Little Rock should create a USFL team
I’ll never forget a lesson from 11th grade Economics class with Mr. Nishiuchi. He explained how if Little Rock were to buy a professional sports team, like the Utah Jazz for example, it would create jobs, bring people to town and altogether stimulate the local economy. In the same vein, I believe that Little Rock should create a team for the newly formed United States Football League ( USFL).
This new USFL is not affiliated with the old league of the same name that played from 1983 to 1985. According to reports, Fox has committed $ 50 million a year for the next three years to the league, hoping to evaluate its success each season before sinking too much money into the project.
The USFL began its inaugural season Saturday, April 16 when the New Jersey Generals took on the Birmingham Stallions. The league is currently made up of eight teams and is played entirely in Birmingham, Alabama.
Teams include the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Pittsburgh Maulers, Philadelphia Stars and Tampa Bay Bandits.
Over the years, Arkansas has had plenty of minor league teams, like the Arkansas Twisters, the Arkansas Riverblades and the still- active Arkansas Travelers.
Countless Arkansas students have taken field trips to see the Travs in North Little Rock since 2007, when Dickey- Stephens Park opened, including yours truly. It is one of the most popular attractions in central Arkansas for sports fans. The construction of the park cost $ 40.4 million ($ 52.8 million in today’s dollars).
While this first season was only played in Birmingham, the other teams are surely planning to build or rent stadiums of their own. Sports fans want to go see their hometown team face off against out- of- state competitors in person if they can. Little Rock is no different. We could join this next season and play all of our games in Birmingham, or even at War Memorial Stadium, while we work on building a permanent venue to host the team.
The impressive thing about this league, to me, is the fact that it is backed by a major network such as Fox. That’s why we should seriously consider joining. We may have been beaten to the punt by eight states, but we don’t have to be beaten by the entire lower 48. We could be among the next eight to join up and build a nationally recognized football team.
For a long time, Little Rock has yearned for a football team of its own. The only taste of football that the capital city really gets is the high school state championships and when the Razorbacks come to town. But in 2018, the Hogs signed a deal to only play at the stadium every other year and aren’t scheduled to return to War Memorial until 2023.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ( UALR) has considered creating a football team in recent years, but elected not to in 2019 when it was brought before a panel.
As many fans have grown tired of the politicization of the NFL and ESPN, Fox’s new product seems to have gotten fairly good ratings for most of its 10- week season. Perhaps it can become a real contender for the NFL. Only time will tell.
Semifinals are set for Saturday, June 25, with the Stars taking on the Generals at 2 p. m. on Fox and the Breakers going up against the Stallions at 7 p. m. on NBC. The championship game is slated for July 3 at 6: 30 p. m. on Fox.