Why the AAF Might Be Here to Stay
This past weekend, the Alliance of American Football kicked off its inaugural season. Founded by Charlie Ebersol and NFL Hall of Famer Bill Polian, the league is already found itself some great traction with fans. (The league gains more credibility with viewers by having fan-favorites Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu on the leadership team.) There are some legitimate and strategic reasons why the AAF might be here to stay.
It’s Good for Football
First of all, they were wise enough to not attempt to compete with the NFL. They kicked off their season in a football-thirsty time of year, the week after the Super Bowl. The AAF and NFL seasons won’t overlap, therefore they won’t compete. For the football fan, this is the best of both worlds. The AAF season is three months long, with its championship being played at the end of April. The first preseason NFL game is played in the first week of August. That means there is only a three month offseason for football, compared to the normal six months.
With a skew for curiosity in mind, the ratings for the AAF’s first week were impressive. According to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, the AAF beat the NBA in head-to-head overnight ratings. This is what Mike Clay of ESPN had to say in response:
He seems to be right. The NFL is a $3 billion industry. Even numerous NCAA teams are valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, three teams even reaching the billion dollar mark. Football generates revenue, because America loves football. We all want more of what we like, and it’s true that football is the only sport that can get away with adding a league. Baseball, basketball, and hockey are having enough trouble getting people to watch one professional league, let alone two.
The Product is Great
Let’s be honest, a big part of sports today is branding. The product that is televised, reported on, and tweeted about has to be excellent. It’s the AAF’s excellent product that made its debut so great.
The logos are designed well, the app is interactive, and the teams are located in markets that aren’t already saturated with an NFL team. (Atlanta is the exception.) Not only visually, but the televised experience is on par with the NFL, if not better. The added audio in the huddle has been raved about. It’s exciting to hear the quarterback call the play, and how things operate “behind the scenes.”
Plus, we can’t forget the fact that the AAF comes with its own playoff tournament and championship game. Why not have a few more big football games per year?
It’s clear that the AAF knew that if it wanted to be taken seriously, it would have to take its product seriously.
Listening to the Fans
Lastly, the AAF has done a great job of taking notes on fan complaints about the NFL. They have added an extra referee, known as the sky judge. He sits in a press box and can make calls on plays that the referees on the field may not see. They also have made pass interference plays reviewable in the final five minutes of the game (to much frustration from Saints fans, I’m sure).
There are also less penalties on tackles. The new player safety rules have been ridiculed by fans of the NFL, saying that the rules make the game “softer.” I’m not sure if I’ll ever argue against player safety, but those rules are not present in the AAF. The AAF has stressed player safety and considers it a priority, but the rules are not nearly as strict. Because of this, it may help fans get past the lower level talent that will be playing in AAF games. In the words of ESPN’s Will Cain, “people want the violence.”
The AAF also met fans in the middle by creating fantasy leagues. While the leagues are difficult to find (ESPN and Yahoo! do not carry them), it still gives opportunity for fans to get to know the lesser known players.
Only time will tell if the AAF is here for the long haul. But with it delivering in many areas that the NFL does not, it may be enough football to pacify fans until the NFL returns in August.
