User:StanleyKey/sandbox/Spring American football proposed Cities

There have been professional Football leagues of varying levels since the invention of the sport, and over time the leagues in North America settled into an unofficial hierarchy. There is a major league designation to the National Football League (American football), the Canadian Football League (Canadian football), but contrary to the other major sports in the US (MLB, MLS, NBA and NHL) no formal development farm system is in use, after the NFL severed ties with all minor league teams in 1948, and again with the cancellation of NFL Europe in 2006.

Over the years there was an attempt to organize a development or farm leagues such as the Association of Professional Football Leagues, and the after-mentioned WLAF/NFL Europe/NFL Europa, but failed to produce profits and cancelled unceremoniously. In the vacuum a lot of ambitious entrepreneurs have been trying to establish rival or alternative/ supplement leagues to the NFL, but beside the AAFC and the AFL that merge with the NFL, none of the other league succeed, particularly because the leagues lack of ability to generate television revenue to keep the league afloat in its first years of existence.

In modern times, the NFL has developed players not ready for the active roster through each team's practice squad, or relied on college football and separate entities like the now-defunct Arena Football League as their feeder organizations. In the last decade, three fledgling pro football leagues - UFL, FXFL and AAF - had hoped to create a relationship with the NFL as some sort of a developmental minor league, but were never able to really gain traction before folding.

History

Early circuits (1890–1919)

While the practice of professional and semi-pro teams playing college and amateur teams was common in the 1890s, in the 20th century, college and professional football began to diverge and college-professional interplay effectively ended after the NCAA formed in 1906. During this time, the most prominent circuit was the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, and most winning teams claimed national "professional" football title.

The first attempt to form a pro league was the National Football League of 1902, but despite the name was actually regional league that was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania (two of the teams were based in Philadelphia, while the third was based in Pittsburgh). The next step came when promoter Tom O'Rourke established the World Series of Football (1902–03). The series (and not a "league") played indoors at New York City's Madison Square Garden and consisted of five teams, three from the state of New York, one from New Jersey, and another team called "New York", but comprising two Philadelphia teams - the Athletics and the Phillies. The 1903 series also featured the Franklin Athletic Club from Pennsylvania.

At the same time, teams from Ohio – namely the Massillon Tigers, the Columbus Panhandles and the Canton Bulldogs – start attracting much of the top professional football talent in America: Harry McChesney, Bob Shiring, the Nesser brothers, Blondy Wallace, Cub Buck and later even Jim Thorpe, and gave rise to the Ohio League. The "league" was actually a circuit – informal and loose association of independent teams playing other local teams and competed for the "Ohio Independent Championship". The group pioneered the concept of playing games on Sundays to avoid competition with college football games, as it was illegal in other states (due to the existing blue laws), which eventually became the professional standard.

The Ohio League decade-long monopoly began to lose hold in the 1910s, with the formation of the New York Pro Football League (NYPFL) (the first league to use a playoff format) and other associations in the Midwest (particularly in Illinois). The rise in level of play resulted in barnstorming tours between the circuits, which laid the foundations for the first truly national league – The American Professional Football Association in 1920.

The Golden Era

The first minor leagues period of prosperity or "the heyday" started in the 1920s and lasted until the end of World War II. By the '30s, Football was not a fledgling enterprise, but was certainty one when we talk about Pro-Football, as even the National Football League had trouble attracting fans, and was located mostly in the northeastern quarter of the United States. In the vacuum, several regional leagues tried their luck in the pro game, along with flourishing regional circuits of independent teams, recapturing the pro football roots. The era is also considered the best of all time, because the quality of play, as there was only 250 players in the NFL, while the regional leagues could sometimes offer better pay and jobs, and offered black players opportunity to play during the period when blacks were excluded from all NFL teams (1933–1946).

In 1934 the American Football League was the first true attempt to establish pro football in the American South and Southwest regions. The league was formed by the strongest independent teams in the region, including the Memphis Tigers, who claimed the "national pro championship" in 1929, after beating the NFL champions the Green Bay Packers. The AFL had only one season of competition and folded after only the Memphis Tigers and the Charlotte Bantams completing their respected seasons.

Another strong "South" league was the Dixie League, that represented Mid Atlantic teams. The league was one of the most successful minor leagues in history, playing eight seasons in 11 years, while claiming they're the "highest level minor football league" in the era. Unlike most pro-football minor leagues, the Dixie League had a relative stability in membership until the Pearl Harbor attack forced the league into hiatus. The league returned in 1946, but wasn't the same, and folded altogether in 1947, after playing only one week.

The Dixie League's biggest rival was the American Association football league. The AA was formed by the nucleus of independent teams that played in the New York–New Jersey circuits, and was led by the president Joe Rosentover. The league teams sought relationships with the NFL, and several teams functioned as a farm system for the major NFL teams, like the Newark Bears, Brooklyn Eagles and the Jersey City Giants. The league allowed black players to participate, including the last African-American in the NFL Joe Lillard (Clifton Wessingtons) and most teams scheduled games against the independent Fritz Pollard's Harlem Brown Bombers. The league closed operations during World War II, and after a four-year hiatus, the AA was renamed the American Football League and expanded to include teams in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The league demise is attribute to the fact the NFL severed ties with all minor league teams in 1948.

The last of the "Big Three Leagues" was the Pacific Coast Professional Football League which started in 1940. The roots of pro-football in the west are attribute to the Red Grange barnstorming tour with the Chicago Bears in 1926, as some leagues were formed – Pacific Coast League (1926) and American Legion League (1934–1935) – but did not lasted long. The PCPFL was formed behind the financial backbone of the sport in California – the Los Angeles Bulldogs – the "best football team in existence outside the NFL", and were the only prominent minor football league that operate during the war years. The league became home to the top African American football talents in the country, including Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Ozzie Simmons, Mel Reid and briefly even Jackie Robinson during the NFL enforced color barrier. The league played its last season in 1948, two years after the NFL moved the Rams to Los Angeles.

The "Big Three" reached an agreement with the NFL, and in 1946 formed the Association of Professional Football Leagues for a formal farm system with the league. The agreement lasted less than two years, after the NFL cancelled it altogether in 1948. The termination triggered the end of the era.

Other prominent leagues were the Anthracite League (Pennsylvania), Eastern League of Professional Football (Pennsylvania and New Jersey), Ohio Valley League, Midwest Football League and the Northwest War Industries League (Washington and Oregon). During the '30s and '40s there was also a strong independent circuits in Greater New York metropolitan area and in the Northeast.

The second wave

The minor leagues experienced renaissance in the 60's and 70's, as their growing relevance occurred concurrently with the AFL and NFL rivalry. Several prominent leagues operated during that period and were mostly regional: The original United Football League (UFL I) lasted from 1961 to 1964 and was concentrated in the Midwest, although we remember it as the first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada, as the Quebec Rifles played in the league in 1964.

In 1962 it was quickly joined by the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) from the Northeast, which was run by Joe Rosentover as the previous American Association (AA) of the 1930s. When the UFL folded, and the Newark Bears of the ACFL unsuccessfully applied to join the AFL, two new national leagues formed. The first was the North American Football League (NAFL), which ran from 1965 to 1966, and tried to establish Major league affiliations with either the NFL or the AFL. The second – the Continental Football League (CoFL), which ran from 1965 to 1971 – was probably the biggest in the era, and attracted the ACFL three best teams: Hartford Charter Oaks, Newark Bears and Springfield Acorns (as the Norfolk Neptunes).

The other leagues were the Professional Football League of America (PFLA) which lasted three years (1965–1967) and played in the Midwest (essentially substituted the UFL), and the Texas Football League (TFL), which operated in the southern United States. However, in 1969 the CoFL announced that the entirety of the eight-team TFL was added to its ranks as a separate division, and were mostly scheduled to play against each other with few inter-league contests..

The two bigger leagues, the CoFL and ACFL had different strategies: the CoFL had "independent" aspirations, while the ACFL was happy as a developmental league and (like previous leagues run by the Rosentover) allowed its teams to become farm teams to the AFL and NFL teams.

Over their existence, the CoFL arguably had better talent, that went on to NFL and CFL stardom (Ken Stabler, Don Jonas, and Sam Wyche), but folded after 1971 (as a incarnation called the Trans-American Football League), and plans to take on the Canadian Football League head-to-head were abandoned. Although the revival as the TAFL was largely a failure, the league foreshadowed the future of minor football from now on, as it played its season at the spring to avoid direct competition against other football in the fall.

The ACFL also produced some significant talent (e.g. Pro Bowler Marvin Hubbard, the first female professional football player, placeholder Patricia Palinkas and cult figure King Corcoran) and even lasted longer. The league operated continuously through 1971, with a return season in 1973, which played mostly by promoted teams from the lower-level Seaboard Football League (which in turn, brought up a semi-pro teams to supplement them). However, the attempted major World Football League (WFL) sapped both leagues from most of their talent, and forced them to fold by 1974.

During it existence, The Seaboard Football League hovered between a minor league and semi-pro, as some of its players never got paid (most notable was Joe Klecko) and other got only $50 per game. Despite that, the league had some notable alumni including: Vince Papale, Jack Dolbin and Klecko. Additionally, the league's claim to fame is that it is the last minor league to play an inter-league exhibition match against an NFL team, when the New York Jets rookies defeated Long Island Chiefs 29–3.

The last minor league attempt in the '70s – the American Football Association (AFA), that operated from 1978 to 1983 – was less successful, especially because it struggled to acquire recognizable players and consequentially failed to secure a TV deal. The AFA followed the model set by the TAFL, and played "off-season" schedule during the summer (May to August). The formation of the USFL led to a decline in AFA talent, move to a semi-pro status, and a cancellation of the league entirely after the 1983 season.

The development of arena football and the birth of the Arena Football League in 1987 has effectively ended the era, and reduced most outdoor leagues to amateur or semi-pro status.

NFL Europe

After the turmoil in the '80s, the NFL decided to form its own league in 1991 – the World League of American Football – a spring developmental league. For the first time, an American sport league had a European division as part of its 10 team league, while the other teams were located in continental US and Canada. The league was used to test rule changes and technical innovations and supposed to use as a "farm system" for the NFL teams. However, the first two seasons produced low TV ratings, and was put on hiatus until 1995. When it came back, the league was based entirely in Europe, was reduced to six teams and re-branded as NFL Europe.

From then until 2007, the league kept the same format, when the NFL decided to cancel it altogether. Ultimately, the was the longest tenured minor league in history, having lasted for 15 cumulative years, and producing players like the hall of famer Kurt Warner and Superbowl quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Jake Delhomme. Other notable players include: Dante Hall, David Akers, James Harrison, Adam Vinatieri and William Perry.

Modern era

In the late '90s and early 2000s began a wave of new "outside" entrepreneurs that wanted to dip their toes in the evergrowing football market, corresponding with the dot-com boom.

The first league was the Regional Football League that played one season in 1999, and had aspirations to be considered a high-level minor league, as they self-styled themselves as the "Major league of spring football". The league was proposed to begin in 1998, but financial difficulties delayed it by a year, and change the business plans, as it was now a lower-budget league and featured only six teams from mid-size cities that was mostly located at the Southern United States. The league did not prosper, as it failed to secure a television contract, and beside the Mobile, Alabama team, failed miserably at the gate, was forced to play eight-week shortened season and folded altogether at the end. Although in the end the league was unsuccessful, it suggested an interesting wrinkle that future leagues will use, as the players were assigned to teams base of the region where they played in college (hence the league name).

Parallel to the RFL, there were two more separate attempts to start up new leagues. The first, the International Football Federation flopped so miserably it is remembered as the shortest existing league ("one press conference"). The second, the Spring Football League, was founded by several ex-NFL players (Bo Jackson, Drew Pearson, Eric Dickerson and Tony Dorsett) but failed to attract big investors because of the tech-market crash of 2000, and was cancelled after only two weeks.

The next attempt was probably the biggest since the emergence of the AFL in 1960, as NBC and the WWE collaborate to form the (original) XFL in 2001. Although 14 million viewers who tuned in for the first game, the Nielsen ratings was later plummeted because of mediocre football, and triggered NBC to pulled out of its broadcast contract, and the league folded after one season. The league featured several changes in rules and broadcast, and remembered as the one the gave birth to the "Skycam" in sport broadcasting.

From that point on the startup leagues had trouble to attract investors, as there was no proof of concept to a feasible minor league football. During the era five high profile attempts – All American Football League and United National Gridiron League in 2007, New United States Football League with two separate attempts in 2010 and 2014, and the A-11 Football League (2014) – never materialize and made it even harder for other future leagues.

The new modern day United Football League was the most prominent league in the era, playing 3½ seasons before folding. The UFL was fairly successful, attracting big crowds in Omaha, Sacramento and Hartford and had plans of expending, while all league games aired on Versus and HDnet (every game was also webcast), and functioned as a single entity league following the Major League Soccer model. The UFL featured former NFL players and was the first professional fall league other than the National Football League to play in the United States since the mid-1970s. Alas, the league collapsed mid-2012 season, failing to pay the bills after most investors stepped out. The league will be remembered in football lore as the one giving Marty Schottenheimer his only championship as a coach.

The Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) was the first league that openly embraced the minor league concept, and wanted to become a professional feeder-system for the NFL. The league owner, Brian Woods, wanted his franchises to be primarily based in minor league baseball stadiums, and use the infra-structure in place to attract fans. The FXFL attracted the final NFL roster cuts, for the purpose of keeping them "in football shape, physically and mentally". The league was cancelled after two abbreviated seasons, and was reformatted as the developmental "The Spring League".

Other leagues in the era were the low-level New World Football League (2008–2010) and the Stars Football League (2011–2013), as they both survived three season but folded unceremoniously.

In 2018, several strong figures, with connections to the original XFL, entered to the spring-football market with rival leagues. The first was the Alliance of American Football (AAF) that was founded by Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian, and began playing in 2019, but ceased operations eight weeks in, as the controlling owner Thomas Dundon decided to pull the plug. The second was the relaunched version of the XFL, as Vince McMahon hired Oliver Luck as commissioner. The league first began play in 2020, with higher success and reception and had aired on ABC/ESPN and Fox Sports. After 5 weeks of play, the XFL announced that its season would end, because of growing COVID-19 pandemic concerns. The league is currently on hiatus, after it filed for bankruptcy and put up for sale by McMahon.

"The league may be dead due to the extraordinary circumstances of our time, but it died after proving that a secondary football league can absolutely work in the United States."

Nick Schwartz, The XFL is gone but not forgotten, USA Today, April 14, 2020.

Since 1998, there have been more than 20 football leagues (traditional or Indoor) who played an average of 3½ years before folding or merging with others, some never opened. There are three active minor leagues in the US. Two low-level leagues: the Gridiron Developmental Football League and the Rivals Professional Football League, and one developmental league - The Spring League. Two more leagues are in hiatus: the high-level XFL and the developmental Your Call Football.

System and structure

Over time there was attempts to start a rival major leagues, as the last one was the USFL, but most leagues that followed were high-level minor leagues such as the XFL, the UFL and the AAF. Whether it was "Major" or "Minor", most football leagues were looking to establish teams in untapped potential U.S. big markets. The most common were Orlando, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; San Antonio, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and Sacramento, California.

Most of the minor leagues were separated through the years to three de-facto categories: high-level (for example: PCPFL or the XFL and the AAF), low-level (American Football Association or Spring Football League) and semi-professional leagues. Today there are two more levels: mid-level (FXFL or the future APL) and developmental leagues (The Spring League, Your Call Football and the future Pac Pro).

The categories are usually determined by the following rules: the high-level leagues salary is above median US wage, the mid-level pays around the median wage and the low-level pays around or below the US minimum wage. The developmental leagues don't pay salaries or construct with a non-NFL eligible players, and designed to showcase the players' skills for future opportunities.

Indoor/arena football

The Indoor variation of football also has an unofficial minor-leagues hierarchy, although no league holds a "Major" designation, after the AFL folded. The categories are more fluid, but usually determined by salaries and arena size:

• High-level - Indoor Football League, National Arena League
• Mid-level - Champions Indoor Football
• Low-level - American Arena League, American West Football Conference

Semi-pro football

The semi-pro leagues hold a strong place in American football history, but were far more common in the early and mid-20th century than they are today. Football is especially suited for semi-pro play, and most leagues often operate at a semi-professional level due to cost concerns. Contrary to other sports, team rosters are huge – 36+ players on a team, and as many as 14 coaches – so, with the salary and the logistics of getting the team to the games, there is a lot of overhead. Furthermore, because they play only one game per week, the players are able to pursue outside employment.

Over the years, semi-pro leagues attracted college players on the fringe of playing in the NFL who needed to stay in shape, and were effectively a farm system for the NFL. The most notable players are Johnny Unitas who played quarterback, safety and punter on a team called the Bloomfield Rams for $6 a game before joining the Baltimore Colts, and Eric Swann who was the first (and so far the only) player to be drafted in the NFL draft first round from a semi pro organization (Bay State Titans). Another player is Ray Seals, who did not play college football but made his way to the NFL through the semi-pro rank (Syracuse Express).

The semi-pro leagues role in history is best portrayed in the 1987 24-day NFLPA Strike, when semi-pro players were called as a replacements, after the third week of the NFL season was cancelled. Their stories are documented in the 2017 ESPN film Year of the Scab. The semi-pro demise in football lore is attributed to the flourishing of college football in the '80s, and the subsequently rise in the never-ending talent pool for the NFL to draw from.

The Watertown Red & Black, a semi-professional team that currently plays in the Empire Football League, is the oldest existing football club, tracing its history to 1896.

Minor League Football System

After the decline of the minor leagues in the 1980s, the semi-pro circuit tried to fill that niche. In the summer of 1989 the Minor League Football System (MLFS) was formed, as an attempt to develop a nationwide semi-pro football league. The circuit had aspiration to become a feeder system for the NFL and featured 11 teams, in the same amount of states (CA, CO, FL, GA, MA, MO, NC, OK, PA, VA and WA). Because the "league" did not pay salaries but wanted to attract good local talent, it was established as a temp agency, and offered jobs for players in local communities as well as providing housing solutions during the season. Despite that, they managed to attract decent talent, including ex-NFL players (Rusty Hilger and Ben Rudolph) and coaches (Walt Michaels, Darryl Rogers and Lou Saban). After successful first season, the league attracted strong sponsors in Wilson and Gatorade, but two teams folded midway through the second year, while the others stumbled to the finish line and folded altogether in the months that followed, as they were unable to establish a working agreement with the NFL. The league’s commissioner was Roger Wehrli.

Modern circuit

Today, most leagues and independent teams are sanctioned by the American Football Association (unrelated to the former AFA), which acts as an organizer of games and playoff tournaments for teams throughout the US, and maintaining a Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame. Another organization is the USA Bowl Championship Series that ranks the top 25 semi-pro/amateur teams in the country, and attempts to crown the annual "National Champion" at the USA Bowl. The last association is the United States Federation of American Football, that tries to divide the existing leagues to AAA and AA class-levels.

The prominent present-day leagues in the "Adult Amateur"/ "Semi-Pro" US circuit are: Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League, Empire Football League, Florida Football Alliance, Mason-Dixon Football League, MidStates Football League, Minor Football League, New England Football League and The Pacific Coast Football League. The NEFL is unique in the American sports landscape, allowing promotion and relegation among conferences.

In Canada there are three prominent leagues: Maritime Football League in the east, Northern Football Conference in Ontario and the Alberta Football League in the west.

Under USA Football strict criteria, players in this level are eligible for the United States national American football team.

International American Football Leagues

American football is a growing sport worldwide, and has the International Olympic Committee recognition since 2013. Over the years the NFL tried to expend their exposure to additional markets, when they played some of their games outside of the United States. The first game outside of US and Canada played in Japan in 1976, in 1978 they played in Mexico, and in 1983 the NFL had their first game in Europe (London, United Kingdom).

After the success of the international series in the '80s, foreign countries have established their own leagues and have earned a reputation over the years, and even begun to attract some American players. Usually, the foreign players in the National Football League moved to the US early, and played the game in college, but there is one exception – Moritz Böhringer, who was drafted in 2016 directly from the German Football League (although he still has not played in official game).

Since 2017, the Canadian Football League tried to globalize as well, and made partnership agreements with football leagues in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The league held special global scouting combine in Europe, Mexico and Japan, and in 2019 held a special draft for Mexican born players, and another one for European players. Today the CFL featured two designated "global players" roster spots from countries outside the U.S. and Canada on its nine member clubs.

Another league that has entered into partnership agreements with american league for players developments is the Elite Football League of India which has an agreement with the Gridiron Developmental Football League.

Australian Football League

Main article: Australians in American football

American football is a very different gridiron code than that of Australian rules football played in the Australian Football League (AFL). However, the punting specialist position requires similar skills to those used in Australian rules football, and made the transition easier for the players from down under. The most successful player to ever make the transition is Darren Bennett, which started his NFL career after finishing his "Ausi rules" one and was selected to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Because salaries are usually up to five times higher in the US, a high number of players try their luck in the american game. In the last decade, the NFL has placed full-time development officers in Australia, and there is a full-time punting academy in the Australian continent – Prokick Australia – which is aimed at training and assessing talented punters from the country for positions in major U.S. colleges and the NFL.

Although the vast majority of Australian players in the NFL are punters, there are few exemptions. The most known one is the Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who played Rugby league and was drafted in 2018 without college experience, while another example is Joel Wilkinson who signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a cornerback. Defensive end Adam Gotsis is probably the most successful non-punter Australian; He played in college (Georgia Tech) and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Other notable players are Jarryd Hayne and Jesse Williams.

Current and planned Minor leagues

Current leagues

High-level

• XFL, 2001; 2020¹

Low-level

• Gridiron Developmental Football League, 2010-
• Rivals Professional Football League, 2014-

Developmental

• The Spring League, 2017–
• Your Call Football, 2018–2019²

¹: The league is in hiatus and put itself up for sale.
²: The league stated that it had no plans to host a 2020 competition.

Planned leagues

High-level

• Spring League of American Football (SLAF), postponed
• Freedom Football League (FFL), TBA (proposed to begin in 2020)

Mid-level

• Major League Football (MLFB), proposed to begin in 2021
• American Patriot League (APL), proposed to begin in 2020, but pushed back to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Developmental

• Pacific Pro League (Pac Pro), proposed to begin in 2020, but postponed without an announcement.
• Young Superstars League, TBA (APL D-League)

Defunct Minor leagues

High-level

Source

• Anthracite League, 1924
• Ohio Valley League, 1925-1929
• American Football League, 1934
• American Association* 1936–1941/American Football League* 1946–1950
• Dixie League*, 1936-1942; 1946–1947

Originally South Atlantic Football Association

• Midwest Football League, 1935–1939

Became American Professional Football Association in 1938, American Football League in 1939

• Pacific Coast Professional Football League*, 1940–1948
• American Football League, 1944
• United Football League, 1961–1964
• Atlantic Coast Football League‡, 1962–1971, 1973
• Continental Football League, 1965–1969

Merged with the Professional Football League of America in 1968, and with the Texas Football League in 1969.

• International Football League, 1983^𝐟
• World League of American Football* 1991–1992/NFL Europe* 1995-2007
• Professional Spring Football League, 1992^𝐟
• International Football Federation, 1999^𝐟
• All American Football League, 2007^𝐟
• United Football League, 2009–2012
• New United States Football League, 2010^𝐟, 2014^𝐟
• A-11 Football League, 2014^𝐟
• North American Football League, 2014^𝐟
• Alliance of American Football, 2019

Mid-level

• Regional Football League, 1999
• Spring Football League, 2000
• Fall Experimental Football League, 2014–2015

Low-level

Source

• Pacific Coast League, 1926
• Eastern League of Professional Football, 1926-1927
• Anthracite League, 1928-1929
• Eastern Football League, 1932-1933

Renamed Interstate Football League in 1933

• Greater New York League, 1934-1935

Originally the New Jersey Football Circuit (1934)

• American Legion League, 1934-1935
• Northwest Football League, 1935–1938

Outgrowth of the Tri-States Football League (1934)

• New England Football League, 1936
• Virginia-Carolina Football League, 1937
• California Football League, 1938
• Eastern Pennsylvania Football League‡, 1938
• Northeast Football League, 1940–1942
• Ohio Professional Football League, 1941
• Northwest War Industries Football League, 1942
• Eastern Football League, 1944
• Virginia Negro League, 1946
• Central States Football League, 1948–1953
• Pacific Football Conference, 1957–1958
• American Football Conference, 1959–1961
• Central States Football League, 1962-1975

Outgrowth of the Bi-States Football League (1949-1959) and Tri-States Football League (1960-1961)

• Midwest Football League‡, 1962-1978
• Southern Football League, 1963-1965

Merger between the Dixie Football League (1961-1962) and Florida Football League (1962-1963)

• North Pacific Football League‡, 1963-1966
• New England Football League, 1964-1967

Renamed North Atlantic Football League in 1967

• North American Football League, 1965–1966

Supplemented the Southern Football League in 1966

• Professional Football League of America, 1965-1967
• Texas Football League 1966–1968
• United American Football League, 1967
• Trans-American Football League, 1970–1971
• Midwest Professional Football League, 1970–1972
• Seaboard Football League, 1971–1974
• Southwestern Football League, 1972–1973
• California Football League, 1974-1982

Renamed Western Football League for the 1976 season

• American Football Association, 1977–1983
• United National Gridiron League, 2007^𝐟
• World Football League, 2008–2010
• Stars Football League, 2011–2013

Developmental

• Pacific Pro Football, 2017^𝐟
• Your Call Football, 2018–2019

^* Official NFL / AFL minor league.
^‡ Unofficial NFL minor league, that featured NFL farm team(s).
^𝐟 Folded without playing.

Notes

Potential markets overview

High-level

• Cities with over 2 million residents (metropolitan areas).
• At least one team in one of the US Major professional sports leagues.
• History of professional football in one of the major football leagues - NFL, AFL (I, II, III and IV), WFL, USFL or CFL.
• Not represented by the NFL.
• Top 40 US media market.
• High-level facilities.

City	Population (Metro)	Propose Stadium	Capacity [*]	Market Potential		Past Pro-Football Teams	Other Pro Sports Teams
				Avg. Att.	League
Columbus, Ohio	2,424,831	Mapfre Stadium/ Ohio Stadium	19,968/ 102,780	30,891	World League (1991)	Columbus Panhandles (NFL) Columbus Chevrolets (OVL) Columbus Bobbs (MWFL) Columbus Bullies (AFL III) Columbus Colts (UFL I) Ohio Glory (WLAF)	Columbus Crew (MLS) Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) Columbus Clippers (MiLB) Columbus Destroyers (IFL)
St. Louis, Missouri	2,807,338	The Dome	66,965 (28,352)	28,541	XFL (2020)	St. Louis All-Stars (NFL) St. Louis Gunners (NFL) St. Louis Blues (AFL) St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) St. Louis Rams (NFL)	St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Orlando, Florida	2,267,846	Spectrum Stadium/ Exploria Stadium	44,206/ 25,500	19,648	AAF (2019)	Orlando Broncos (SFL) Orlando Panthers (CoFL) Florida Blazers (WFL) Orlando Americans (AFA) Orlando Renegades (USFL) Orlando Thunder (WLAF) Orlando Rage (XFL) Florida Tuskers (UFL) Orlando Apollos (AAF)	Orlando Magic (NBA) Orlando City S.C. (MLS) Orlando Predators (NAL) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)
San Antonio, Texas	2,277,550	Alamodome	64,000 (39,500)	27,721	AAF (2019)	San Antonio Toros (CoFL) San Antonio Wings (WFL) San Antonio Charros (AFA) San Antonio Bulls (AFA) San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL) San Antonio Riders (WLAF) San Antonio Texans (CFL) San Antonio Matadors (SFL) San Antonio Commanders (AAF)	San Antonio Spurs (NBA) San Antonio Rampage (AHL) San Antonio Missions (MiLB) San Antonio FC (USL)
Portland, Oregon	2,314,554	Providence Park	25,218	19,919	USFL (1985)	Portland Boilermakers (WIFL) Portland Rockets (AFL) Portland Thunderbirds (NPFL) Portland Loggers (CoFL) Portland Thunder (WFL) Portland Breakers (USFL) Oregon Lightning Bolts (PSFL)	Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) Portland Timbers (MLS)
Sacramento, California	2,600,000	Hughes Stadium/ Railyards Stadium	20,311/ 21,000	18,775	UFL (2011)	Sacramento Wildcats (CaFL) Sacramento Nuggets (PCFL) Sacramento Capitols (CoFL) Sacramento Buffaloes (CaFL II) Sacramento Surge (WLAF) Sacramento Gold Miners (CFL) Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL)	Sacramento Kings (NBA) Sacramento River Cats (MiLB) Sacramento Republic FC (USL)
Oakland, California	4,729,484	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum/ California Memorial Stadium	56,057/ 62,467	35,005 {Bay Area}	XFL (2001)	Oakland Cardinals (CaFL) Oakland Hornets (AFL) Oakland Giants (PCFL) Oakland Invaders (USFL) Oakland Raiders (NFL)	Oakland Athletics (MLB) Golden State Warriors (NBA) Oakland Panthers (IFL) Oakland Roots SC (NISA)
San Diego, California	3,095,313	Snapdragon Stadium	35,000	19,154	AAF (2019)	San Diego Bombers (PCFL) San Diego Gunners (AFL) San Diego Chargers (NFL) San Diego Sharks (CaFL II) San Diego Fleet (AAF)	San Diego Padres (MLB) San Diego Gulls (AHL) San Diego Strike Force (IFL) San Diego Loyal SC (USL)

^* Modified stadium capacity.

Borderline High-level

• Cities with over 1 million residents (metropolitan areas).
• At least one team in one of the US Major professional sports leagues (current or former).
• Not represented by the NFL.
• Top 70 US media market.
• High-level facilities.
• History of professional football in one of the high-level football leagues.

City	Population (Metro)	Propose Stadium	Capacity [*]	Market Potential		Past Pro-Football Teams	Other Pro Sports Teams
				Avg. Att.	League
Hartford, Connecticut	1,212,381	Pratt & Whitney Stadium	38,066	14,365	UFL (2010)	Hartford Blues (NFL) Hartford Knights (ACFL) Hartford Charter Oaks (CoFL) Hartford Colonials (UFL)	Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Hartford Yard Goats (MiLB) Hartford Athletic (USL)
Newark, New Jersey (New York Metro)	938,506 (21,045,000)	MetLife Stadium/ Red Bull Arena	82,500 (33,346)/ 25,000	14,875	XFL (2020)	Newark Bears (AFL I) Newark Tornadoes (NFL) Newark Blues (Eastern) Newark Fighting Irish (EFL) Newark Bombers (AA) Jersey Tigers (ACFL) New Jersey Generals (USFL) NY-NJ Knights (WLAF) NY-NJ Hitmen (XFL)	New Jersey Devils (NHL) New Jersey Jackals (MiLB)
Hampton Roads, Virginia	1,707,369	William "Dick" Price Stadium/ Foreman Field/ Virginia Beach Sportsplex	30,000/ 22,480/ 17,000	12,985	UFL (2011)	Norfolk Clancys (Ind.) Norfolk Shamrocks (Dixie) Newport News Builders (Dixie) Norfolk Brown Bombers (VNFL) Norfolk Neptunes (CoFL) Virginia Hunters (AFA) Norfolk Pirates (CFL) Virginia Destroyers (UFL)	Norfolk Tides (MiLB) Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL)
Raleigh, North Carolina	1,214,516	Carter–Finley Stadium	57,583	14,030	World League (1991)	Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks (WLAF)	Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Durham Bulls (MiLB) North Carolina FC (USL)
Louisville, Kentucky	1,262,261	Cardinal Stadium/ Lynn Family Stadium/ Louisville Slugger Field	61,000/ 14,000/ 13,131	-	-	Louisville Breckenridges (NFL) Louisville Bourbons (AFL) Louisville Tanks (APFL) Louisville Raiders (UFL I) Kentucky Trackers (AFA)	Louisville Bats (MiLB) Louisville City FC (USL) Kentucky Xtreme (AAL)
Omaha, Nebraska	1,136,211	TD Ameritrade Park	24,000	22,785	UFL (2011)	Omaha Mustangs (CoFL) Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) Omaha Mammoths (FXFL)	Omaha Storm Chasers (MiLB) Omaha Beef (CIF) Union Omaha (USL)
Memphis, Tennessee	1,341,746	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium	58,207	12,944	AAF (2019)	Memphis Tigers (AFL) Memphis Grizzlies (WFL) Memphis Showboats (USFL) Memphis Mad Dogs (CFL) Memphis Maniax (XFL) Memphis Express (AAF)	Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) Memphis Redbirds (MiLB) Memphis 901 FC (USL) Memphis Hustle (G League)
Birmingham, Alabama	1,136,650	Legion Field/ Protective Stadium (2021)	71,594/ 45,000	14,307	AAF (2019)	Birmingham Vulcans (WFL) Birmingham Fire (WLAF) Birmingham Barracudas (CFL) Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL) Team Alabama (AAFL) Alabama Blackbirds (UNGL) Birmingham Iron (AAF)	Birmingham Barons (MiLB) Birmingham Legion FC (USL) Birmingham Bulls (SPHL)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	1,319,677	Memorial Stadium (Norman)/ Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark	86,112 (61,836)/ 13,066	-	-	Oklahoma City Chiefs (AFL) Oklahoma City Plainsmen (CoFL) Oklahoma City Stampede (AFA)	Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) Oklahoma City Dodgers (MiLB) Oklahoma City Energy (USL) Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
Salt Lake City, Utah	1,140,483	Rice Eccles Stadium/ Rio Tinto Stadium	45,807/ 20,213	9,067	AAF (2019)	Salt Lake Seagulls (PCFL) Utah Pioneers (PSFL) Salt Lake Stallions (AAF)	Utah Jazz (NBA) Real Salt Lake (MLS) Salt Lake Bees (MiLB) Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) Real Monarchs (USL) Salt Lake City Stars (G League)
San Jose, California	1,894,389	CEFCU Stadium/ Avaya Stadium	21,520/ 18,000	-	-	San Jose Mustangs (PCFL) San Jose Apaches (CoFL) San Jose Tigers (CaFL II) San Jose Demons (XFL)	San Jose Sharks (NHL) San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

^* Modified stadium capacity.

Mid-level

• Cities with over 400,000 residents (metropolitan areas).
• High level facilities.
• Not represented by the NFL.
• Top 90 US media market.
• High level minor league team in one of the US Major professional sports; or

History of professional football in one of the high-level football leagues; or

Deep historical (state) football roots - amateur or pro, preferably with a FBS program in the city.

City	Population (Metro)	Propose Stadium	Capacity *	Market Potential		Past Pro-Football Teams	Other Pro Sports Teams
				Avg. Att.	League
Syracuse, New York	662,577	Carrier Dome/ NBT Bank Stadium	49,262/ 11,071	-	-	Syracuse Pros (Ind.) Syracuse Braves (AFL II) Syracuse Stormers (UFL I)	Syracuse Crunch (AHL) Syracuse Mets (MiLB) Syracuse FC (NPSL)
Toledo, Ohio	608,145	Glass Bowl	26,038	-	-	Toledo Maroons (NFL) Toledo Tornadoes (UFL I) Ohio Cannon (RFL)	Toledo Mud Hens (MiLB) Toledo Walleye (ECHL)
Greensboro, North Carolina	723,801	BB&T Stadium	21,500	-	-	Greensboro Patriots (Dixie)	Greensboro Grasshoppers (MiLB) Greensboro Swarm (G League) Carolina Cobras (NAL) North Carolina Fusion U23 (USL)
Little Rock, Arkansas	724,385	War Memorial Stadium/ Quigley Stadium	53,727/ 15,000	-	-	Arkansas Diamonds (CoFL, AFA) Arkansas Miners (PSFL) Team Arkansas (AAFL)	Arkansas Travelers (MiLB) Little Rock Rangers (NPSL)
Jackson, Mississippi	576,382	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium	62,512	-	-	Mississippi Stars (AFA) CFL Mississippi (CFL) Mississippi Pride (RFL)	Mississippi Braves (MiLB) Mississippi Brilla (NPSL)
Mobile, Alabama	414,079	Ladd-Peebles Stadium	40,000 (33,471)	11,278	RFL (1999)	Mobile Buccaneers (SFL) Mobile Tarpons (NAFL) Mobile Admirals (RFL)	AFC Mobile (NPSL)
Shreveport, Louisiana	446,471	Independence Stadium	49,565	17,871	CFL (1995)	Shreveport Steamer (WFL) Shreveport Americans (AFA) Shreveport Pirates (CFL) Shreveport Knights (RFL) Louisiana Lancers (UNGL)
Tulsa, Oklahoma	961,561	Skelly Field	30,000	20,497	USFL (1984)	Tulsa Oilers (AFL) Tulsa Thunderbirds (TFL) Tulsa Mustangs (AFA) Oklahoma Outlaws (USFL)	Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) Tulsa Drillers (MiLB) Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
El Paso, Texas	844,818	Sun Bowl	51,500	-	-	El Paso Jets (TFL)	El Paso Locomotive FC (USL) El Paso Chihuahuas (MiLB)
Albuquerque, New Mexico	907,301	Dreamstyle Stadium	39,224	-	-	Albuquerque Thunderbirds (SWFL) New Mexico Rattlesnakes (PSFL)	New Mexico United (USL) Albuquerque Isotopes (MiLB) Duke City Gladiators (IFL)
Tucson, Arizona	1,010,025	Arizona Stadium	50,782	9,932 {AZ}	AAF (2019)	-	Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) Tucson Saguaros (MiLB) Tucson Sugar Skulls (IFL)
Fresno, California	972,297	Bulldog Stadium	40,727	-	-	Fresno Wine Crushers (CaFL)	Fresno Grizzlies (MiLB) Fresno FC (USL)
Honolulu, Hawaii‡	953,207	Aloha Stadium	50,000	13,040	WFL (1974)	Hawaiian Warriors (PCFL) The Hawaiians (WFL)	-
Monterrey, Mexico‡	4,520,329	Estadio Universitario (UANL)/ Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey	41,615/ 21,906	11,546	CoFL (1969)	Mexico Golden Aztecs (CoFL) Monterrey Steel (NAL)	Tigres (Liga MX) Sultanes de Monterrey (MiLB) Fundidores Monterrey (LFA)

^* Modified stadium capacity.
^‡ Not part of continental United States.

Borderline Mid-level

• Cities with over 200,000 residents (metropolitan areas) and over 1 million state residents.
• Not represented by the NFL.
• Top 125 US media market.
• Mid to High level facilities.
• Good minor league market for one of the US Major professional sports; or

History of professional football in one of the high-level football leagues; or

Deep historical (state) football roots - amateur or pro.

City	Population (Metro)	Propose Stadium	Capacity *	Market Potential		Past Pro-Football Teams	Other Pro Sports Teams
				Avg. Att.	League
Rochester, New York	1,082,284	Marina Auto Stadium	13,768	-	-	Rochester Jeffersons (NFL) Rochester Oxfords (Ind.) Rochester Braves (AFL II) Rochester Tigers (AFL II)	Rochester Americans (AHL) Rochester Razorsharks (PBL) Rochester Red Wings (MiLB) Rochester Rhinos (USL) Rochester Knighthawks (NLL)
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania	841,914	Goodman Stadium/ J. Birney Crum Stadium	16,000/ 15,000	-	-	Wilkes-Barre Barons (Anthracite) Bethlehem Bears (Eastern) Wilkes-Barre Panthers (EPL) Bethlehem Bulldogs (AA) Wilkes-Barre Bullets (AA)	Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) Lehigh Valley IronPigs (MiLB) Lehigh Valley United (USL) Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (NAL)
Ypsilanti, Michigan (Detroit Metro)	344,791 (4,292,060)	Rynearson Stadium	30,200	27,355	USFL (1984)	Ypsilanti Vikings (MPFL) Detroit Wheels (WFL) Michigan Panthers (USFL) Michigan Coyotes (Stars)	Michigan Bucks (USL) Michigan Stars FC (NPSL) USPBL (MiLB)
Canton, Ohio	404,422	Tom Benson Stadium	23,000	-	-	Canton Bulldogs (NFL) Canton Bulldogs (UFL I) Canton Centaurs (CoFL) Canton Bulldogs (AFA) Ohio Marauders (UNGL)	Canton Charge (G League)
Fort Wayne, Indiana	419,453	Parkview Field	8,100	-	-	Fort Wayne Friars (Ind.) Fort Wayne Pyramids (Ind.) Fort Wayne Red Devils (Ind.) Fort Wayne Warriors (CoFL)	Fort Wayne TinCaps (MiLB) Fort Wayne Mad Ants (G League) Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL)
Charleston, West Virginia	211,037	Laidley Field	18,600	-	-	Charleston Rockets (CoFL) West Virginia Rockets (AFA)	West Virginia Power (MiLB) West Virginia Alliance FC (USL)
Greenville, South Carolina	895,923	Paladin Stadium	16,000	-	-	Greenville Mountaineers (SCFL)	Greenville Drive (MiLB) Greenville Triumph SC (USL) Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) Carolina Predators (AAL)
Chattanooga, Tennessee	547,776	Finley Stadium	20,668	-	-	Chattanooga Cherokees (SFL) Chattanooga Redskins (NAFL)	Chattanooga Lookouts (MiLB) Chattanooga FC (NISA) Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL)
Gwinnett County, Georgia (Atlanta Metro)	936,250 (5,949,951)	Coolray Field	10,427	10,895 {Atlanta}	AAF (2019)	Atlanta Spartans (ACFL) Georgia Raiders (UAFL)	Gwinnett Stripers (MiLB) Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL) Atlanta United 2 (USL) Georgia Swarm (NLL)
Daytona Beach, Florida	609,939	Daytona Stadium	9,601 (15,000)	-	-	Daytona Beach Thunderbirds (SFL) Daytona Beach Racers (Stars)	Daytona Tortugas (MiLB) Daytona SC (USL)
Quad Cities (Illinois, Iowa)	474,937	Almquist Field	16,000	-	-	Rock Island Independents (NFL) Quad Cities Raiders (CoFL) Quad City Mohawks (MPFL)	Quad Cities River Bandits (MiLB) Quad City Storm (SPHL) Quad City Steamwheelers (IFL)
Des Moines, Iowa	599,789	Drake Stadium	14,557	-	-	Des Moines Ford Motors (Ind.) Des Moines Comets (NWFL) Des Moines Warriors (PFLA) Des Moines Vikings (MPFL)	Iowa Wild (AHL) Iowa Cubs (MiLB) Iowa Wolves (G League) Iowa Barnstormers (IFL) Des Moines Menace (USL)
Wichita, Kansas	644,888	Cessna Stadium	24,000	-	-		Wichita Wind Surge (MiLB) Wichita Thunder (ECHL) Wichita Force (CIF)
Colorado Springs, Colorado	738,939	Falcon Stadium	46,692	-	-		Rocky Mountain Vibes (MiLB) Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL)
Bakersfield, California	839,631	Memorial Stadium	23,468 (19,468)	-	-		Bakersfield Condors (AHL) Bakersfield Train Robbers (MiLB)
Reno, Nevada	425,417	Mackay Stadium	30,000	-	-	Reno A.C. (Ind.)	Reno Aces (MiLB) Reno 1868 FC (USL) Reno Express (AWFC)
Boise, Idaho	709,845	Bronco Stadium	36,387	-	-		Boise Hawks (MiLB) Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) Idaho Horsemen (AWFC)
Spokane, Washington	547,924	Joe Albi Stadium	28,646	-	-	Spokane Manlowes (WIFL) Spokane Shockers (CoFL)	Spokane Indians (MiLB) Spokane Shock (IFL)

^* Modified stadium capacity.

Minor American football proposed cities

Columbus

St. Louis

Orlando

San Antonio

Portland

San Diego

Sacramento

Oakland

Connecticut

New Jersey

Virginia

Raleigh

Louisville

Omaha

Memphis

Birmingham

Oklahoma City

Salt Lake City

San Jose

Syracuse

Toledo

Greensboro

Tulsa

Little Rock

Jackson

Mobile

Shreveport

El Paso

Albuquerque

Tucson

Fresno

Monterrey

Honolulu

Rochester

Lehigh Valley

Ypsilanti

Canton

Fort Wayne

Charleston

Greenville

Chattanooga

Gwinnett

Daytona

Quad Cities

Des Moines

Wichita

Colorado Springs

Bakersfield

Reno

Boise

Spokane

class=notpageimage|

Locations of teams — High-level Minor Borderline High-level Minor Mid-level Minor Borderline Mid-level Minor. Not shown: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Other Markets

Boston, Massachusetts - "Beantown" is the largest US city and biggest TV market not represented in the NFL, and is the ninth highest media market in the US, and fifth on the east coast. Over the years there was three separate attempts to establish NFL team in the city - Boston Bulldogs, Boston Braves and Boston Yanks - but all of them failed and relocated or disbanded after short period. Today the "local" team considered to be the New England Patriots which sits at Foxboro, Massachusetts, but branded as a area team for the New England region. The last attempt to establish a pro team was the Boston Brawlers of the now defunct FXFL, but it failed miserably at the gate and relocated after its inaugural season.

Providence, Rhode Island - The Rhode Island state capital is highest GPD (nominal) per capita U.S. metropolitan area without a major team. Providence also had a very successful history in pro football, as the Providence Steamrollers won the 1928 NFL championship, but suspend operations in the Great Depression. However, the New England Patriots of Foxboro, Massachusetts is probably the reason no other team called the city home since 1960, as they actually slightly closer to Providence then to Boston and, as mentioned earlier, branded as a area team for the New England region.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Wisconsin has a lot of love for its state football teams - the Wisconsin Badgers and the NFL's Green Bay Packers, which previously hosted games in the now defunct Milwaukee County Stadium. The city even had its own team - the Badgers - from 1922 to 1926. Today, Milwaukee no longer hold a college football team at D-I or D-II level, after their decline in the 70's, and therefore don't hold a suitable stadium to host a pro team because the new Miller Park isn't big enough to have a football layout.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Louisiana's second-largest city (after New Orleans) is often mentioned as a potential target for the pro football team, but past attempts have always been unsuccessful. There's a main reason for it: the fact that it is the LSU Tigers stomping ground with the addition of HBCUs powerhouse Southern Jaguars. Because of that, most minor league franchises fail, and as of 2020, Louisiana is the only state in continental US with no MiLB team. Therefore, other leagues usually preferred Shreveport–Bossier market and the mostly unused Independence Stadium.

Austin, Texas - The State Capital of Texas could rival any other city with its appetite for football, and it would be only the second pro teams in the city. Alas, most efforts are likely to fail, as any football would have to rival the big show in town – the Texas Longhorns football team. Also, its proximity to San Antonio will probably nix most attempts.

Las Vegas, Nevada - "Sin City" is a booming tourist destination that was ready to be major league for a long time, and three separate leagues dipped their toes in the market (CFL, XFL and the UFL). The problem? other major leagues took notice, and put the city on top of their expansion/relocation list, including the NFL Raiders that now call Las Vegas home.

Ohio - The Buckeye State has deep Pro Football roots, as the state was home to five of the 14 original teams in the NFL inaugural season. Akron and Dayton are probably the other biggest candidates, but their proximity to an NFL markets (Cleveland and Cincinnati respectively), and the lack of success of other minor league franchises, will probably make them a secondary option at best. Another possibility is Youngstown, but the low available personal income and bad modern-tradition as a minor league market, will stop most efforts at initial stages.

New York - Upstate New York built its reputation around a strong "sandlot football" circuit, and has a storied football history that is far older than the National Football League. The northern circuit succeeded in recruiting the country's best college players, was part in the "birth of Pro-Football" and invented the Thanksgiving football. The early leagues had teams in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and even in Tonawanda and Watertown, while the more modern leagues featured teams in NYC five boroughs. Today, the state capital Albany and Long Island are probably the other candidates for professional market, as they both proved to support minor teams and have suitable facilities (the Bob Ford Field and the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, respectively).

Florida - The Sunshine State is typically a hotbed of football talent, and with 10 Division I football schools, the state year-round appetite for the game is insatiable. Combine with the warm weather in the area, the abundance of fans who plan their vacations according to spring training and the great facilities state wide, practically every city with 100,000 residents or more is a potential for a professional market. Tallahassee is probably the biggest candidate with two suitable stadiums (Doak Campbell Stadium and Bragg Memorial Stadium), but Fort Lauderdale (Central Broward Regional Park or the future Miami Freedom Park) and Fort Myers (JetBlue Park) are not far behind. Another option is Pensacola, but the lack of suitable venue will probably deter most endeavors.

Canada - The roots of the game in Canada run deep, with the first documented football game in country taking place in 1861, eight years before the first game in the United States. The first attempt of "northern expansion" was in 1964 with the Quebec Rifles (later moved Toronto) in the original United Football League, but it wasn't the last. Over the years, there were four total teams that called Canada home - Montreal Beavers and the Victoria Steelers joined the CoFL in 1966 and 1967 (respectively), while the World League of American Football Montreal Machine was the last one to play in 1992. Nevertheless, the team that had the most impact on future endeavors has been the WFL's Toronto Northmen, who never played a game in the city, but triggered the Canadian Football Act - which gives a government-protected monopoly over professional football in Canada to the Canadian Football League (CFL). The legislation never passed, but discouraged most future attempts.

External links

• Can spring football ever work?
• NFL owners, coaches say a developmental league is needed
• NFL Minor Leagues: What Needs to Be Done to Help Develop Talent in the NFL
• Football needs another successful league to survive, for the good of the game
• Alliance of American Football is just the latest in a long line of failed start-up leagues
• Minor league markets rank: Methodology
• NFL to present formal proposals for a developmental league in 2017

References

Category:American football competitions Category:Minor and developmental leagues in professional sports Category:Defunct American football leagues in the United States Category:Semi-professional American football