The Alliance of American Football debuted after the Superbowl and beat out the NBA in ratings. The start featured many aspects of what the NFL should have already been doing with regards to transparency in officiating. Several weeks ago Tom Dundon became majority owner of the AAF after investing $250 million into the league. It appears as though the investment deal came with the ability to pull funding and this option has been enacted.
Last night, a source told PFT that the AAF needed roughly $20 million to get to the end of its first season. Instead, the season will end with two weeks left in the regular season, and with a four-team postseason that never comes to fruition.
If you’re an AAF player and the league does dissolve. The last check you got will be the last one that you get. No lawsuit or anything else will get you your bread. Save your money and keep your head up. It’s the only choice at this point unless something drastic happens.
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) April 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/SportzzTweetzz/status/1113133315878518784
AAF suspending football operations, and will likely fold before the season is scheduled to end.
At least we will always have this memory.pic.twitter.com/W44WazL68v
— John Elizondo (@johndelizondo) April 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1113131479717081090
AAF folding is fantastic news for XFL, which will launch next year with great funding support, zero football competition and strong TV partners. If anything, AAF ratings, which were very strong, demonstrated how much demand there is for spring football.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 2, 2019
Literally dropped everything I had going on and just signed an @TheAAF contract yesterday at 9pm and was excited to go back to doing what I loved. And in less than 24 hours the league is cancelled, yet it’s “about the players”. I’m sick.
— Taiwan Jones (@TJ_Spartan34) April 2, 2019
Takeaway
Perhaps the hot take will have to be put on ice for the time being. There is a lot to explore with the failure of a business venture I have been following since the day it announced. For the league to suspend operations, the odds of a comeback have plummeted. The demand for more professional football exists and whether this is a petty feud between owners or a gaping hole in the business plan is still at the opinion of pundits everywhere. However, my preliminary analysis of the situation would say that the Alliance of American Football squandered the demand for more football by sinking too much money into an app that does not enhance the experience of the league and basing operations in the ultra expensive Silicon Valley.