• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

Newly Formed UFL Draws Equally From USFL-XFL Merger

  • The new spring football league features equal team and lead executive representation from its predecessor entities.
  • The UFL is looking to separate itself from a long history of leagues trying to challenge or supplement the NFL.
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Many corporate mergers, both in and outside of sports, are anything but unions of equals—instead, they’re more like acquisitions in another name. The newly formed United Football League is bucking that trend in its attempt to create a stable spring football league. 

The UFL, created from a merger of the XFL and USFL, splits its predecessor entities right down the middle in many key respects. The eight-team league will feature four teams from each of the XFL and USFL: Birmingham, Houston, Memphis, and Michigan franchises will compete in the new USFL Conference, as expected; and Arlington, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C., teams will play in the XFL Conference. Former XFL president and CEO Russ Brandon will lead the business operations of the new entity under the same title and role. Daryl Johnston, formerly the USFL’s president of football operations, will continue in the same role for the UFL. 

The UFL also brings in each of the former leagues’ primary media partners: the USFL’s Fox and the XFL’s ESPN. Team head coaches were drawn equally, as well, from the USFL and XFL.

Cutbacks, another common trait of mergers, are carrying over to the UFL, as the USFL’s New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh teams were dropped, as were the XFL’s Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Seattle teams. The UFL’s Houston team, however, will take on the Roughnecks nickname used in the XFL, as opposed to the USFL’s Gamblers. 

Troubled Lineage

On-field action for the UFL will begin on March 30, but other details, including team schedules and broadcast plans, have yet to be announced. The UFL’s move to draw the very best from the USFL and XFL in equal measure is a deliberate attempt to separate itself from decades of failed pro football leagues that sought to either challenge or supplement the NFL, including prior iterations of both the USFL and XFL, plus the Alliance of American Football. 

Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of UFL investor RedBird Capital Partners, called it “a tremendous opportunity to achieve something unique” and he believes the UFL has “a legitimate shot at becoming one of the top professional leagues in the country after the big four,” referring to the NFL, NBA, MLB, and the NHL.

Editor’s note: RedBird Capital Partners is a joint venture partner in Front Office Sports investor RedBird IMI. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

Hot Dog Maven George Shea on Chestnut Comeback and Investor Interest

George Shea runs a real estate PR firm and Major League Eating.
exclusive

ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap Strives to Discover Joey Chestnut’s Secret

Schaap calls his second Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Michael Johnson

Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source

The new track league hasn’t paid athletes in full yet.
Sophie Cunningham
July 2, 2025

WNBA Expansion Decisions Show League Prioritizes North, NBA Ties

One player ripped the league for its geographic choices.
July 2, 2025

NHL to Rejoin Olympic Ice in Milan—and NBC Set to Cash In

NHL players last competed in the Olympics in 2014.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
exclusive
July 2, 2025

PGA Tour Slashes FedEx Cup Winner Pay From $25M to $10M

The FedExCup is reworking how it distributes its bonus money.
Red Panda
July 2, 2025

Red Panda Hospitalized After WNBA Halftime Fall

The beloved performer was taken off the court in a wheelchair.
July 1, 2025

WNBA Roster Limits Under Fire After Vanloo’s Valkyries Release

Kaitlyn Chen remains on the Valkyries roster.
July 1, 2025

LIV Golf CEO Pushes Back On PGA Tour Merger

Scott O’Neil said there could be new opportunities for the Tour’s players.