The United States Football League (USFL) and XFL have announced their intention to merge, pending regulatory approval. These rival spring football leagues, backed by Fox Corporation and an ownership group that includes Dwayne Johnson, aim to create a new professional league as an alternative to the NFL.
In a joint statement, both leagues stated that a potential merger would establish "substantial capabilities and resources" to ensure future growth. The new league would aim to provide professional spring football with the necessary capabilities and resources to develop players, coaches, and staff.
Further details about the new league will be announced at a later date, and the merger is subject to customary regulatory approvals. However, neither the USFL nor the XFL has responded to requests for comment.
The XFL suffered significant financial losses of $60 million during its inaugural season this year, according to industry sources. The league had projected $100 million in revenue for the 2024 season.
Reports of a possible merger between the USFL and XFL surfaced last week, with officials from both leagues hoping to combine before the 2024 season. The XFL was initially launched in 2001 as a joint venture between NBC and World Wrestling Entertainment but was closed after its first season. Vince McMahon relaunched the league in 2020, but it was cut short after five weeks due to the pandemic. The league was subsequently purchased by an ownership group that included Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners.
The USFL, which originally launched in the early 1980s before folding in 1985, was revived by Fox in 2022. The USFL has slightly higher viewership numbers compared to the XFL, with games averaging 751,000 viewers on Fox, FS1, NBC, and USA Network. The XFL, on the other hand, averaged 627,000 viewers per game.
Overall, the potential merger between the USFL and XFL aims to create a new professional football league that can compete with the NFL. The merger would provide the necessary capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and development within the league.