Very few professional football leagues not named the National Football League or Canadian Football League get to see six years old.
No one knows what the odds are for the United Football League getting to that milestone. But it’s fun to speculate about what the UFL could look like by 2015.
Of course, all of this is predicated on the league staying with its economic model (i.e. not getting into a bidding war with the NFL after growing to a certain point), not expanding too fast and not directly being tied in with the NFL, which it won’t be.
All of that being said, here’s one man’s guess as to where the UFL might be in five years:
UFL 2015
EASTERN DIVISION
Columbus
Florida Tuskers
Hartford
Raleigh-Durham
CENTRAL DIVISION
Birmingham
Omaha
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
WESTERN DIVISION
Albuquerque
California Redwoods
Las Vegas Locos
Portland
After the UFL began with four teams in 2009 and will go to six teams in 2010, here is how I get to 12 teams by 2015: The league will expand to eight teams in 2011, stay there in 2012, expand to 10 teams in 2013, stay there in 2014 and expand to 12 teams in 2015. By going this route, the UFL not only takes time to cultivate fan bases where they currently have teams, but they also avoid the United States Football League’s pitfall of expanding too fast, too soon.
The reason I place Albuquerque, N.M., in the Western Division by 2015 over Los Angeles is a) L.A. hasn’t proven it even wants professional football – NFL, UFL or anything else, b) it is possible that, despite the first reason, there could be an NFL team in L.A. by 2015, so the UFL wouldn’t want to be there anyway and c) it wouldn’t wise to saturate one particular area with UFL teams, and the Redwoods already would be there. All three divisions have four teams spread out so that many more areas of the country are represented by UFL squads.
Despite not having Los Angeles, in my vision of where the UFL will be by 2015, the league will have 12 teams in the top 76 television markets in the country, including 11 in the top 44 markets – Orlando (19), Sacramento (20), Portland (22), Raleigh (26), Hartford (30), Salt Lake City (31), Columbus (34), San Antonio (37), Birmingham (40), Las Vegas (42), Albuquerque (44) and Omaha (76).
What will the UFL be in 2015? Simply put, it will be the NFL for non-NFL markets. It will be high-quality football on par with the United States Football League, but it won’t make any of the mistakes the USFL made off the field.
And, most importantly, in my vision of the UFL, it still will be around in 2015.
what about Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Louisville?? UFL needs Los Angeles,Chicago and New york City because top three media market. I disagree that Raliegh-Durham and Columbus in because of NFL has Carolina Panthers,Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
HEY Dusty!
I like your vision for the league in 2015 but I like to take it a bit farther to 2020. This is base on the league doing really well by then.
First let start with what I envision the make up the league by that time. I see the league having so much success that others will want to get in on it. Here is what I envision the league look like by 2020. Two conferences with four five teams divisions. Here goes!
PACIFIC CONFERENCE
WESTERN DIVISION
Albuquarque
California
Las Vegas
Porland
Salt Lake City
MIDWEST DIVISION
San Antonio
Topeka
Omaha
Oklahoma
Arkansas
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
CENTRAL DIVDISION
Birmingham
Memphis
Mississippi
Iowa
Milwaukee
EASTERN DIVISION
Columbus
Florida
Toledo
Hartfort
Raleigh-Durham
Well I didn’t check all the TV markets like you did but I think some of these franchises might work. I know you see Oklahoma,Topeka,KS,Arkansas,Mississippi,Iowa,Milwaukee,WI,and Memphis, well these are some of the places for Non-NFL franchises will work. The one thing we know for sure the NFL is not going to these places. Also I envision a six teams in a playoff system, where the two teams with the two best record would get a bye, while the other teams play for the right to move on. I envision an expanded schedule to fourteen games with not ending on the Friday after Thanksgiving, going in the December with the championship game being play right before the January
bowel games are to be played. Well Dusty what do you think of my vision of the league in 2020? Let me hear from you, do you think I’m crazy or what? BTW first hartford fan I don’t think having a franchise in Raleigh will hurt the league they have a franchise in Florida and it has three NFL francises. I think Florida did ok for its fisrt year.
Houston, I like the way you think – looking that far ahead, rather than being pessimistic because of the UFL taking its time.
I think that 2016 will be great because after seven years, UFL will be protected by anti-trust exmeption.. so NFL can’t be monopoly. meantime UFL can play on Sunday and get big contract from networks. and sign marquee players. and may play against NFL teams. and true super bowl
Here is my prediction on the UFL in 2015:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division
COLUMBUS
FLORIDA
HARTFORD
RICHMOND
TORONTO
Southern Division
BIRMINGHAM
JACKSON
LITTLE ROCK
MEMPHIS
SHREVEPORT
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division
NEW MEXICO
OKLAHOMA CITY
OMAHA
SAN ANTONIO
UTAH
Pacific Division
CALIFORNIA
LAS VEGAS
LOS ANGELES
PORTLAND
VANCOUVER
The reason for the 2 Canadian teams is because I believe that the UFL could give the CFL a run for their money by that time.
Point Pleasant W.V
Anyone?
[...] Of course, all of this is predicated on the league staying with its economic model (i.e. not getting into a bidding war with the NFL after growing to a certain point), not expanding too fast and not directly being tied in with the NFL, which it won’t be. One man’s look to 2015… [...]