The U.S. Football League (USFL) played three seasons of pro spring football in the 80s then disappeared when the owner of the New Jersey Generals thought it was a good idea to switch to fall football and take on the NFL.
Since those heady days, the American Association of Football came and went. So did the XFL. But those were in days when sports betting was illegal in most states.
With those failures as a backdrop, the USFL—with the same teams, but without the Generals owner, one Donald Trump—is returning in April. The hope is that the spread of legalized gambling will draw enough of an interest on the tube and in stadiums to make it a success in the spring time slot, according to Penn Bets.
Teams include: the Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers, the Michigan Panthers, the New Jersey Generals, the Birmingham Stallions, the New Orleans Breakers, the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Houston Gamblers.
Here’s one drawback. The teams will not play in their home cities. All games will be played at one site. Birmingham seems to be the leading choice. So, what makes teams wedded to the city that hosts the name? To be determined.
Games will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Sports, USA Network and NBC.
But just because they build it doesn’t necessarily mean they will come.
“In the past, these leagues have struggled to get traction at the betting counter,” said Jay Kornegay, vice president of race and sportsbook operations at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. “It’s usually dominated by sharps that have done their research. We always hope they get the attention from the recreational player, but it’s usually tough sledding. We’ll be rooting for them.”
Robert Walker, the director of sportsbook operations for US Bookmaking, agrees—to an extent.
“Being able to watch it is critical,” Walker said. “Television has driven sports betting for the last 40 years. They go hand in hand. And it has to be a decent product. Look at arena football. That was kind of fun, but never really caught on with the betting public. But remember: We’re only using Nevada as the gauge, as opposed to having all these states legalized.”
Walker thinks the schedule—games on Friday night, Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday night—should help.
“I definitely think the games being standalone, you’ll be able to watch all four games, that’s a plus,” Walker said. “As a bookmaker, we’re obviously rooting for it to succeed.
