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How To Start a Football League
By Max | August 6, 2009
You may have seen in the news recently that the UFL is starting a new professional football league. This season, they’ll start with 4 teams and expand to 6 next year. If you have reservations about their chances for success, you’re not alone. There have been several attempts over the years to start a professional football league. I think many men in this country have a dream to one day own a football team, and since there aren’t many for sale, the only other option is to start your own even if the chances for success are low. Who wouldn’t want to employ a bunch of cheerleaders and get box seats for every game?
To date, only Arena Football has enjoyed any success as an upstart league. They managed to play for 22 seasons before the economic problems of 2008 forced the league to cancel the 2009 season. A number of teams came and went over the years, so the longevity of the league should not be mistaken as a great success, but they were a lot better than the USFL and the complete disaster called the XFL which folded after one season. Even the NFL’s own NFL Europe finally went the way of the dodo.
I have some advice for the UFL. This is how I would start the MaxFL.
Step 1: Play in the Spring/Summer
Right after the NBA playoffs, there is a dry spell in the sports world. ESPN starts showing reruns of poker tournaments and hotdog eating competitions while the rest of us try to stay interested in the boring middle part of baseball season. This time of year presents an opportunity for the aspiring football league. By June, we’ve all forgotten how bad our football teams were in the previous season, and start eagerly anticipating the fall. Playing games during this time of year gives the league its best chance of getting covered by sports writers. During the fall, writers and broadcasters are going to have plenty of better football stories to cover.
Step 2: Recruit the young guys
One mistake that UFL and XFL seem to be making is by hiring NFL rejects. Honestly, who is going to care about the athletes we know aren’t going to make it to the next level? Half of the names I saw on UFL rosters for this fall didn’t even ring a bell. This league needs to compete with the NCAA for talent, not the NFL.
The NFL has a rule that prevents them from recruiting players until they are three years out of high school. The UFL should use this fantastic opportunity. Fans will be a lot more excited to watch players they think have a shot at the next level. A certain type of player will welcome the opportunity to play for real cash rather than a pat on the back in the NCAA. Think about the true freshman who enters college and takes a big time program to a BCS bowl game. Everyone knows an NFL payday is in his future, but why should he slave away for a college program risking injury for nothing. Why not play for a decent salary in the UFL? The NFL will be in his future either way. The UFL should be happy to pick up these types of players. A great college player who receives national exposure will raise the profile of the league in the eyes of fans, since they know they are watching the future of the NFL. Compare this type of player to some of folks on the current UFL rosters. We know those guys aren’t likely to play on Sundays in the future.
Step 3: Cheap beer nights
I know beer sales provide great margins to sports teams. The NFL can get away with charging us $8 per beer because they know we’re going to go to the game regardless. The UFL should make a point to sell beer for as cheap as possible. Charging $2 or maybe even $1 for a small cup should do the trick. Their target demographic likes to drink. The league should want these guys to have a blast at their first game so they’ll keep coming back. Nothing will pack them in or provide as good a time as much as $2 beers. Hire a few cute waitresses to staff the beer garden and you’ve just provided someone the perfect Friday night.
When I lived in Portland, I used to love going to see the Beavers’ games on “Thirsty Thursdays”. They charged $2 per beer and I think everyone under the age of 30 showed up. I had more fun on those Thursday night minor league games than I ever had at a MLB game. Once I went for a game during a regular night and was amazed at the difference in attendance. Do yourself a favor UFL, keep the beers cheap and don’t cut us off until the game is over.
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