Alliance League Growing Faster than Expected
McMahon, Ebersol and Woods Pleased with Year 3
June 25, 2018
Stamford, CT - Vince McMahon, Charlie Ebersol, and Brian Woods are very pleased with the current landscape of the league and said the league was already three years ahead of their initial plan.
The report states that the league is 4% owned by Alpha Entertainment LLC(McMahon), 4% Legendary Field Exhibitions LLC(Ebersol), 5.5% Speros Sports LLC(Speros), 5.5% for FedEx Sports LLC(Smith), 5.5% RedBird Capital Partners LLC(Johnson), 11% Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC(Leonsis), 5.5% Orlando Predators LLC(Siegel), 5.5% Wirtz Corporation LLC(Wirtz), 5.5% Crane Capital Sports LLC(Crane), 5.5% Greenberg Sports Group LLC(Greenberg), 5.5% Jobs Sports and Entertainment LLC(Powell-Jobs), 5.5% TD Sports and Entertainment LLC(Moglia), 5.5% Schultz Family Sports LLC(Schultz), 5.5% Pelosi Football LLC(Pelosi), 5.5% Park Lane Sports and Entertainment LLC, 5.5% Zuffa LLC(Fertittas), 5.5% Maverick Cuban Sports LLC(Cuban), 3% Spring League Football LLC(Woods) and 1% Austin Generals LLC(Harris).
Expenditures totaled $175.5M for the 2017-2018 fiscal season. Costs consisted of $83M from player contracts, $42.5M in front office/coaching contracts, $16M in stadium leases, $16M in traveling expenses, $17M in housing expenses, and $1M on equipment. "Designated Franchise" player contracts are no longer a league expense as they are individually negotiated by each ownership group.
The league did receive $25M from TV rights with FOX, and $25M from ESPN, $21M from Monumental Sports and Entertainment LLC, $11M from each of the first eleven AAF franchises and $26.5M from Zuffa LLC, Pelosi Football LLC, Park Lane Sports and Entertainment and Maverick Cuban Sports LLC and $3M from Austin Generals LLC, $92M in ticket sales, and $22M in merchandise totaling $415M in total revenue.
The league ended the 2017-2018 fiscal season with a $239.5M surplus.
Oliver Luck Outlines Immediate AAF Future
July 1, 2018
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 40 to 45
- Salary cap will increase from $5M to $6M, and salaries will go from $128,000 to $136,000 per player
- The league re-upped on a one year television contract with ESPN and FOX for $30M each
- The league also agreed to a two games per weekend on CBS contract for $17.5M
- 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 Austin Generals roster
- Coaching staffs to be hired and announced for the four expansion teams by late August
- The 2019 Alliance Championship game will be played in London, England
Roster Turnover is Real
July 15, 2018
Stamford, CT - This is the part of the offseason where the league's owners just tries to keep damages repairable as the NFL and CFL are able to come and poach some of their talent. Luckily, the league doesn't get too affected by the NFL as the senior league has their rosters and staffs mostly set by this time of year as they prepare for their training camps beginning next month. The AAF also feels pretty confident in negotiations against the CFL where they believe they have had the upper hand the last two years.
- Birmingham Iron Head Coach Tony Dungy and General Manager Bill Polian stepped down from their respective positions. The Iron promoted Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich to Head Coach, QBs Coach Mike Kafka to Offensive Coordinator and Assistant General Manager Trey Brown to General Manager. RB Peyton Hillis retired.
- Memphis Express RB Lache Seastrunk and WR Jerrel Jernigan signed with the CFL's BC Lions while LB Ronald Powell signed with the IFL's Arizona Rattlers.
- Miami Blues QB Thad Lewis, WR Riley Cooper and OL Bruce Campbell retired. WR David Nelson signed with the CFL's Ottawa RedBlacks. Offensive Coordinator Derek Dooley was fired with Head Coach Steve Spurrier taking over the play calling duties.
- Seattle Dragons QB Jake Locker retired. RB Chris Polk and WR Davone Bess signed with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimoes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers respectively.
- Houston Roughnecks fired Offensive Coordinator Sparky Woods, Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson, and General Manager Ray Farmer. Major Applewhite was hired as the new Offensive Coordinator, Jim Jeffcoat as the new Defensive Coordinator and Scott Butera as the new General Manager. RB Bryce Brown has been suspended from the league.
- Los Angeles Wildcats' Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow and Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin both resigned. Tee Martin and Winston Moss were hired as the new OC and DC respectively. QB Chad Kelly has been suspended from the league. WR Brenton Bersin signed with the IFL's Arizona Rattlers.
- San Antonio Commanders' Head Coach Mike Shanahan resigned to become a Senior Consultant on his son's San Francisco 49ers staff. LB LaRon Landry retired. Kris Richard was hired as the new Head Coach. WRs Mike Williams and Dezmon Briscoe signed with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders while QB Dan LeFevour signed with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Defensive Coordinator Charlie Jackson became the Head Coach at Kentucky State University. Richard hired current New York Jets' DB Coach Aaron Glenn to be the new Defensive Coordinator.
- Baltimore Brigade fired Offensive Coordinator Jim Fassel and hired QBs Coach Kellen Moore to be the new Offensive Coordinator. RB Ronnie Hillman and K Dan Carpenter retired. RB Step Taylor signed with the IFL's Jacksonville Sharks.
- Washington Valor TE Jake Stoneburner and RB Silas Redd signed with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-cats.
- Orlando Predators QB Dennis Dixon and TE Tony Moeaki retired.
- Chicago Alphas RB Ryan Mathews retired. WR Stedman Bailey signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.
- Las Vegas Conquerors' WR Kenny Britt signed with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. LB Neville Hewitt signed with the NFL New York Jets.