Alliance League Has to Regroup
Last Year's Positivity has Left the Room
August 3, 2020
Stamford, CT - Vince McMahon and the Alliance expected to end this year in the black for the majority of the owners but with the coronavirus pandemic hitting the league and the country so hard, the league may have to alter some future plans and some summer spending. Some owners were more concerned with the future viability of the league compared to others.
The report states that the league is 4% owned by Alpha Entertainment LLC(McMahon), 4% Legendary Field Exhibitions LLC(Ebersol), 4% Speros Sports LLC(Speros), 4% for FedEx Sports LLC(Smith), 4% RedBird Capital Partners LLC(Johnson), 8% Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC(Leonsis), 4% Orlando Predators LLC(Siegel), 4% Wirtz Corporation LLC(Wirtz), 4% Crane Capital Sports LLC(Crane), 4% Greenberg Sports Group LLC(Greenberg), 4% Jobs Sports and Entertainment LLC(Powell-Jobs), 4% TD Sports and Entertainment LLC(Moglia), 4% Schultz Family Sports LLC(Schultz), 4% Pelosi Football LLC(Pelosi), 4% Park Lane Sports and Entertainment LLC, 4% Zuffa LLC(Fertittas), 4% Maverick Cuban Sports LLC(Cuban), 4% Cleveland Sports LLC(Gilbert), 4% Trifecta Sports and Entertainment LLC(Hearst), 4% Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment LLC(Vinik), 4% Generals Football LLC(Lerner), 4% Black Panthers Sports and Entertainment LLC(Choi), 4% Atlanta Sports LLC(Armstrong) and 4% Spring League Football LLC(Woods).
Expenditures totaled $302M for the 2019-2020 fiscal season. Costs consisted of $161M from player contracts, $70M in front office/coaching contracts, $22M in stadium leases, $22M in traveling expenses, $24M in housing expenses, and $3M on equipment.
The league did receive $60M from TV rights, $13M per franchise in franchise dues, $38M from each of the two expansion franchises, $40M in ticket sales, $5M in sponsorships and $12M in merchandise totaling $453M in total revenue.
The Alliance ended the 2020 season $151M in the black as a league, however, that number serves as a $7M loss per franchise, and as a $32M loss for the expansion franchises. League President Jeffery Pollack said the COVID-19 pandemic cost the league $60M in TV contracts, and an estimated $80M in ticket sales, $30M in merchandise sales, and $10M in sponsorships. Pollack, however, did say the league expected those numbers and guaranteed the 2021 season.
NFL's Arizona Cardinals Not Helping Alliance
August 7, 2020
Columbus, OH - The NFL already did the majority of their damage to the young AAF back in April, but they weren't completely finished. The Arizona Cardinals hired Columbus Generals' Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury to be their next Head Coach, and then proceeded to sign their Quarterback and Alliance Championship Game Most Valuable Player, Chris Streveler as well. Streveler will be following his Coach to the Cardinals to likely back up entrenched starter Kyler Murray.
Oliver Luck Outlines Immediate AAF Future
August 10, 2020
Stamford, CT - AAF Commissioner Oliver Luck announced that the next few months would be a very hectic for the league as the Alliance is dealing with a truncated off-season due to COVID-19 pandemic. Luck said that a lot of movement is currently going on behind the scenes and that a lot of changes would be happening to the landscape of the league in a short amount of time and a lot of those things were still up in the air.
Highlights from Luck's announcement consist of:
- Roster sizes will stay at 45
- Schedule will still consist of 12 regular season games
- Salary cap will decrease from $7M to $6M, the first decrease in player salary in league history, with average salaries going from $159,000 to $136,000 per player
- AAF Free Agency will begin October 1st
- The 2021 Alliance Championship game will be played in Mexico City, Mexico after not being able to play the 2020 Alliance Championship in the city
Mallett, Richardson, Judge and Coleman Honored with Alliance Awards
August 15, 2020
Stamford, CT - What a crazy year the 2020 season was played in. Miami Blues QB EJ Manuel led the league in passing yards while not throwing an interception but the Most Valuable Player went to Las Vegas Conquerors QB Ryan Mallett due to the Conquerors being so dominant during the regular season. Birmingham Iron RB Trent Richardson was once again named the Offensive Player of the Year as he ran for 813 yards and 10 TDs in just five games. Seattle Dragons' Linebacker Cameron Judge earned Defensive Player of the Year, while Las Vegas Conquerors WR Corey Coleman was named Rookie of the Year after having 399 yards and 8 TDs.
Passing Leaders -
EJ Manuel, Miami Blues - 1327 yards, 12 TDs, 0 INTs
Ryan Mallett, Las Vegas Conquerors - 1284 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs
Garrett Gilbert, Orlando Predators - 1262 yards, 12 TDs, 1 INT
Cardale Jones, Atlanta Defenders - 1254 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs
Brock Osweiler, Cleveland Gladiators - 1199 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs
Blake Bortles, Tampa Bay Storm - 1019 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs
Cody Kessler, Philadelphia Soul - 932 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs
Josh Johnson, Los Angeles Wildcats - 903 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT
Tim Tebow, San Antonio Commanders - 895 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT
PJ Walker, Houston Roughnecks - 884 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs
Landry Jones, Dallas Renegades - 880 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs
Colin Kaepernick, San Diego Fleet - 846 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing Leaders -
Trent Richardson, Birmingham Iron - 813 yards, 10 TDs
Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas Renegades - 673 yards, 6 TDs
Isaiah Crowell, Las Vegas Conquerors - 622 yards, 2 TDs
Jeremy Hill, Cleveland Gladiators - 615 yards, 6 TDs
Denard Robinson, Miami Blues - 604 yards, 5 TDs
David Cobb, San Antonio Commanders - 566 yards, 9 TDs
Jacques Patrick, Chicago Alphas - 563 yards, 4 TDs
Zac Stacy, Memphis Express - 560 yards, 3 TDs
Alfred Blue, Philadelphia Soul - 538 yards, 4 TDs
Matt Jones, St. Louis Stallions - 495 yards, 8 TDs
Orleans Darkwa, New York Guardians - 488 yards, 0 TDs
Daryl Richardson, San Antonio Commanders - 473 yards, 5 TDs
Spencer Ware, Oakland Panthers - 462 yards, 3 TDs
Christine Michael, St. Louis Stallions - 448 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Leaders -
Leonard Hankerson, Miami Blues - 498 yards, 6 TDs
Josh Doctson, Cleveland Gladiators - 498 yards, 5 TDs
Cam Phillips, Houston Roughnecks - 411 yards, 6 TDs
Corey Coleman, Las Vegas Conquerors - 399 yards, 8 TDs
Martavis Bryant, San Diego Fleet - 385 yards, 6 TDs
Charles Johnson, Orlando Predators - 366 yards, 5 TDs
Brice Butler, Dallas Renegades - 366 yards, 3 TDs
Kelvin Benjamin, Tampa Bay Storm - 363 yards, 6 TDs
TJ Graham, Seattle Dragons - 349 yards, 2 TDs
Antonio Callaway, Chicago Alphas - 342 yards, 2 TDs
DeAnthony Thomas, Philadelphia Soul - 336 yards, 3 TDs
Donte Moncrief, Orlando Predators - 335 yards, 4 TDs
Shaq Evans, Chicago Alphas - 335 yards, 3 TDs
Justin Hardy, Atlanta Defenders - 334 yards, 4 TDs
Kevin White, Miami Blues - 320 yards, 3 TDs
Chester Rogers, Oakland Panthers - 317 yards, 1 TD
Paul Richardson, Baltimore Brigade - 315 yards, 1 TD
MeKale McKay, San Antonio Commanders - 294 yards, 2 TDs
Devier Posey, Columbus Generals - 293 yards, 4 TDs
Hakeem Nicks, New York Guardians - 265 yards, 4 TDs