Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
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Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
The AAF was running short of cash, but the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes bailed the league out with a $250 million investment.
The Athletic website reported that the league wasn't going to be able to make payroll before the bailout, but a spokesperson denied that.
https://theathletic.com/825580/2019/02/ ... -infusion/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2 ... 913018002/
The Athletic website reported that the league wasn't going to be able to make payroll before the bailout, but a spokesperson denied that.
https://theathletic.com/825580/2019/02/ ... -infusion/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2 ... 913018002/
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
Thirty million dollars per franchise, for eight minor league football teams... none of which are located in North Carolina. Oh well, it was his money.
Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
Franchises in financial trouble after only two weeks of play. Will this be another one and done league?
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
The NFL is giving the AAF a lot of exposure through NFL Network, and some people looking at the situation feel it's a given that the NFL will purchase the AAF in short order and establish the league as its minor league. In other words, he's hoping to cash in on the sale.Mark L. Ford wrote:Thirty million dollars per franchise, for eight minor league football teams... none of which are located in North Carolina. Oh well, it was his money.
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
Historically, it's never been a given that the NFL would buy someone else's minor league. They created their own developmental league when they operated NFL Europe. Before 1970, a few of the NFL and AFL teams had a farm team until the league owners prohibited it.
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
Wasn't the World League of American Football of the early 90's also considered an NFL developmental league? Was it totally owned by the NFL?Mark L. Ford wrote:Historically, it's never been a given that the NFL would buy someone else's minor league. They created their own developmental league when they operated NFL Europe. Before 1970, a few of the NFL and AFL teams had a farm team until the league owners prohibited it.
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
It was only partly funded by the NFL, even though it was their developmental league. In 1990 it was reported that the NFL's initial investment was $1.3 million dollars with a $200,000 line of credit. Each franchise cost $11 million dollars. The Frankfurt Galaxy and Ohio Glory (1992 expansion team) were the only teams solely owned by the league.Rupert Patrick wrote:Wasn't the World League of American Football of the early 90's also considered an NFL developmental league? Was it totally owned by the NFL?Mark L. Ford wrote:Historically, it's never been a given that the NFL would buy someone else's minor league. They created their own developmental league when they operated NFL Europe. Before 1970, a few of the NFL and AFL teams had a farm team until the league owners prohibited it.
When the league suspended operations (before becoming WLAF/NFL Europe) at least a few of the owners were given settlements. It was reported that the Riders' owner Larry Benson was given $2 million dollars.
Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
To be honest I do find it highly unlikely that the NFL would be willing to fund a D league for any significant amount of time when college football is basically their minor league system already. And they don't have to pay anything for that. They may fund a 'D' league as long as they were making money or at least breaking even off of it. But as soon as they started losing money the league they were funding would be gone in a heartbeat.
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Re: Carolina Hurricane owner bailed out AAF
I agree with you. I doubt that a D league would ever produce more than a handful of players who can play in the NFL, and even those few would be marginal at best. In a sense each team has its own little cache of minor-league in the form of a practice squad. Now and then, a fairly good player emerges from a practice squad, but it's a rarity.lastcat3 wrote:To be honest I do find it highly unlikely that the NFL would be willing to fund a D league for any significant amount of time when college football is basically their minor league system already. And they don't have to pay anything for that. They may fund a 'D' league as long as they were making money or at least breaking even off of it. But as soon as they started losing money the league they were funding would be gone in a heartbeat.