Almost ten days ago we shared news that the XFL and USFL were in advanced merger talks.
Today, the intent for the two leagues to merge together into one league became official.
Their public release read:
Today, the United States Football League (“USFL”) and the XFL announced their intention to merge.
Subject to customary regulatory approvals and if the transaction is consummated, the new league will establish best-in-class operations based on the most recent seasons of both leagues. This historic combination will anchor professional spring football with substantial capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and continue to enhance the development of the collective players, coaches, and staff that are coming together.
More details regarding the new league will be announced at a later date.
The USFL has managed to turn a profit as a league, in large part due to a TV deal from NBC. Meanwhile, the XFL lost a reported $60 million in their first season of a third relaunch, this time under the direction of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his partners.
More details are set to be ironed out with announcements to come as the finer points get ironed out, but Houston is the only city that is home to both a USFL and XFL team, which could make for a relatively clean merger in that regard.
The XFL has teams located in Arlington, Washington DC, Houston, Orlando, San Antonio, Seattle, St. Louis and Las Vegas, while the USFL is in Birmingham, Houston, Memphis, Detroit, New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.