The ultimate word on these outdoor startups

[nksports]

With at least four outdoor professional football leagues starting up (or not starting up), it's time to add my 2.5 cents on what I've seen on these boards.
First, we have some people convinced these leagues will succeed as long as nothing bad is said about them. If you don't want anything bad written about these leagues, have your spam in a can. Don't come out with some grand plan then come back and say, we're pushing back our start date because we don't have financing and we don't have venues and we don't have this and we don't have that. Credibility is shot instantly.
Even for the best financed operations, success isn't guaranteed, but when you're going in without the basics off the bat, you're behind the 8-ball.
Second, these leagues deserve no loyalty or respect. That is earned. There have been too many fly-by-night operators running around in minor league sports these days. Did the EIFL deserve respect? The NIFL?
I may be (as Spriro Agnew once said) a "nattering nabob of negativism" but don't try to sell me sh** and call it Shinola.
To the UFL, UNGL, AAFL and new USFL (and any alphabet combination I may have missed), I say good luck. If I'm in the neighborhood and a game is actually going on, I may pop in. But I've got my doubts, and I'm allowed to have them.
One of these threads said Warren Buffet needs to be an investor in one of these things. One problem, Buffet usually likes to get a return on his investment.

[SignGuyDino]

The UFL is the only outdoor league that has any credibility. I have my doubts about some of their moves, but mostly it does appear they will at least play one season, and have done some things that I think enhances their chances of at least playing a second season.

[BringUSFLBack]

With at least four outdoor professional football leagues starting up (or not starting up), it's time to add my 2.5 cents on what I've seen on these boards.
First, we have some people convinced these leagues will succeed as long as nothing bad is said about them. If you don't want anything bad written about these leagues, have your spam in a can. Don't come out with some grand plan then come back and say, we're pushing back our start date because we don't have financing and we don't have venues and we don't have this and we don't have that. Credibility is shot instantly.
Even for the best financed operations, success isn't guaranteed, but when you're going in without the basics off the bat, you're behind the 8-ball.
Second, these leagues deserve no loyalty or respect. That is earned. There have been too many fly-by-night operators running around in minor league sports these days. Did the EIFL deserve respect? The NIFL?
I may be (as Spriro Agnew once said) a "nattering nabob of negativism" but don't try to sell me sh** and call it Shinola.
To the UFL, UNGL, AAFL and new USFL (and any alphabet combination I may have missed), I say good luck. If I'm in the neighborhood and a game is actually going on, I may pop in. But I've got my doubts, and I'm allowed to have them.
One of these threads said Warren Buffet needs to be an investor in one of these things. One problem, Buffet usually likes to get a return on his investment.If say Warren Buffet got involved it is not such a reach that he knows it would be a long term investment. These things aren't over night profit makers. The original USFL would have been successful if they had not tried to be a major player in such a short period of time. If the investors and owners had built the league on a long term plan they could at a later time start going after some of the college stars and NFL free agents. Still even at that time they would still have to do so slowly. What ultimately destroyed the USFL was the hair brained notion concocted by Donald Trump to pit the unstable USFL against the big bad NFL in the fall. Trump and others hoped that at the least they could recoup some of their losses from wasteful spending if the NFL chose to merge a few teams from the USFL. I am sure you know this but my point is that I doubt the USFL does that. It would have to be some other kind of mismanagement this time around.

The blueprint on what not to do when starting a new football league is in place. The only thing that could ruin the USFL this time around would be sheer stupidity. Hopefully these big business people have learned something.
I have no problem with you or anyone else being negative and doubting but I think many of you fail to understand that at some point mud on the wall will stick. Also most of our mega rich business men didn't get there over night. For every business success their are numerous failures. I tend to believe the biggest problem the USFL will have is people with your attitude who won't support it. That would never be the fault of the founders but the fault of the buying public writing off the founders. People at least need to watch on TV and go to games. Merchandise purchases can happen later.

I am not worried about supporting something that fails because I at least gave it a chance and enjoyed it while it lasted. What harm is it for people to enjoy the USFL/UFL if they only last a season or two or three? Do you really get invested that much into sports? I love my teams and my sports but if a league or team of mine moves or fails I will live to see another day. I am not one to be a pessimist but am rather one to be a guarded optimist. I hope for the best believe in the best but am always prepared for the worst. When the worst happens it won't be such a let down.

People don't need to be such asses when someone is excited about something the people in general don't believe in. All that needs to be said is you hope it works out but you have your doubts. Being smug and sarcastic is not needed. I am not saying you per say are that way but many are. Coping an attitude is just childish.

A little enthusiasm for something new won't destroy you if it doesn't last. If there was a graveyard for failed business ventures there would be a very large cemetery of those that did not succeed. Especially when a business takes on a larger bigger business of the same kind that is well established. That does not however mean that nobody should ever try to compete with that big bad business. Competition is what drives this country. Why should professional sports be off limits? Someday the NFL or one of the other three long entrenched sports leagues will have a competitor.:D

[Pounder]

Warren Buffett's strategies tends to include long-term investments that either HAVE been good and are facing a little superficial threat that the company is strong enough to more than probably overcome, or engages in "disruptive technology," something that demonstrably changes the way we do things or think about them.

What does any sports league have to cover those terms?

Next...

99.5% of the owners got rich in something other than sports. This doesn't mean they can necessarily grasp the nuances of sports ownership... or else they wouldn't usually be begging for public money for infrastructure. Most SEEM to get into the business out of either boyhood fandom or some sort of "civic duty" that marries political influence to that infrastructure issue. Few really do well. Heck, on the other hand, Paul Allen seems to have a little more sports savvy than he does business sense, and even that's questionable. It appears his talents were to be able to write computer code AND be friends with Bill Gates. Doesn't mean he'll buy into your venture.

As for the USFL.. all I know is that it had been promising a franchise in Portland, and absolutely NOTHING has entered minor press in town, much less any major consciousness. Meanwhile, the effort to site a new baseball stadium in town is coming close to a resolution, meaning the place whatever "league" might exist desires to play won't be available... possibly ever.

If a league thought to go somewhere like Hillsboro Stadium (capacity 7,000 unless you add bleachers), OR perhaps try to appeal to a broader base of potential fans by investing in smaller facilities privately (something that may work VERY well in the current climate), such a league might get somewhere. Doing the same old same old with football goes where it always went, especially with a mob overlord known as the NFL ready to crush any competition it wants to crush.

[BringUSFLBack]

Warren Buffett's strategies tends to include long-term investments that either HAVE been good and are facing a little superficial threat that the company is strong enough to more than probably overcome, or engages in "disruptive technology," something that demonstrably changes the way we do things or think about them.

What does any sports league have to cover those terms?

Next...

99.5% of the owners got rich in something other than sports. This doesn't mean they can necessarily grasp the nuances of sports ownership... or else they wouldn't usually be begging for public money for infrastructure. Most SEEM to get into the business out of either boyhood fandom or some sort of "civic duty" that marries political influence to that infrastructure issue. Few really do well. Heck, on the other hand, Paul Allen seems to have a little more sports savvy than he does business sense, and even that's questionable. It appears his talents were to be able to write computer code AND be friends with Bill Gates. Doesn't mean he'll buy into your venture.

As for the USFL.. all I know is that it had been promising a franchise in Portland, and absolutely NOTHING has entered minor press in town, much less any major consciousness. Meanwhile, the effort to site a new baseball stadium in town is coming close to a resolution, meaning the place whatever "league" might exist desires to play won't be available... possibly ever.

If a league thought to go somewhere like Hillsboro Stadium (capacity 7,000 unless you add bleachers), OR perhaps try to appeal to a broader base of potential fans by investing in smaller facilities privately (something that may work VERY well in the current climate), such a league might get somewhere. Doing the same old same old with football goes where it always went, especially with a mob overlord known as the NFL ready to crush any competition it wants to crush.The NFL may become an issue at some point but when that point is won't be in the early years. The later years when a young league has built plenty of capital may bring about a battle. The key is to stay the least bit threatening for several years. When the capital and investment is in place a new league can go after the top tier name recognized talents. Attack the big dogs when your dog is big enough to sustain a counter attack. Also catch the big dog off guard. If the Old USFL had a time sustaining game plan they may have gotten to where they could be competitive.

In the mean time their is plenty of talent that the NFL overlooks and discards that could carry a young league. Examples are Chase Daniels and Graham Harrell. Players of that nature will have a chance to shine in the New USFL or UFL and they will either be big stars in a new professional competitor league or they'll be stars later in the NFL. A lot of good things can happen as a result of these new leagues.

Too write off these leagues before they can get started is wrong and unfair.

As far as Warren Buffet, it is unlikely that he would invest but to not think of the biggest dog possible would be a mistake. No founder would be wise to dismiss any option when it comes to investors. If I were a man wanting to start a new league I would not be intimidated by any big name and I would approach all in hopes of plenty of capital.

Anyway, everything remains to be seen. I myself have hopes for a new league and will support anyone who shows some backing and the ability to sustain at least a year or two. If the new leagues fail so frigging what. At least I gave them a chance and that I can be proud of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spikeville]

Welcome Ladyarcher. Did you make it down to the Sudbury Game and Fish archery Moose shoot. If you did, did you enjoy the shoot?