2021 Fiscal Year Recap: Black Ink and Black Monday

Alliance Sees the Road Forward

Alliance Leaders Pleased with 2021 Progress

June 7, 2021

Stamford, CT - Vince McMahon and the Alliance were very pleased with how the fiscal numbers turned out for the 2021 season, despite the fact that fans weren't allowed into attendance until half way through the season. The owners saw profit for the first time which brought renewed optimism throughout the league.

The report states that the league is 1.3% owned by Alpha Entertainment LLC(McMahon), 1.3% Legendary Field Exhibitions LLC(Ebersol), 4.8% Speros Sports LLC(Speros), 4.8% for Manning Sports LLC(Manning), 4.8% RedBird Capital Partners LLC(Johnson), 9.6% Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC(Leonsis), 4.8% Dundon Capital Partners LLC(Dundon), 4.8% Wirtz Corporation LLC(Wirtz), 4.8% Crane Capital Sports LLC(Crane), 4.8% Greenberg Sports Group LLC(Greenberg), 4.8% Jobs Sports and Entertainment LLC(Powell-Jobs), 4.8% TD Sports and Entertainment LLC(Moglia), 4.8% Schultz Family Sports LLC(Schultz), 4.8% Pelosi Football LLC(Pelosi), 4.8% Park Lane Sports and Entertainment LLC, 4.8% Zuffa LLC(Fertittas), 4.8% Maverick Cuban Sports LLC(Cuban), 4.8% Maloof Family LLC(Maloof), 4.8% Trifecta Sports and Entertainment LLC(Hearst), 4.8% Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment LLC(Vinik), 4.8% Atlanta Sports LLC(Armstrong) and 1.3% Spring League Football LLC(Woods).

Expenditures totaled $237.5M for the 2020-2021 fiscal season. Costs consisted of $123M from player contracts, $52.5M in front office/coaching contracts, $20M in stadium leases, $21M in traveling expenses, and $21M in housing expenses.

The league did receive $120M from TV rights, $11.5M per franchise in franchise dues, $26.5M from each of the two expansion franchises, $72M in ticket sales, $40M in sponsorships and $30M in merchandise totaling $545M in total revenue.

The Alliance ended the 2021 season $307.5M in the black as a league. With that number, each of the twenty AAF ownership groups saw a profit of $14.7M. With the increases expected from TV rights, ticket sales, sponsorships and merchandise, the owners are very pleased with where the league is sitting.

Oliver Luck Outlines Immediate AAF Future

June 14, 2021

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 increase from 45 to 46 allowing franchises to offer a 2nd "designated franchise player"contract

- Schedule will still consist of 12 regular season games

- The league re-upped on a one year television contract with ESPN, CBS and FOX for $45M each in junction with the $30M from TSN

- Ticket prices will also raise minimally across the league each of the next three seasons

- Regular season schedule is expected to go to 14 games for the 2023 season, and then 16 games for the 2024 season

- Salary cap will increase from $6M to $7M with average salaries going from $136,000 to $159,000 per player

- The salary cap number is expected to go to $8M for the 2023 season, then $10M for the 2024 season, and finally $12M for the 2025 season

- AAF Free Agency will begin October 1st

- AAF Expansion Draft will be held on November 1st on ESPN

- The draft will consist of all newly signed AAF players and the entire Atlantic City Blackjacks roster

- The AAF expects to expand from 22 to 26 teams for the 2023 season, and to 28 teams for the 2024 season

- The 2022 Alliance Championship game will be played in London, England

- The National Football League offered the Alliance $100M to partner with the AAF as a developmental league but the Alliance declined

Black Monday Hits Alliance

July 5, 2021

Stamford, CT - With the state of the league financially being very positive, many of the AAF ownership groups felt a renewed splurge to improve. Many teams in the league decided it was time to move on from previously coaching regimes. Head Coaches, coordinators, general managers and players we're released from their contracts starting on what most experts call Black Monday.

- Seattle Dragons fired HC Jim Zorn and promoted OC Dave Ragone to Head Coach. GM Mike Holmgren stepped down from the position. Justin King was hired as the new GM. WR Ricardo Lockette retired. Dowell Loggins, former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphis OC, was hired to be the new OC.

- Los Angeles Wildcats QB Josh Johnson retired.

- Las Vegas Conquerors WRs Brandon Coleman and Vincent Brown retired.

- Chicago Alphas DC Dick Jauron retired. OC Joker Phillips was fired. Anthony Lynn and Freddie Kitchens were hired to be the new OC and DC, respectively.

- Dallas Renegades OC Hal Mumme, QB Landry Jones, WR Terrence Williams and DL Courtney Upshaw retired. June Jones was hired to be the new OC.

- New York Guardians QB Matt McGloin, RB Andre Williams and WR Rueben Randle retired

- Baltimore Brigade WRs Aaron Dobson and Leonte Carroo retired. Former NFL journeyman QB Josh McCown was named as the new Offensive Coordinator. Former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins starting QB Alex Smith was named as the new QBs Coach.

- Washington Valor fired HC Greg Schiano, OC Cam Cameron and DC Bo Pelini. Former Washington Redskins HC Jay Gruden was hired to be the new HC. Former New York Jets HC Adam Gase was hired to be the new OC. Chuck Bresnahan was hired as the new DC.

- Orlando Apollos WR Josh Boyce retired. DL Bjorn Werner left for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder.

- San Diego Fleet named former San Francisco 49ers QB and Washington Redskins QBs Coach Tim Rattay as the new QBs Coach.

- Philadelphia Soul fired HC Jim Caldwell and hired former Philadelphia Eagles HC Doug Pederson as his replacement.

- Atlanta Defenders fired HC Steve Wilks and hired former Atlanta Falcons HC Dan Quinn as his replacement.

The Iron Gets Fresh Logo

July 19, 2021

Birmingham, AL - In an attempt to finally get over the hump, the Birmingham Iron updated their look with a fresh new logo. The core of the team is back to make another run under Head Coach Byron Leftwich, but the logo gives the team an updated and much more intimidating look.