Let's say the POD is 1984, and let's say the USFL rejects Donald Trump's push for a fall schedule.
How much longer does the USFL last?
How much longer does the USFL last?
Hard to say, but if it can last long enough to the Spring of 1988 (after the strike of 1987) maybe it would gain traction.
The USFL started in the spring after a strike season and I think that helped its initial popularity (plus the novelty of it) and if could last to the spring after the next strike season it just might gain some traction with frustrated fans.
And while the Buccaneers were losing, the Bandits could still outdraw them at the Big Sombrero.
In addition to that, one of the first orders of business will be to move one of the lower performing teams in terms of attendance to Baltimore once the Colts move. I know that happened OTL but I am not sure Philly was the best candidate for that move.
I do think that if they could keep the league even somewhat successful past the 1987 season they would have a huge opportunity to take advantage of the second NFL strike in less than a decade.
Another thing would be to target upcoming NFL expansion markets like Tennessee, Carolina, and Jacksonville before the NFL gets there.
The USFL was already in Tennessee (Memphis Showboats) and Jacksonville (Jacksonville Bulls), but if the USFL did become viable, the Bulls would've have to move when the Gator Bowl is demolished to build the Jaguars' stadium.
Good point, I forgot about those but I think the league would have been better off starting in places like that (instead of expanding to those cities) while limiting its footprint in established NFL cities. The league only started with 12 teams but I'm not sure they started in the right places.
Dang, I forgot about Columbus, that would have been a perfect choice. I went to school at Ohio State back in the day. No city in this country was more desperate for a big time pro sports franchise and that city tried every minor league sport you can think of because between Ohio State, Cleveland, and Cincinnati it was too hard to make it attractive to pro teams.
I was amazed when Columbus got an NHL franchise.
The other cities you mentioned are all good ideas too along with places like Louisville and Portland. I think the key is really big cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, the Bay Area, and Houston. After that focus on cities without NFL franchises. Probably should cap the league at 16 teams as well and then keep it in the spring.
Dang, I forgot about Columbus, that would have been a perfect choice. I went to school at Ohio State back in the day. No city in this country was more desperate for a big time pro sports franchise and that city tried every minor league sport you can think of because between Ohio State, Cleveland, and Cincinnati it was too hard to make it attractive to pro teams.
I was amazed when Columbus got an NHL franchise.
The other cities you mentioned are all good ideas too along with places like Louisville and Portland. I think the key is really big cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, the Bay Area, and Houston. After that focus on cities without NFL franchises. Probably should cap the league at 16 teams as well and then keep it in the spring.
So was I. I remember when my brother-in-law and I were talking about it after they got the team 17 years ago, and I said "right church, wrong pew" I thought that Cleveland would have been better. They were building a new arena downtown, and you could have had a three-way rivalry between the new Barons (that is what I would call them), the Sabres, and the Pens.
Back to the USFL, though: This idea that Old Navy has come up is good, but here's another one in relation to this:
What if there was no USFL?
Good point, I forgot about those but I think the league would have been better off starting in places like that (instead of expanding to those cities) while limiting its footprint in established NFL cities. The league only started with 12 teams but I'm not sure they started in the right places.
Without the USFL, I don't think the NFL would've ever changed as much as it did IOTL. And, I don't think there would be a World League without the USFL. And I don't think Jacksonville would ever have the Jaguars.
Without the USFL, I don't think the NFL would've ever changed as much as it did IOTL. And, I don't think there would be a World League without the USFL. And I don't think Jacksonville would ever have the Jaguars.
The beginning of the end seemed to be the minute Trump bought into the league. I think they would have made it otherwise.
How much longer do you think the USFL could've went without Trump? Somewhere towards the mid 1990's?
I think they could have gone on indefinitely had they stayed in the spring. They had a good thing going, and drew well in cities like Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, New Jersey, Birmingham, Memphis, arguably Orlando (who says 3 teams can't draw in one state?), Philadelphia, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Denver, Michigan, and Houston. They vacated most of those cities with the planned fall move. Cities like LA, Chicago, Washington were bad draws, and San Antonio (more due to bad ownership).