SUMMARY
- XFL and USFL has merged into a brand new league, United Football League.
- Dwayne Johnson made this announcement on December 31, 2023.
Dwayne Johnson is one of the most influential celebrities in the world due to his career in WWE and Hollywood. Not just in these two industries, he is also a highly successful entrepreneur. The Rock runs a number of businesses, and now he has taken a significant step in his already great journey as a businessman.
Announcing a revolutionary step in the American football industry, The People’s Champion shared the news of the start of the United Football League. For the formation of this brand new league, rival football minor leagues, XFL and USFL, have been merged and named UFL.
As announced by the XFL co-owners Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia on FOX’s NFL on December 31, 2023, the brand new league will kick off on March 30, 2024. Sharing his excitement for this brand, The Rock said, “As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting, and very cool for football fans.”
It has also been confirmed that Russ Brandon will serve as UFL CEO, whereas Daryl Johnston will lead the new league’s football operations. Moreover, it must be noted that USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge in September 2023 and received approval from federal regulators on November 30, 2023.
Which teams are participating in UFL’s inaugural season?
After the announcement of the XFL and USFL’s merger into a brand new league, fans were curious to know every minor detail about the league. One question that a lot of people have been asking is how many teams will participate in Dwayne Johnson’s UFL. It has now been announced that eight teams will be competing in the UFL’s first season.
The list of teams includes the XFL’s D.C. Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks, and Arlington Renegades. From the USFL, the Houston Roughnecks, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, and Michigan Panthers will be participating. Moreover, it has been confirmed that the season opener will be between the Birmingham Stallions, and the Arlington Renegades.
Know briefly about the financial aspects related to the UFL
While any league is mostly known for the teams and players involved in it, another important aspect is the money involved. As the UFL was announced just about a week ago, not much has been revealed. Moreover, the amount of money that will be paid to the players competing in the league is also not known yet.
Per multiple player sources, USFL player contract details are as follows:
Training Camp: $600 per week
Practice Squad: $1500 per week
Active Roster: $4500 per week
-Plus Victory bonuses— UFL News (@NewsUFL) February 4, 2022
Despite this, an idea of player salaries can be obtained from the money the XFL and USFL used to pay to the players involved in their leagues. On average, in USFL, salary for the players used to be around $45,000. However, if their team remains undefeated for an entire season, it can reach up to $70,000.
On the contrary, in the XFL, a player used to make a minimum of $59,000 per year after the training camp. Moreover, an additional $20,000 was paid to them for additional amenities. Looking at this, it’s safe to say that UFL players will also earn in a similar range. Further details about the same will probably be revealed soon.