Alliance League a Profitable League
Black Numbers are Outnumbering Red Ones
June 25, 2019
Stamford, CT - The league has become very profitable. The league as a whole made $567M against expenditures of $238.5M for a profit of $238.5M. The owners individually are still in the red as expected due to the league buy-in but all ownership groups seem encouraged for the future of the league.
The report states that the league is 4% owned by Alpha Entertainment LLC(McMahon), 4% Legendary Field Exhibitions LLC(Ebersol), 4.5% Speros Sports LLC(Speros), 4.5% for FedEx Sports LLC(Smith), 4.5% RedBird Capital Partners LLC(Johnson), 9% Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC(Leonsis), 4.5% Orlando Predators LLC(Siegel), 4.5% Wirtz Corporation LLC(Wirtz), 4.5% Crane Capital Sports LLC(Crane), 4.5% Greenberg Sports Group LLC(Greenberg), 4.5% Jobs Sports and Entertainment LLC(Powell-Jobs), 4.5% TD Sports and Entertainment LLC(Moglia), 4.5% Schultz Family Sports LLC(Schultz), 4.5% Pelosi Football LLC(Pelosi), 4.5% Park Lane Sports and Entertainment LLC, 4.5% Zuffa LLC(Fertittas), 4.5% Maverick Cuban Sports LLC(Cuban), 4.5% Cleveland Sports LLC(Gilbert), 4.5% Trifecta Sports and Entertainment LLC(Hearst), 4.5% Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment LLC(Vinik), 4.5% Generals Football LLC(Lerner) and 2% Spring League Football LLC(Woods).
Expenditures totaled $238.5M for the 2018-2019 fiscal season. Costs consisted of $123M from player contracts, $52.5M in front office/coaching contracts, $20M in stadium leases, $20M in traveling expenses, $21M in housing expenses, and $2M on equipment.
The league did receive $77.5M from TV rights, $23M from Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC, $11.5M per other franchise ownership groups, $36.5M from each of the four expansion teams, $121M in ticket sales, $15M in sponsorships and $35M in merchandise totaling $552M in total revenue.
League President Jeffery Pollack said the Alliance is showing that football can be successful in the spring, and that the league wanted to show their gratitude towards the players that have made this league possible, so a $10k bonus check would be going out to every single player in the league, and that the salary cap would be going up league wide from $6M a team to $7M that would result in each player getting a salary bump from $136k to $159k for the 2020 season. He also expects another salary jump next off-season after the AAF finishes the current TV contract. The networks are "very pleased with our ratings, and are expecting to expand their offer to our ever growing league."
Oliver Luck Outlines Immediate AAF Future
July 1, 2019
Stamford, CT - AAF Commissioner Oliver Luck that the summer months wouldn't lack excitement for the Alliance fans.
Highlights from Luck's announcement consist of:
- Roster sizes will stay at 45
- Salary cap will increase from $6M to $7M, and average salaries will go from $136,000 to $159,000 per player
- The league re-upped on a two year television contract with ESPN, CBS and FOX for $40M each
- AAF Free Agency will begin October 1st
- AAF Expansion Draft will be held on November 1st on ESPN2
- The draft will consist of all newly signed AAF players and the entire Atlantic City Blackjacks roster
- Coaching staffs to be hired and announced for the two expansion teams by late August
- The 2020 Alliance Championship game will be played in Mexico City, Mexico.
Rosters Always Take a Hit
July 15, 2019
Stamford, CT - Keeping all the best talent possible in the AAF will always be a top concern for the league. Despite the announcement of the salary cap jumping up to $7M for the 2020 season, the young league may never be able to keep their young talent from jumping at an NFL payday. The biggest thing working in the AAF's favor on that front is the fact that their league finishes up after the NFL already concludes their Free Agency and their Rookie Draft. Most NFL teams have their rosters completed by the end of June, but it didn't stop them from signing a few AAF stars. The CFL and IFL was also able to steal a few of the AAF veterans despite offering a much lower salary. These players were probably looking for more playing time after they didn't receive as much as they would have liked.
- Birmingham Iron WRs Taylor Price and Marcus Thigpen signed with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders. TE Mo Allie-Cox signed with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
- Memphis Express fired OC Charlie Weis. QBs Zach Mettenberger and Christian Hackenberg signed with the Indoor Football League's Iowa Barnstormers and Green Bay Blizzard. Former Boston College's OC Steve Logan was hired to be the OC.
- New York Guardians Head Coach Herm Edwards accepted the position as Head Coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils. OC Kevin Gilbride was promoted to HC/OC. QB Josh Freeman signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
- Seattle Dragons fired DC Al Golden and hired University of Campbell's Head Coach Mike Minter. RB Phillip Tanner and WR Derek Hagan retired.
- Houston Roughnecks' Head Coach Mack Brown accepted the Head Coaching position at the University of North Carolina. Former Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills Head Coach Wade Phillips was hired to be the new Head Coach. RB Cyrus Gray, WR Greg Little and OL Johnathon Scott retired.
- Tampa Bay Storm added recently retired NFL QB Josh McCown as QBs Coach.
- Los Angeles Wildcats franchised QB Josh Johnson. WR Donnie Avery, OL Brandon Browning and Mike Johnson retired.
- San Antonio Commanders OC Gary Kubiak was hired by the Minnesota Vikings to be the OC. Former Oregon State and Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley was hired to be the new OC. WR Devier Posey and LB Jayrone Elliott was traded to the Columbus Generals for WR Quinton Patton and LB Mason Foster. WR Earl Bennett retired. RB Kenneth Farrow signed with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.
- Orlando Predators QB Christian Ponder retired.
- Chicago Alphas WR Jake Kumerow, RB Juwan Thompson and DL Dan Williams retired.
- Dallas Renegades fired OC Mark Mangino and replaced him with former Kentucky Head Coach Hal Mumme. WR Arrelious Benn and OL Derek Newton retired.
- St. Louis Stallions TE Troy Niklas, WR Jeff Janis and DL Karl Klug retired. LB Mychal Kendricks signed with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
- San Diego Fleet fired OC Steve Fairchild and promoted QBs Coach Jon Kitna to OC. WR Kendall Wright retired. WR James Wright signed with the IFL's Sioux Falls Storm.
- Philadelphia Soul fired DC Eric Mangini and hired former Miami Dolphins DC Kevin Coyle.
- Columbus Generals WR Quan Bray signed with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders and WR DeAndre Smelter signed with the CFL's BC Lions.