other “insider” benefits. The League also hopes to provide Members access to high-definition private broadcasts of League games.
Pare che la morte della Nfl Europa abbia spinto più di una persona aprovarci, ce la faranno stavolta?
