Ownership Duo Buys AAF Developmental Team
All AAF Tryouts Have Concluded
September 5, 2015
Austin, TX - AAF Head of Development Brian Woods announced that all tryouts have been concluded and that the league was very pleased with the player turn out. All the fans will get to watch a lot of good football this upcoming spring. The league did not release the names of the players who tried out, but there were quite a few big name former NFL players confirmed such as JaMarcus Russell, Kellen Winslow Jr., Braylon Edwards, Troy Smith, Trent Richardson, Robert Meachem, Hakeem Nicks, Ray Rice, and Peyton Hillis.
Former NFL Players Buy AAF's Developmental Team
September 22, 2015
Austin, TX - The AAF announced that former three time NFL Pro Bowler Tommie Harris along with former NFL player Eric Bassey has bought the rights to their developmental team currently named "Team 9" for a combined $2M. Harris has announced that the team will now be named the Austin Generals.
“We're proud to bring the Generals to Austin. It'll be a very unique experience and we will do everything we can to help develop the players so they can realize their dream.”
Brian Woods, earlier stated, that "Team 9" or now the Austin Generals, would be used as a practice squad for the AAF. After the draft concludes, the league will then start adding players to the Generals. A search for the coaches of the Generals was currently underway. The Generals would also be used as an emergency team, and would consistently practice against the other eight AAF teams.
AAF Lands Television Contract
September 26, 2015
Stamford, CT - Oliver Luck has announced a television contract for the league. The partnership is a two year deal with FOX Sports (FOX, FS1 and FS2) for $20M per year. The network plans to put two games on FS2 per weekend, with one game on Saturday going on FS1 and the game of the week will be featured on FOX. Luck also released the regular season schedule with some altered dates. Tickets for all games would now go on sale.
Speros Buys the Iron
October 3, 2015
Birmingham, AL - The AAF has sold off their first franchise, the Birmingham Iron. Jim Speros, the former owner of the Canadian Football League's Baltimore Stallions, and the United Football League's Virginia Destroyers and Speros Sports LLC has purchased the AAF's Birmingham Iron for $10M. Speros, a restaurant and buisness mogul and Clemson alum, couldn't pass up the opportunity to get into the AAF at the ground floor.
“I'm a huge fan of Tahj Boyd, and everything he did for my Tigers. With this coaching staff already in place, and this television contract, this league and team is looking like a winning combination.”
Speros specifically cited the inability to acquire an actual entire franchise rather than just an investment into the single entity league, as the reason why the UFL didn't work. The AAF intends to franchise out each of their current teams as buyers become interested.
Speros looks forward to putting his handprint on the makeup of the Iron roster later this month in the draft. The Iron currently own the #3 selection in the Skill Position Player Draft.