The Struggle for a Second Professional Football League in the U.S.
Starting a second professional football league in the U.S. seems like an attainable task, yet here we are. The UFL is making yet another bold attempt to establish itself. However, as of this week, there’s uncertainty surrounding four of its teams. The recent USFL meeting wrapped up without clarity on their future, leading to speculation about everything from complete relocations to halting operations altogether.
Right now, it seems like the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats, and Michigan Panthers are in serious trouble. This comes despite the Panthers making it to the championship game, and Birmingham holding a 7-3 record this season. However, both teams struggled to attract more than 10,000 fans to their home games.
If we’re being honest, only the St. Louis BattleHawks can be classified as “successful” within the league. Most teams averaged around 8,100 attendees, while St. Louis stands out with a staggering average of 29,259 fans per game. I mean, I get the appeal—it’s a city that’s hungry for football after losing the Rams. They’ve got stadiums ready to go; this could have filled a gap, but…well, you know how things go.
At this point, it’s worth asking: can a supplemental football league even thrive? With college football and the NFL claiming most fans’ attention, breaking into that market seems nearly impossible. And trying to capture interest in areas that don’t feature strong teams? That’s a tough sell too.
The Core Issue with Secondary Football Leagues
There are two main challenges with a secondary football league. For starters, you have to accept that the quality of play is going to be, let’s say, subpar. It might be enjoyable in its own quirky way, but it’s not exactly what fans are looking for as a main event—instead, it’s more like a sideshow. When you join a secondary league, you’re basically watching players who couldn’t even make it onto NFL rosters. And then there’s the bigger issue: the lack of public interest.
Getting fans to invest in new teams feels nearly impossible. You’re asking folks to buy into something in the off-season, and let’s be real, that’s a tough conversation to have. The league attempted to create a persistent twelve-month cycle around their product, making it hard for any new competition to draw attention.
Right now, the offerings mainly attract those who are missing football. There was a time when that was enough, but not anymore. There’s a genuine fatigue with the NFL; by the time spring rolls around and the new league emerges, folks might just be over it.
The Need for a Farm System
The only path for another football league to succeed is if it aligns itself with the NFL—that’s the crux of the matter. There has to be a meaningful connection that gets fans to invest in what’s happening. NFL teams rarely form genuine ties with local fans down the line, which complicates things for minor league squads.
Consider how this could work. St. Louis seems increasingly indifferent to football’s absence, while the Panthers have a strong base in North Carolina—so perhaps minor league teams could find a place in South Carolina. The Saints could potentially set up minor teams in Mississippi, and Portland might be a good fit for Seattle’s minor league operations. You could keep going with this.
The appeal of minor league baseball has its reasons, while the NBA G League has seen less expansion. Tying fandom together with the future prospects of the NFL not only gives fans a stake in their teams but also provides family-friendly, affordable sporting events that foster community.
And let’s not kid ourselves, there’s enough talent to make this happen in football. Those roster spots are crucial for developmental players, allowing them to gain experience even if they’re on the IR or PUP list. Picture a middle-sized city football fan getting to watch rehabilitating players like Miles Garrett or Aidan Hutchinson—it’s a win-win really.
Regardless of what the NFL believes, there’s an audience for this.
The NFL has been hesitant about minor league football because they see college football as their development system. Still, the landscape of football is changing. The NFL aims to expand internationally, which indicates they’re keen on discovering new talent outside the NCAA framework.
Moreover, I doubt the league has fully considered how to create a profitable model for two-way contracts on the backend. Imagine every training camp’s cut-down day linking players to minor league teams, ultimately leading to options for two-way deals or NFL contracts elsewhere.
This would not only clarify the workings of NFL teams for these players but also allow fans to engage with compelling narratives in the sport.
The NFL is keen on growth. They want to scale to every major market and venture into Europe. Instead of searching globally, perhaps it’s time they focus inward and cater to the fans who don’t have access to live teams they love—either financially or geographically.
This is the shift the UFL should consider, and honestly, it could work.
