New football league plans to debut week after Super Bowl LIII
NFL fans won't need to wait nearly as long as usual for their next taste of football following Super Bowl LIII.
The Alliance of American Football, a new league founded by documentary director Charlie Ebersol, plans to debut Feb. 9, 2019, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell - just one week after the Super Bowl,
Ebersol directed ESPN's 2017 "30 for 30" documentary on the XFL. His father, Dick Ebersol, was an original partner of Vince McMahon in the XFL. McMahon is planning to revamp the XFL for 2020.
Charlie announced Tuesday that his league will come first. The Alliance of American Football plans to play a 10-week schedule with eight 50-man teams. The locations of the teams will be announced in the next three months, and the teams will be formed via regional drafts that select college players from local communities.
There will be no TV timeouts, 60 percent fewer commercials, no kickoffs, and no onside kicks, with the ball automatically placed at either the 25- or 35-yard line, depending on the situation. Play clocks will be just 30 seconds and all touchdowns will need to be followed by a two-point conversion attempt.
Former NFL general manager Bill Polian, former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Troy Polamalu, and former USC wide receiver J.K. McKay have been brought aboard to help guide the league.
The Alliance of American Football has a deal with CBS to broadcast the inaugural and championship games, as well as one marquee game per week. Ebersol said fantasy sports will be a large part of the league's promotion.
"Fifty-nine million people play fantasy and 20 million people play only fantasy football," said Ebersol. "We have to be able to take advantage of the people who just stop playing fantasy when the NFL season ends."
Ex-NFLers Hines Ward and Justin Tuck are among those who will serve as advisers, and former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is a financial investor.
"I think where businesses like this fail is that they expect to have ludicrous and unrealistic ticket and media deal projections in Year 1," Ebersol said. "Our investors here understand that it's a 7-10-year plan."