The United States Football League (USFL) announced last week that it was in discussions with Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) to host the 2022 season in the city. Protective Stadium would host the bulk of the games, with Legion Field hosting the rest.
The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau board decided earlier this week to contribute up to $2 million to bring the USFL to Birmingham.
The BJCC still needs $1.6 million to fund the 43-game day personnel, equipment, and field labor throughout the 2022 season, according to CBS 42.
The National Spring Football League (NSFL) LLC, which owns the USFL, has set aside $150 million for the league over the next three years. The aim appears to be that private investors would come forward to assist make this a reality.
“I believe the rest of the money will come mostly from the public sector, with a small amount from the private sector, so it’ll be a mix of the two, with the public sector leading the way,” said Gene Hallman, president, and CEO of the Bruno Event Team.
In all of this, it’s worth noting that 2022 is only the beginning. If an agreement is reached, the USFL may have as many as four teams in Birmingham in 2023, with the goal of having all eight franchises in place by the third season.
Despite the fact that the USFL is owned by FOX, it appears like the broadcasts will be split between FOX, FS1, NBC, and USA. This is another possible benefit for Birmingham. Birmingham would receive two on-air commercials as part of the proposed arrangement, providing the city with national exposure.
Aside from the potential publicity, the city is guaranteed to pull in a lot of money throughout the season from the hotels, food, entertainment, and other expenses incurred by the USFL personnel and fans.
The league is currently planning a debut on April 15th, with a 10-week season. Two semi-final games would be played before the title game on July 3rd. These dates may alter somewhat because this is still in the works.
All sides had hoped to reach an agreement by today, but city officials have said that we’ll likely hear something next week.
Everyone seemed to be interested in making this happen, no matter how you look at it. We hope the financial crisis to be resolved soon, but we’ll keep you updated as we learn more about the situation.
What are your thoughts on Birmingham hosting the United States Football League in 2022? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, or join the Discord chat.
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