AAF suspends all operations

[saw061600]

And just like that, the developmental league is gone.

[Phaded]

Never watched it - but not exactly surprising.

[whodunnit]

Disappointing. It was fairly decent in my opinion. Technically it's not done yet, just suspending football operations, but not the business side of things at this moment from what I read (although I expect it is the end). It's a shame it couldn't last.


"Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Darren Rovell of The Action Network, the AAF is expected to suspend all operations Tuesday.

Florio noted the league isn't folding yet, "but it's heading that way."

Rovell added that AAF owner Tom Dundon stands to lose $70 million and made the decision to suspend operations "against wishes of league co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian."

[jordanzs]

April Fools?

[WhatWouldDitkaDo]

Meh, not shocking. I haven't heard anyone talking about the AAF outside of Twitter, and the only times I watched it were Manziel clips on Twitter or if a game was on at a bar on a side TV. Supposedly Dundon bought the majority stake in the league primarily so that he could acquire / invest in the attached gambling app.

[ninotoreS]

Yeah. One of its chief owners / shareholders warned everyone a few weeks ago that the league was in imminent danger of suspension if the NFL players' union doesn't allow the AAF to have more young players, i.e. players on practice-squads, those signed to futures contracts, etc.

Can't be a developmental league if you're not allowed to have developing players.

It's a shame. The sport itself would be improved with a legitimate minor league system. The jump from the NCAA is just so huge, especially for D-2 and D-3, ofc. I bet with a proper farm system, half of the NFL's teams wouldn't be desperate for competent QB play.

[abloom]

And just like that, the developmental league is gone.

actually the reason its gone is because it couldn't get support from the NFL as a developmental league.

[Blueboy]

And just like that, the developmental league is gone.

actually the reason its gone is because it couldn't get support from the NFL as a developmental league.

Never would've happened. Having league prospects play in a developmental league just carries too much injury risk in this sport.

[Vcize]

How did they launch this thing without enough capital to make it through the first year of losses?

[whodunnit]

Read an article somewhere stating that all they need to do is find another investor to put up I think it was $20 million and they can continue.

[whodunnit]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... mate-fate/

The suspension of operations comes from majority owner Tom Dundon ceasing his funding of the league. But the league could continue (in theory), if the AAF finds someone else to step in and pay for the rest of the inaugural season. A source with knowledge of the situation told PFT on Monday night that the estimated investment necessary for the rest of the season would be $20 million.

For now, players under contract to the AAF remain under contract to the AAF, in the event that funding emerges and the season can be finished. At some point, however, those players will have to be released from their contracts — especially if they aren’t getting paid.

[_yeti]

And just like that, the developmental league is gone.

actually the reason its gone is because it couldn't get support from the NFL as a developmental league.

Never would've happened. Having league prospects play in a developmental league just carries too much injury risk in this sport.

College football is already the developmental league for the NFL. Free and easy

[Orenthal Shames]

I'm surprised AAF

[abloom]

How did they launch this thing without enough capital to make it through the first year of losses?

They wanted to get money from the NFL basically

[whodunnit]

How did they launch this thing without enough capital to make it through the first year of losses?

They wanted to get playersfrom the NFL basically

fixed it for you.