USBL Franchise rights/fees

[South Atlantic]

If Raleigh North Carolina had a USBL team, can I purchase the rights of the team from their former management? Does an ownership group lose their franchise rights if they back out of the league?

[HAC]

If Raleigh North Carolina had a USBL team, can I purchase the rights of the team from their former management? Does an ownership group lose their franchise rights if they back out of the league?

I'm not an expert, but who could stop you from buying the rights from former managment (and probably, technically, "current" management because what rights would "former" managment have?)?

And if a group backs out, why would they even have franchise rights?

I think what you're asking is can you buy the rights of a dormant franchise from the owners rather than spend bucks for an outright franchise? I would say, "yes."

Then again, if I was serious about buying a team, the USBL is very good about answering phone calls and e-mails.

[South Atlantic]

I appreciate you correcting my inadequate grammar.

The USBL has told me that you can not buy a team from a previous ownership group.

Evidently the Raleigh rights were terminated. Which brings me to the question, if I pay $300,000 for franchise rights, what allows them to be terminated?

[HAC]

I appreciate you correcting my inadequate grammar.

The USBL has told me that you can not buy a team from a previous ownership group.

Evidently the Raleigh rights were terminated. Which brings me to the question, if I pay $300,000 for franchise rights, what allows them to be terminated?

Sorry, I was not trying to correct anybody's grammar. I was just trying to figure out aloud exactly what you were wondering. (Plus, I had just finished dinner with a few brewskis so I wasn't at my typing best :wink: )

The only time I've heard of rights being terminated is if you don't make your payments. I believe there are annual payments that a team makes to the league. I know there are some dormant teams out there (St. Joe comes to mind) but the owners reportedly still pay their dues so that they retain rights.

I cannot imagine that the USBL would not facilitate a way for you to buy a team from another owner. Especially if it means keeping a team in a particular location.

If I had $300,000 lying around and I walked into the home of (insert USBL team here) and said I want this team and dropped the cash on the table I would think I'd own that team within five minutes.

I've heard USBL owners say at times, "I wish somebody would just buy this team" or "If I could sell and get out I would."

Maybe the USBL requires that an owner sell the team back to the league and then the league sells it to you, but what would be the point of that? Sounds like a lot of extra red tape.

And, again, I apologize if you thought I was playing Grammar King.