WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.519 Well here we are back. Just a Mike Mitchell episode today. That's all 2 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:20.199 we need for this one here coming in hot. Do a little intro here 3 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:24.120 and then we'll get into Mike mid season here, UFL review kind of what 4 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.039 do we think about all that stuff? A couple of news and notes like 5 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:30.320 it. Subscribe if you appreciate all this stuff. We're giving away two free 6 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.359 tickets to the Saint Louis Championship game in Saint Louis for the UFL. When 7 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:37.439 we hit that, I think we're like fifty subscribers with Mike. I think 8 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:39.840 we can do that, but like and subscribe, give a thumbs up. 9 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:44.240 CFL coverage will come next week. I know the draft happened in Vegas, 10 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:48.240 working fifteen sixteen hour days here Sunday through last night, so we will get 11 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:50.679 to that. But today is you know, Mike and the UFL and all 12 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:52.560 that. But we will get to that. I promise, get some player 13 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:55.880 interviews and all that. I think we might have a brock huwordciding next week 14 00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.679 if everything works out, so like it. Subscribe If that entices you. 15 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:03.400 Mike here we are UFL halfway through. I can't believe it at the theme 16 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:10.040 this week at ufl alive or just breathing. What do you think, Oh, 17 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:12.400 that's a good one. Well, technically it is alive, right, 18 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:17.159 I would say, like, you know, the thing of it all is, 19 00:01:17.239 --> 00:01:19.799 I think we're all, like a lot of people out there expect like 20 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.480 expecting the worst, like doom and gloom, like thinking like maybe twenty twenty 21 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.920 four, this doesn't work, and maybe these two sides break apart, or 22 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:30.840 this is the death of spring pro football. But I think from the beginning, 23 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.719 I've been saying to everybody you know that will listen or that pays attention, 24 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:38.560 that this brought them two years. So I think twenty twenty four is 25 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:42.280 a bridge to twenty twenty five. We're definitely getting twenty twenty five. I 26 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.680 know that this might not age well if all of a sudden we find out 27 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.280 that there's like some kind of like well you never know, that's why we 28 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:52.959 expect doom, right, But every indication is that you know, this is 29 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:56.680 this is at least they're not going to say this publicly, but it's at 30 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.400 least a two year thing. Then we'll see from there. So the whole 31 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.599 idea of them was, uh, these two sides coming together, and you 32 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:07.319 know, trying to find some light at the end of the tunnel, you 33 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:10.199 know, from survival mode to thrive mode. So that's kind of like the 34 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:15.840 story there. But it's interesting. Quick side note, cool that a former 35 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.319 USFL and XFL player was picked first in the CFL draft. I thought that 36 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:23.199 was kind of a unique thing that was washed over. They didn't really mention 37 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.680 that that much, of course, but and it's cool to see like a 38 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:30.000 lot of these UFL players that have found we'll see what happens training camp starting 39 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:34.199 up to the CFL. UFL players that have found homes on CFL teams. 40 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.439 There's some really good guys out there. Jeff Beidett with the argos et cetera, 41 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:39.879 et cetera, et cetera. So you know, there got a shot 42 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:44.159 with the ratio. You never know. But there's a lot of UFL guys 43 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:47.120 that were just recently on teams that have headed up north. So CFL is 44 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:51.039 an awesome league and we're coming towards that. So it's a busy period right 45 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:53.919 now between the CFL draft, the NFL Draft, the UFL all that. 46 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:00.360 Fun times, but busy times for sure. Yeah, And there's say, 47 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:02.280 if you're tracking any of the stuff Anthony Miller. I know the did a 48 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:06.039 bunch of ride ups as well for Sports Illustrated as well as of your track, 49 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:07.080 and I was trying to like keep track of all that stuff, and 50 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:12.240 far Han was on and everything else with the CFL draft speaking of, and 51 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.520 then I know the UFL sent out this week like the Nick Novak specialist, 52 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:19.240 you know, happening in the off season for twenty twenty five. I said, 53 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:22.800 there, there you go, confirmation twenty twenty five season. And they're 54 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:28.319 not quite but ratings this week a little down. If I feel like we've 55 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:31.919 hit a watermark expectations for you in terms of like coming from the league, 56 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:35.520 and then we'll talk at tendance as well. But TV, I feel like 57 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:38.560 we found kind of our little water marker. It really doesn't seem like anything's 58 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.360 falling out. And I thought early on they were kind of exceeding expectations considering 59 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:45.639 the heavy competition they had. You know a lot of people are like, 60 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:49.479 oh my goodness, March madness, et cetera, et cetera. Yeah, 61 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:52.479 we hit a little bit of a mid season lull this past week. The 62 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:54.960 numbers weren't that great. They weren't awful by any stretch of the imagination. 63 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:59.000 I think the key is I think the big thing I've written about it like 64 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:02.479 a million times at S is I think we know what the floor is with 65 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:05.919 these leagues. They have, you know, a time it's contingent upon time 66 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:10.039 slots, who they're going up against, whether they're in primetime or not, 67 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:14.520 whether or not they're on a big network over the year linear television. Those 68 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:16.079 are kind of like, uh, and we kind of know what the floor 69 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:19.000 is. You know, we're waiting to see if this league can hit a 70 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:24.720 million viewers. We'll see this coming weekend. There's four games scheduled, all 71 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:29.759 on big network television, three I believe on Fox. No more split games 72 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:33.240 in prime time, so that which confuse the heck out of everybody. Understand 73 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.959 that they always do those regional broadcast MLB, does it, NHL, et 74 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:42.000 cetera, et cetera. So anyhow, I think, will you know, 75 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.240 be interesting to see if they can actually because we know what the floor is, 76 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:47.759 if they can actually build upon this when they get towards the playoff push, 77 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.560 when they get to the championship game. I think everybody it now expects 78 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:55.800 like championship game rolls around the league's gonna do over a million viewers, maybe 79 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:59.639 one five, one four, one six, maybe, who knows. It'd 80 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:02.879 be not nice to see a higher ceiling development. You get what you put 81 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.600 in. So in terms of promotion, marketing, the attention that's on these 82 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:11.959 leagues in our bubble, these leagues mean everything. But in the sports world, 83 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:17.079 they're still in that same kind of ignore mode. So you know, 84 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:20.920 you kind of notice it in the periphery, but it's not it's not something 85 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:27.759 that's really on the sports a mainstream landscape. People like forget sometimes the UFL's 86 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:31.399 on. We had Rick on last week, Rick Sarah Tella talking about you 87 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:35.240 know, like, is it more USFL in charge? Is it more redburd 88 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:42.360 in charge? Marketing? To me feels more USFL. We're kind of bare 89 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:46.120 minimum. I think social media has been really good this year, and I 90 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:48.279 know we talked about that last year with the XFL and like, you know, 91 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:51.480 it'd be halfway through a game and you wouldn't even have any plays, 92 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:55.519 you know, upload a lot. Like that's all good, But what is 93 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:58.639 your read on the situation and just your thoughts on that, because I don't 94 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:01.959 yeah, I don't see this perferating out into the atmosphere unless you're like watching 95 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:05.560 NASCAR whatever on Fox, like seeing any of this stuff. Yeah, you 96 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:10.759 know, Fox and Redbird had like shared interest and almost like shared values. 97 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.759 Like I know people read into the XFL losing like fifty sixty million dollars whatever 98 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:19.279 the official number is, But when you look at the Redbird XFL model, 99 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.000 a lot of what they do is to save money. The whole Arlington set 100 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:29.480 up, travel not paying taxes in Texas, three teams there, All of 101 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:31.399 that is to save money. And we know about Fox, they've been in 102 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:35.360 the money saving business with the USFL for a while now, so a lot 103 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:39.399 of what they do is by default because it's bare bones now, there is 104 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:44.680 some expenses that they're going to be cutting down upon in the future. You 105 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.079 know, we saw a little bit of that in the off season with seasonal 106 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:50.399 employees rather than full time their head coaches in order to coach in the league 107 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:56.759 in twenty twenty four, had to agree upon becoming seasonal employees and reduction and 108 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:01.360 pay. It's crazy, but it's the reason why Wade Phillips is in San 109 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:05.240 Antonio right now. Is hinz Ward refused to sign a reduction in his space. 110 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:09.560 He's landed on his feet. Whatever. He's found another coaching job in 111 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:14.240 the coaching ranks, but Wade Phillips would not be coaching league. The problems 112 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:17.800 would probably not be this good if they didn't have Wade Phillips and AJ Smith 113 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.720 and all that. And Mark lily Bridge has done a tremendous job with that 114 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:28.879 roster. So I think this marriage these are two like minded partners. Disney's 115 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:30.399 is part of this too. There. We don't know their breakdown, but 116 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:36.839 it's been reported sports business journal Ben Fisher that Disney is definitely part owners in 117 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:42.480 this whole thing. You get what you put in. So hopefully at some 118 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:46.319 point they'll be able to sit back and reassess and decide they're gonna have to 119 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:51.439 spend a little bit of money in order to grow this brand. It's not 120 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:57.600 enough for them to just exist and expect growth. You're gonna have to start 121 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.920 planning some seeds, and that's gonna involve money. Yeah, That's why it's 122 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:05.399 just all of these Everyone seems adverse to taking any sort of like wide swing 123 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.920 or risk here, and I just don't you know, we saw that with 124 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:11.639 the USFL. I'm like, well, we're gonna go into some of the 125 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:15.959 hubs, Like I never believed in year three we're gonna have eight USFL teams 126 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.399 in the you know, eight cities. That way, it just feels like 127 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:20.279 we're always kind of on this, we're on the edge here, and it 128 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:24.639 never really feels like anybody wants to kind of jump into the pool full you 129 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.319 know, full feet, And I just don't know, I don't see what 130 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:30.600 changes in that. I guess, you know, what needs to happen for 131 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:31.600 them to be like, Okay, now we got it. We're gonna invest 132 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.519 another one hundred million dollars. I don't know if people remember this, but 133 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:39.000 I also I reported this. It seems like twenty years ago, but it's 134 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.320 not. The XFL in twenty twenty three was going to do a full on 135 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:46.919 hubb in Arlington with all their teams playing there and just to save money. 136 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.759 And then they decided against that. And I remember when I reported that, 137 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.840 you know, they were thinking about it full on. That means the Saint 138 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:58.639 louis playing in Arlington everybody, And I remember when I reported that they were 139 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.120 thinking about that. But they're shifting away. They're going to play in their 140 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:05.159 stadiums. Danny Garcia, who's not an x anymore. I guess it's called 141 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:09.559 liked my tweet, which, like, you know, a further validation of 142 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:13.799 you know, what I was reporting was accurate. You know. So it's 143 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:18.279 crazy like they during this whole process, right, I think people forget like 144 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.320 there was a chance this merger wasn't going to happen. And I don't know 145 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:28.639 the full details on this, but when Fox and Redbird submitted their paperwork, 146 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.399 which I reported first back when I was a news hub, you know, 147 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:39.919 they the government asked for revisions and update on info. So it took a 148 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.399 while. You know. The expectation was that this was going to be approved 149 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:48.200 by the government, but it actually took a while. And in the meantime 150 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:52.200 before they actually submitted the paperwork, they discussed so many different scenarios. That's 151 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:58.559 why we got so many reports out there from people about multiple hubs. They 152 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:01.639 legitimately talked about twelve teams. I was just talking to somebody this morning about 153 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:07.919 this. They legitimately talked about ten teams. They talked about Canton, Ohio 154 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:11.799 as a possibility for the league. They went through everything until eventually the final 155 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:16.639 paperwork was submitted. Once the final paperwork was submitted, they even debated up 156 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:20.159 until the eleventh hour whether or not to have the gamblers or the roughnecks. 157 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:24.720 Well, and I think they gambled poorly. Yeah, and when I reported 158 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:28.519 the eight cities, everybody jumped the gun and automatically assumed gamblers, and then 159 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:31.759 they put it on as their own work, right, And as it turned 160 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.200 out, you know, they stuck with the rough next thing. Now we 161 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:37.559 can argue whether or not that worked out or not. I'm sure we'll get 162 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.320 into that momentarily. But you know, I tend to want to I love 163 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:45.840 the football aspect, I love these players, but you got to understand what 164 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:46.799 these leagues. And I know there are a lot of people that are upset 165 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:50.399 at me that have put out the attendance figures within the league. They don't 166 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:54.240 like that the focus is so much on those numbers. It's not fun to 167 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.080 look at sometimes when you only see six thousand fans. But a big part 168 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:03.600 of these leagues is big, big markers for them is how they're doing in 169 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:07.000 attendance, how they're doing in ratings. Nobody pays I mean, you pay 170 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:11.679 attention to NFL attendance, NHL, NBA, some cases, MLB. If 171 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:13.679 a team's going really south, the whole thing with the athletics. Right now, 172 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:18.320 everything's pretty crazy, you know, with the Oakland losing another team and 173 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:22.399 all that wackiness. So but with these leagues, attendants and ratings are important 174 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:26.559 and it's a barometer, it's a marker as they build up. People have 175 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.919 to also understand, like you cannot expect. You have to step outside the 176 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.120 bubble. And you know, you put yourself in a family man's shoes in 177 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:39.679 terms of spending money, and put yourself in a sports fans shoes and you 178 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.360 know, as the weather gets better out there, it's nice out there today, 179 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.559 at least on my Neckea Woods, looks like it's nice. Where you 180 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:48.159 are. People have options and things to do. I'm not trying to make 181 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:52.240 excuses for these leagues, but it is difficult if you're I don't know how 182 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.919 you want to list it. But the UFL is like what seventh, eighth, 183 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.279 ninth in the area. I don't know however you want to write that. 184 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.840 You know, it's NHL, NBA, NFL, et cetera, et 185 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:07.080 cetera, and then UFL. You know, it's like a lacrosse league pickleball. 186 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.120 It's kind of I'm sorry, he hits everybody out there. I love 187 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.440 football to death. I'm paying attention to UFL more than in the NBA playoffs. 188 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.000 I mean, go Nicks, who are probably gonna choke in the playoffs. 189 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:20.360 But but I'm honestly, like i'm here, I'm an advocate for this. 190 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.559 I make no bones about it. I'm not a fanboy for any of 191 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:26.200 these teams in the league. I have loyalty towards a certain team as a 192 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:30.320 child. I got it on the if you can see that faded Jets logo 193 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.720 there, But when it comes to these leagues, I root for the league 194 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.039 as a whole. So I'm actually sitting here, you and I are recording 195 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:39.840 on a Thursday. I'm sitting here hoping that NBA games wrap up and that 196 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.399 there's no big time NBA games on Saturday and Sunday, just so the UFL 197 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:45.960 has a chance to do a better rating of the weekend. So I make 198 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.320 no bones about it, I'm rooting for these leagues to succeed because I think 199 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:52.279 they're great for the football landscape. It means a lot of jobs, a 200 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:56.039 lot of working people in football. And you know, as someone who's been 201 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.960 an advocate of these leagues forever, my love through the NFL, the NFL 202 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:05.320 Draft College football led me into my love for the original USFL the CFL. 203 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:09.279 Because I've monitored and followed these players, I understand how such a small percentage 204 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:13.720 of players make the National Football League, and I think there's value in having 205 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:16.879 these kinds of leagues. It's fun to me. And also the odds are 206 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.720 so much against them that actually root for the underdog, So this is like 207 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:22.519 the ultimate underdog. Like the likelihood is that these leagues are not going to 208 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:26.639 make it because all of them have died a miserable death, and so attendance 209 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:31.559 and ratings it's not fun to look at, I know. And for anybody 210 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:33.919 who support of the league, they don't like to see Birmingham on only seven 211 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:37.200 thousand fans. They don't like to see whomever with six thousand and whatever, 212 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:41.279 Houston, Memphis. I don't know, but hey, those are the numbers. 213 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.200 Those are the reality. I got to report it. I can't fanboy 214 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:48.080 it up. So I mean that's kind of the story there, So we'll 215 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:50.840 see, Like, you know, in terms of like these leagues building popularity, 216 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:54.679 I think the leagues themselves are quality, I think, but Redbird and 217 00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:01.720 Fox and Disney they need to reassess and they're not going to go all in, 218 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:05.919 but they need to see where they are, where they're weak and uh 219 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:09.279 and build some strength in those areas. They need to They get what you 220 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:13.440 put in, so they need to put make more of an effort. If 221 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.240 they want to see growth, they're not going to get it by default. 222 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.720 Expectations for the league in terms of attendance, well, I guess the first 223 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.240 off, so because you talk about that and uh not want you know people, 224 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.559 you get like the Emory Hunts of the world, and I respect Emory 225 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:31.000 tremendously, Like you watch this football to see fans, I'm like, well, 226 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.000 but if the goal is to sell these leagues off in five years or 227 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.759 ten years or at some point in the history of mankind, like, you're 228 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.960 going to need to have more than six as people. And that's why I 229 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:41.799 care about attendance. Is that do you you know you you said you view 230 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:45.639 it as kind of a barometer as well, But ultimately that is the goal, 231 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:48.639 right, It's not we don't care about it's not the money we're making 232 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:50.399 at the gate. It's you got to have someone there that's interested in bringing 233 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:54.919 these teams to market, right, right, and as far as the attendance 234 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.240 thing, And I get where Emory's coming from with that, right because I 235 00:14:56.279 --> 00:15:00.399 watch football anywhere, any place, anytime. So for me, I get 236 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.320 it. For the diehards, you know, that's you know. But here's 237 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:05.080 the thing though, and forget about the optics of it, for the people 238 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.519 who are casual fans that turn out a game and see nobody there. And 239 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:13.039 the thing is, if you're watching a wrestling show, if you're watching a 240 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:20.960 sporting event and there's no fans in attendance, there's no natural game atmosphere and 241 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:26.480 energy home team, road team. It takes away from the perspective of the 242 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:30.679 game. It takes away it decreases the value of it. You watched the 243 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:35.519 Saint Louis DC game this past weekend was probably the worst collection of games in 244 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:39.159 the UFL. It wasn't that the play was awful, it was just, 245 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.320 you know, kind of lopsided. Birmingham beat the crap out of Houston. 246 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:46.639 Saint Louis. That game, the Saint Louis DC game, that atmosphere was 247 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:50.000 fun. It got away from DC and the second half it was seventeen to 248 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.720 twelve. They got back in it, and then obviously battle Hawk steam rolled 249 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.519 them. They got a big measure of revenge from last year. But that 250 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:03.320 game, that game felt like a great Sunday afternoon pro football game. Big 251 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.879 plays, it was kind of fun, back and forth. The crowd was 252 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:08.519 into it. It enhances it when you watch it when you watch a college 253 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:12.919 football game and the crowd is going crazy. If you're watching like a Georgia 254 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.720 Alabama game and there's like, you know, a few hundred people in attendance, 255 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.960 and people are just walking around and nobody's a fan of the teams and 256 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:22.080 they don't care, it decreases the interest of the game. It makes it's 257 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.519 it's just the way it is. So it's important from a business aspect. 258 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.840 It's very important for these leagues. They need to figure out a way to 259 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.960 create revenue streams. Now, I was on your Big Show when you were 260 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:38.840 in Arlington before the season opener for Renegade Stallions, and I told you I 261 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:45.559 shared conversations that I had that day with someone who had very modest expectations for 262 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:48.960 the attendance. We went over numbers. I can't really you know, like 263 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:53.080 for some of these markets, the expectation was lower than the others. So 264 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:57.639 like for like Memphis, the Michigan situation because of late ticket sales, then 265 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.919 there weren't sitting there going I hope you get twenty k. I mean, 266 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.839 everybody wants to get twenty k. But last year, because I'm aware of 267 00:17:03.880 --> 00:17:10.400 how poorly the USFL teams did at the gate that even when you see six 268 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.799 thousand, seven thousand, that's you know, somebody's USFL games were in the 269 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.839 hundreds. And I'm not talking about you know, the games that had neutral 270 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:23.000 syche teams whatever, the Stars playing Michigan or whatever. So they're working hard, 271 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:29.240 but they're understaffed too, Like the Jon Jason Ganella, I pronounce his 272 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:33.240 name correctly, all those guys. That team is understaffed. And so they 273 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:36.640 had a small window because, like I mentioned earlier in this conversation, there 274 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.160 wasn't a guarantee that the government was going to prove it. When they did 275 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.599 approve it, it was kind of like a they had just a few months 276 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:44.640 to get it up and running. I know they already had seeds kind of 277 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.799 playing in Saint Louis and DC, but people forget like there was a lot 278 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:52.640 of uncertainty with the XFL right after their season ended with the Vegas situation where 279 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:56.039 the Roughnecks were going to play, and then when the merger was announced, 280 00:17:56.039 --> 00:18:00.559 so the intent to merge was announced, then it was there's an extreme amount 281 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:04.000 of uncertainty who's coming back. It got to the point where when eventually the 282 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:07.559 cities were announced and the Who's coming and all that, people were celebrating in 283 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:11.640 Saint Louis, Hey, battle Hawks are back. You know they were never 284 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.519 gone to begin with, but it couldn't. It was at a point where 285 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:18.480 the leagues didn't know whether or not they would be approved. And also they 286 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:21.720 couldn't you know. I know, they did deposits and all that and ended 287 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:26.480 up refunding certain teams seat or whatever, but they didn't really So I think 288 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.799 this off season leading into the next we'll see what the timeline in the calendar 289 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.400 is. And the league has to help out their staff, you know, 290 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.920 you the guy, the people that are involved in sales. They're trying, 291 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:44.119 but they in a perfect world, you'd have teams set up and you'd plant 292 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:48.279 seeds. You'd have teams set up in each market pushing, and you would 293 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:53.079 take the entire off season to start planning seeds for you know, community events 294 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:59.200 everything else to start selling tickets and promoting locally, so you have six seven 295 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:02.640 months a cell tickets. You shouldn't have to wait two weeks before the season 296 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:07.799 starts to you know start you know, actually pumping out or promoting to get 297 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:14.119 ticket sales. So hopefully the bridge from twenty four. The expectations were modest 298 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.039 at best for attendance this year, and so there was a hope that the 299 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:22.480 USFL teams will pick up, maybe Birmingham will pick up. They're freaking they've 300 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:25.759 gotten to the point where they're good enough where they should be doing twenty K 301 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:32.160 game. I can't quite figure that one out because for years I heard about 302 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:36.920 how Birmingham's been burned by these leagues. But I so many people said to 303 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.319 me, Birmingham needs to have a team. Birmingham needs to have a team. 304 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.440 Birmingham needs to have a team. Here you are, you have a 305 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:45.039 team. They're really good. They're tremendous. They got NFL talent all over 306 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:47.839 the place. You're gonna see when the offseason comes out of like twenty players 307 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:51.759 signed on the NFL teams. They're well coached, they're well run with Zachary 308 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:56.559 Potter. So you would figure by now that Birmingham would have been a hit, 309 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:00.680 a smashing hit. They have a good name, Stallions, cool brand, 310 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:03.279 et cetera, and they're not. And they're in a position where the 311 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:07.480 Stallions might actually make pro We'll see what happens with the Chiefs, but Stallions 312 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:10.640 might make pro football history. Something hasn't been done in a very long time. 313 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.960 A pro football team winning three straight championships hasn't happened since the Elks in 314 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:18.640 the late seventies early eighties and the Packers before the beginning of the Super Bowl 315 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:25.559 era. So anyhow, so you there, the expectation levels were modest to 316 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:30.000 begin with. I think pressures on though right now. I believe the league 317 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.480 last year, the XFL last year, because the USFL didn't disclosed their numbers, 318 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:36.920 they were pretty bad. The XFL last year, I believe sold over 319 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:40.480 six hundred thousand tickets. I want to say six hundred for forty three games, 320 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.680 right if you count the championship game, which is like twenty two thousand. 321 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:48.079 San Antonio. I think the league right now is a little bit like 322 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:51.039 two hundred and eighty thousand. I believe, so at the halfway point, 323 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:53.839 they're a little behind what they did last year. The XFL so I think 324 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:57.480 that'll help with Saint Louis games. Saint Louis is playing really well. Looks 325 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:03.720 like we're getting possibly going to have seven Saint Louis home games. I guess 326 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:06.400 they got a few left now, and then of course the playoff game and 327 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:08.640 then the championship game. So that might help the overall tenants when the end 328 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:14.039 of the season comes. But it's definitely a topic and it's definitely a marker 329 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:17.400 for fans to see whether or not the league is catching on. People who 330 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:22.440 hate these leagues love my attendance tweets because they're like, aha, look at 331 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:26.880 look how poorly they're doing. They really love the people who are CFL loyalists. 332 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:30.599 They loved my attendance tweets. Makes me feel guilty for putting them out 333 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:33.920 there, but I'm a reporter. That's what I do. I have people 334 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:37.279 want to know and so and then even when I put them out there, 335 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:41.559 people think maybe they're fudged. Trust me, they would they would not I 336 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.799 have done that. I'm just a messenger here, but they would not be 337 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:48.640 happy to let people know that only seven thousand people showed up in Birmingham, 338 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:52.079 that only six thousand those were not you want to fudge it a little bit 339 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:57.920 better than that in terms of your talking getting you know, we need to 340 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:02.799 get people in these markets working, right. I know, Michigan they sent 341 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.640 out you know, like they're doing a meeting greet here on Saturday. You 342 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:07.839 know, like, but it's all contingent. Okay, we're going to fly 343 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:10.839 in, we're going to go to the thing, then we're going to go 344 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.839 to the game, then we're going to fly out, right because we can't 345 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:15.480 you know, we can't keep people in these markets over either do any of 346 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.920 that stuff, you know, at the end of the season when they when 347 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:22.559 they lay off or whatever, all these salespeople anyway, you know, I 348 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:25.559 just don't see them doing the year round. I mean I know that I 349 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.720 agree that that's what they need to do, but I you know, at 350 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:30.519 the end of the season, a lot of these seasonal people, coaches tickets 351 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:33.119 offf all that's going to go away. So I don't know how you build 352 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.400 that offseason at all, right, And it's such a small window, you 353 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:38.240 know, ten weeks pust to playoffs whatever. Like, I just don't know 354 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:42.039 how you you ever hope to build this And the only markets that, like 355 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:47.079 you said with DC and Saint Louis that are you know, exceeding any expectations 356 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:49.559 right now. Are the ones that have been around since twenty eighteen, right 357 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:53.279 And you know, I think they're not going to do this, but you 358 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:57.440 you would, You would hope they would. But you almost need team presidents 359 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.640 in the markets. You need infrastructure there, you need to have headquarters there, 360 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:06.839 and so that's money, that's spending money. So you need boots on 361 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:11.039 the ground, and I think whether or not they're willing to do that. 362 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.960 So it comes down to whether or not you're gonna have boots on the ground, 363 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:18.119 like marketing promotion teams in each individual city to promote the leagues, or 364 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:21.880 if you're not going to put the actual teams in their cities you know, 365 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:26.359 to be there all season round, or it comes down to spending money on 366 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:32.680 promotion and marketing dollars, radio ads, TV ads, advertisements locally and then 367 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:37.559 putting a budget towards that if you're not gonna put because they're understaff when it 368 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:42.119 comes to ticketing and sales and they don't do a good enough job. That's 369 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:45.400 tough for me to say, but they don't do a good enough job promoting 370 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:48.279 to begin with, like I would be beating people over the head trying to 371 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:52.920 tell them that tickets are available and all that they try. But I think 372 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:55.960 I would go overboard, just sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, 373 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:00.599 to the point where you'd be annoyed with me. But so so anyhow, 374 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:04.319 but I think it's a tough one because it's going to require them. 375 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:10.200 I spoke to someone who worked in the other United Football League recently and they 376 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:15.440 said that they saw an increase once they started to put promotion and marketing in 377 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:18.559 the individual markets like these just said, put people boots on the ground and 378 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:22.839 it wasn't by any beads like great, but they saw an increase. So, 379 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:27.200 you know, the the the other UFL, which people have forgotten about 380 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:30.759 but not too long ago. But I think that's what they need to do. 381 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:33.640 They're gonna need to use their resources. And whether or not they want 382 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:36.680 to do that, but you get what you put in, you're not. 383 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:42.000 You know, their whole thing is the crawl before you can walk strategy and 384 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:45.839 then and then get to walking and then get to the running part. And 385 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:51.599 they're still doing a lot of crawling in a lot of respects. And at 386 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:56.240 some point you need you're gonna need a boost, so you can start walking 387 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:59.799 and they're gonna I I think, if you got to go out swinging. 388 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:04.039 If they're satisfied with this and they just they're okay with low attendance numbers and 389 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:08.880 modest ratings and they don't want to see you know, the game's average two 390 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:14.559 million viewers or games average twenty k. If they're okay with this modest stuff, 391 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:18.279 then all right. But if they actually want I don't think they are. 392 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.519 If they want to actually be a success, they're gonna have to put 393 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:26.240 They're gonna have to put in more work, more promotion. They're gonna have 394 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:30.400 to spend some money. They can strategically do it. Russ Brandon, that 395 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.240 team, they got to come up with a strategy might as well. You 396 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.519 know, that's what's happened to the leagues of the past. They swung for 397 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:38.000 the fences and struck out immediately gotten too the red. So they're so scared 398 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:41.519 of striking out. But at some point you're gonna get to the point where 399 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:45.720 you go, all right, do we want this to last forever and be 400 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:52.759 a success, and then we better take our swing. So I'm thinking if 401 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:56.119 they don't do it this coming off season, going into twenty twenty five, 402 00:25:56.160 --> 00:26:00.200 then they're gonna strike out eventually. So I'm thinking that this offseason is going 403 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:04.599 to be a key for them. We'll see how they allocate their resources because 404 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:07.200 they're gonna I think they're gonna need to step it up a little bit and 405 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:10.599 they're gonna have to take a couple of risks that maybe they've been trying to 406 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:14.559 avoid for the last few years in this space. You know, it's just 407 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.400 like lack of consistency because even in I think and I think it was Andy 408 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.640 and I were talking on one of the things, like, you know, 409 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:23.640 you have these eight social media people right, they're working like Leah's on there 410 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:26.440 doing these Hey come, you know we're I'm here in San Antonio. We're 411 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:30.519 doing all this stuff, Like why don't you Why doesn't every team do that? 412 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:33.480 Why doesn't Jay do that? Why doesn't the people that do the I 413 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.720 don't know who does the roughnecks? You know, social media? Like, 414 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.519 even if you don't want to spend the money, like you don't have to, 415 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:41.960 there's certain things like you already have people in place that you can do 416 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:45.400 right, And I don't know if it means flying the social people in early, 417 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:48.079 let them run the table up on the Saturday ahead of the game for 418 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.079 a Sunday. I mean, I liked that we did the draft thing. 419 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:52.119 I like that, But I don't know why there's not a permanent fixture in 420 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:56.079 front of the Rangers stadium all the time. Hey, we're doing games here, 421 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:00.039 We're doing games here. I mean that is a hugeonger ration of sports. 422 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:03.279 And like anyone that's been there, like there's tons of stuff to do, 423 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:07.920 and there's restaurants and they're like the run the thing where you have a 424 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.079 banner in Texas Lab all the time. Like, I mean, there's just 425 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:11.839 things you can do that I don't think because people always say, like, 426 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:17.079 well you criticize, you don't want to, you know, given like there's 427 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:19.119 things that they could be doing already that they're not. I think the little 428 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:22.880 things like that, yeah, they definitely need to do that. It's borrow 429 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:25.519 like a wrestling term, like you got to start acting like a little bit 430 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:29.000 like an outlaw promotion, like you know, like like I know, maybe 431 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.920 they feel you're above it to handing out flyers. I think they do. 432 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:34.000 I think that they think that they yes, yeah, they think they're above 433 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:37.960 it. But I think you need to go above and beyond another thing that 434 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.920 they need to do. And you know, I've been saying this for the 435 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:42.720 longest time. It's been falling on deaf years. They need to embrace all 436 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:47.640 media like especially like people who are trying to cover you, like fantasy football, 437 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:52.640 gambling. Just embrace all of them. These people are going to promote 438 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:57.839 for you. They're gonna end up working for you unpaid. So that's the 439 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:02.400 thing, that's the How do you sell tickets in the market locally? You 440 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.920 know, there's a lot of good people covering the league. I spoke with 441 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:08.039 Greg Luca, who's in San Antonio. We've had some conversations. Maybe I 442 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:11.880 can't get into too much of that, but he covers the promise. He 443 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:15.480 does very good work for them. They just don't do the traffic there. 444 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:19.279 There isn't a lot of local interest there in San Antonio. I think you 445 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:26.599 need to be proactive and reach out to media members in each market. I 446 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:30.039 remember the XFL in twenty twenty, they had carte blanche they give to Rich 447 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:33.599 Samini, who covers the New York Jets for the New York Post. They 448 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:37.680 went to media members and they, you know, Stephanie Rudnick and that team 449 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:41.319 did a very good job. Humble yourself. Like you're a new league, 450 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:45.440 you try and to these media members, they'll promote the league for you. 451 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:51.279 So you need to roll out the red carpet and you know, and I 452 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:56.599 would do that with everybody who wants to cover the league. Don't shun them 453 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:59.960 because they're promoting your league. They will promote your league. You'll be surprised 454 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:03.759 if you start giving people access and information how much they embrace your league even 455 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:07.440 more and root for you to succeed. They'll openly work for you to succeed, 456 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:11.519 for your players to get attention, for your coaches to get attention. 457 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:17.079 If you expect them to come to you, it's just not you know, 458 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:18.920 it's especially with these new leagues. It takes a while. You know, 459 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:23.480 in the early stages of any professional sports league, it takes time for like 460 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:27.440 mainstream outlets and for a lot of outlets to start coming to your games and 461 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:33.839 writing about you. And there isn't people clamoring right now to cover these leagues, 462 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:37.039 not in the numbers that they need. So if you in each individual's 463 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:42.799 market, target every media outlet, to target every media outlet that covers you, 464 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:48.240 be transparent and give them information. Do it the fantasy community, do 465 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:51.960 it the gambling. You got so many people out there established to run all 466 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:56.119 these outlets that are trying so hard to get these you know, use another 467 00:29:56.160 --> 00:30:00.160 wrestling term, you get these leagues over and you know so so that that's 468 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:03.359 I think that is. If you're not gonna put boots in the ground infrastructure 469 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:07.000 and individual markets, have the teams there year round, all that, you 470 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:12.279 really need to olive branch. Put out the olive branch for people, even 471 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:17.359 people who are ignoring your league, contact them and see if they'll do a 472 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:22.160 story like just That's basically that's how that's what the XFL on twenty twenty did 473 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:25.279 effectively. They were they reached out. They weren't. They didn't. They 474 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.799 humbled themselves. They reached out to every medium whoever was willing to cover. 475 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:32.759 They reached out to NFL teams, they reached out to scouts, they reached 476 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:36.680 out to every community to try to get them to cover the league and so 477 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:40.000 to get hey come on, we'll take care of you. Hey come on, 478 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:42.240 and a first class operation from top to bottom. So they did a 479 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:47.359 tremendous job. So I think these are you can't you get what you put 480 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:49.119 in, You're not going to get the numbers you want, the attention you 481 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:55.319 want by just existing or being it not gonna happen. Well, and then 482 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:57.680 you know someone that's worked in local news, like I'll give you you know 483 00:30:57.720 --> 00:31:02.559 a lot of these sports departments with love, like oh hey, I have 484 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.240 I have you know, free free extra content here the cover, right, 485 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:08.799 especially in some of these markets. I mean, are the Spurs. I 486 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:11.720 don't even watch NBA, but like I assume the Spurs are rather than right, 487 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:15.960 they're not playing, Like what is san Antonio talking about right now? 488 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:18.440 In sports? Right? Like? What are they talking about? You know 489 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:21.480 what we are? What is Saint Louis? You know? I mean, 490 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.279 like what are they talking about? They certainly not talking about, uh, 491 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:30.119 you know, football of any kind. But I just don't like you need 492 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:32.160 to do that. And then what was I gonna say? Because also, 493 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:34.000 like it's not even like you got to send a crew out, like all 494 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:37.920 this stuff is virtual right now at least like take advantage of being in the 495 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:44.200 hublic to me and I'm not there. I imagine it's a little bit like 496 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:48.160 summer camp, right, like we're all here, You're kind of just part 497 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:51.200 of this all the time, right, like the coaches and when we had 498 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.839 Heinbach on, he had to do it on a Sunday because they're like, 499 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:57.039 but we're kind of existing in this whole sphere for the twelve weeks or whatever, 500 00:31:57.079 --> 00:32:00.200 right in training camp and all that. It's like of any time that 501 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:04.359 you could get players and coaches on like now is the time. It's not 502 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:06.920 like, you know, five years from now, like oh well, I'm 503 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.839 off on the weekend, I'm going out of town or I'm like what do 504 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:12.640 you, Like, what are you doing on a Tuesday after practice? Like 505 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:15.559 you're in the hub in Arlington, Like get these players, get these coaches 506 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.559 all Like that's what I don't get. It's not even like you got to 507 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:20.160 send people out to do this, pull it up on your phone, have 508 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.119 them call it from the locker room. It's not like CFL does that. 509 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:25.200 Hey, we'll have I can't remember who. It was like he just sat 510 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:28.920 in the locker room after practice for ten minutes, like you could hear people 511 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.839 walking around. It was cool, but it was like that was a free 512 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:34.279 thing that didn't cost any money, and like here you go, that's that's 513 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:37.799 free promotion out there that you know, ten minutes of someone's time, right, 514 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:39.160 and you know, like the credit to the CFL, Lucas Barrat, 515 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:43.559 shout out to all that group over there. They'll reach out, you know, 516 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:49.640 they reached out to Anthony Miller myself to interview CFL Combine players and all 517 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:53.160 that and so set up interviews, and they they reached out to us, 518 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:57.000 Hey, would you like to interview these people? Would you like to interview 519 00:32:57.039 --> 00:33:00.759 these coaches? Would you like to interview these prospects? And so that was 520 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:05.839 really cool and and they're appreciative of the coverage and they extend the outlem. 521 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:08.200 It doesn't cost you anything to do that stuff, by the way, so 522 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:12.920 it's a it's a matter of hustling. Now. I understand they're understaffed, 523 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:16.599 and but I think they need to reassess their position and what they can do 524 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:21.880 from a pr standpoint, what they can do from a media standpoint, And 525 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:23.240 a lot of cases, you don't get a second chance to make a first 526 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:27.839 impression. I know, this is like the eight hundredth first impression, you 527 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:31.039 know, basically between the USFL and the XFL and all the reiterations. But 528 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:36.160 yeah, I think that's a big factor. I think the more media members 529 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:40.039 that cover the team. Your tenants will go up if you that's that's that's 530 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:44.000 a trick. They'll promote. They promote your games by default. And they 531 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:46.519 paying local papers. I know papers are going by the wayside, but in 532 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:51.759 online media, you know, so it'll help more people come out to the 533 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:54.680 games. Well, and I think that they're because you know, and I 534 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:59.000 think I talked about this with Greg Parks. You know, there was that 535 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:01.160 whole gambling podcast asked that the guy went on the round about not being able 536 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:05.440 to go, like and I wouldn't have handled it that way, right, 537 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:07.280 I mean, I think we can talk about that. But you know, 538 00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:12.280 I think that the league is afraid of, like we're going to send someone 539 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:15.000 on a podcast and they're going to get burned, right, because we saw 540 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:17.400 what happened with who is the guy that leaked the cities in the XFL the 541 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:21.760 DPP for Orlando was it? And he yeah, yeah, that's right, 542 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:24.280 that's right. Yeah, I'm forgetting the gentleman's name past. It's passing me 543 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:27.840 at the moment, but I know, talking about something, yeah, but 544 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:30.199 I but so they're worried about that, right, and I understand that, 545 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:35.760 But like then you just blackbar that person and they're never able to do you 546 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:37.679 know, like you but I think that's what they're afraid of. Right, 547 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.800 Well, we don't have time to go through all these different people that want 548 00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:45.119 to talk or Worldwick. We don't want to deal with how many Gambay pockets 549 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:47.599 like they're afraid of that where just let him do it and then if something 550 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:51.679 doesn't work out, then you're like, what is the worst that happens at 551 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:57.719 this point, Like you know, I can't even keep Butler. Yeah, 552 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.920 you know, it's like, no, we're not going to ask for so 553 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.920 security numbers. You know, we're not going to ask for past codes or 554 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:06.519 anything like that. There's only like a secret information, you know, it's 555 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:10.039 uh so I or do we like Brian stole Is and just like he'll just 556 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:14.039 sit in the background and work on other stuff and then you're just listening and 557 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.639 if anyone, I mean, if you don't you can be on the calls 558 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:19.599 with a lot of these I mean I have that with the CFL people sometimes 559 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:22.679 that they want or like you know, when when they had on when the 560 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:24.280 High Bach was on, you know, Beyonca with Renegades was on there. 561 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:27.960 I mean that's fine, but they just keep that on in the background. 562 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:30.719 If anyone's doing it, you can call in and I could even have on 563 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:32.840 stream yards people sit in the background and listen and be able to say, 564 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:36.559 hey, you know what, don't talk about like but at this point, 565 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:40.679 we're not expanding cities right now. There's there's no like secret sauce you're hiding 566 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:44.480 at this point, like we're week five, week six of the UFL season, 567 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:45.760 Like we're just trying to kind of talk about football here. No one's 568 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:51.960 like starving and talking about living conditions like whatever the league that Sam's Sam's you 569 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.559 know, you know I have players living in hovels at this point, like 570 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:57.719 everyone I think is being taken care of pretty well. Yeah, yeah, 571 00:35:57.760 --> 00:36:00.800 thank goodness for that. We don't have the craziness that we're seeing. Unfortunately, 572 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:04.559 in the arena football they talk about dropping the dropping the bag, dropping 573 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:07.800 the ball anyhow. That's a conversation for another time. But you know, 574 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:12.119 unfortunately with a lot of these leagues, you see that finan financial issues, 575 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:15.440 everything else, they're unable to They talk a good game, but they're unable 576 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.880 to back it up, are you? And then we'll talk football here? 577 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:21.320 You know, we've done a lot of attendance and defuse. But are you 578 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:27.199 surprised with the damage that the USFL markets did, and especially especially with Birmingham 579 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:30.119 season one to two? Right them not? And then with these USFL markets, 580 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:34.840 with the Memphis and the Michigan like it. I never would have thought 581 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:37.519 that the Hub and all of that would have like hurt Birmingham. It seems 582 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:39.679 like as much as it has where they cannot get it. I mean, 583 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:43.119 and I know it's still a high water mark compared to like, you know, 584 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:45.920 Houston, but they can't get anyone to that stadium. I don't know 585 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:49.320 what's going on with that general area because at least, you know, we 586 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:52.199 saw Fox release the numbers. At least Birmingham locally is doing well ratings wise, 587 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:57.599 right they were one of the top regional markets that's been watching the league. 588 00:36:57.639 --> 00:37:00.159 And I know part of that is, like Birmingham was the first game 589 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:02.199 of the season, they've been in primetime slots, et cetera. So of 590 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:05.280 course their numbers are going to be a little bit better than some of the 591 00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:08.559 other teams. But it hasn't translated obviously to the box office. I'm not 592 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:14.159 you know, there's a reason why only three USFL teams survived this merger. 593 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:16.000 I know the Gamblers are part of it, but not the Gambler's brand. 594 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:20.480 The Gambler's never played in Houston, so they, you know, the only 595 00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:23.239 home stadium teams basically, you know, Birmingham, Michigan. I'm not you 596 00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:30.199 know the numbers Michigan. I always thought the Panthers were an awesome brand from 597 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:34.880 the original USFL, but I was surprised they chose Michigan and Ford Field. 598 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:39.320 That was a unique and curious move. And so as far as Birmingham goes, 599 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:43.400 they they've been disappointed from day one, and they said it publicly in 600 00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:47.880 terms they don't understand why they haven't taken off there, So people don't like 601 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:51.519 to hear it. The people who backed the Stallions, God bless you. 602 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:53.880 I'm glad you do. I wish there were more people like you, because 603 00:37:54.119 --> 00:37:58.519 it just really they need to do better, like everyone knows, like we 604 00:37:58.519 --> 00:38:01.199 were kind of like you grade them on a curve, like if Michigan or 605 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:07.800 Memphis tomorrow does twelve thousand in a game, whoa nice? If Birmingham does 606 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:09.719 twelve thousand, go oh boy, come on, guys. And people don't 607 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:13.320 understand that too. I mean yes, you have to grade these on the 608 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:15.800 curve. It's not They're not all equal franchises right now. Yeah, And 609 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:17.800 like Saint Louis, for example, who sit there, there's a lot of 610 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:20.840 people, I get it. You know, they did thirty one thousand in 611 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:22.800 the last game, and they're like, oh, man, I wish they 612 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:25.320 could have done better, and well, you know, you go, you 613 00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:29.559 forget. You know, hey, thirty one thousands figured out, right, 614 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:35.239 that's not bad. Thirty one days pretty good. But you know they've set 615 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:37.519 a bar now, right, So you got Anthony Beck on social media toy 616 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:40.360 halt like they're trying to get the Saint Louis fans to show up this weekend 617 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:43.840 for the Houston game. I'm not that they don't show up. I'm not 618 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:45.519 saying that, but but you know, they wanted to like build up that 619 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:50.079 number and then that thirty five, thirty six, thirty seven, thirty eight, 620 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:54.199 maybe past forty range, right, But there's different curves here. Birmingham 621 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:58.519 is like one of those. To me, one of the biggest disappointments I 622 00:38:58.599 --> 00:39:00.960 expected. I knew the numbers lilast year, right, Like I said, 623 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:04.239 there were some games in the hundreds. I knew the numbers, no matter 624 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:08.079 how many spatuls he gave out Michigan and Memphis. I kind of expected this 625 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:12.079 when I saw the six seven thousand stuff, I was like, yeah, 626 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:15.159 all right, you know, I wish it was better, but you know, 627 00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:17.760 I didn't expect a great lead from four hundred and eighty three to like 628 00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:22.800 twenty thousand in a year. So I'm sorry. But to me, Arlington 629 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:25.599 and I understand their own five now, right, so they're win list. 630 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:29.159 There's not a lot of reason to go there. To me, Arlington, 631 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:32.320 it's not quite the Birmingham situation, but you would figure since it's the league's 632 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:39.360 hub that they would do much better locally there of promoting and marketing and you 633 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:42.880 know, and being able to sell tickets and get the word out. And 634 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:45.199 to me, the Renegades have been a disappointment in the league. Their last 635 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:49.760 game wasn't bad, attendance wise was okay, but I think they should do 636 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:52.440 so much better now. I think, you know, it's unfortunately their own 637 00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:53.960 five, So I don't know how you're gonna convince so many people come out 638 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:58.400 to those games. I hear you, but but I think Arlington's been one 639 00:39:58.440 --> 00:40:00.679 of the disappointments in League San Antoni. You know, they whatever drew over 640 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:05.079 twenty thousand fans in their home opener last year. Unfortunately, unfortunately in the 641 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:07.159 local media, they had stories coming out that people employees were getting fired and 642 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:12.199 people were expecting the you know, so it didn't really help matters and then 643 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:15.079 they were really bad the Bramas. But the Brahmas are a really good team 644 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.400 this year. They're exciting, their fun to watch, So you'd hope that 645 00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:21.639 those numbers will go up as the season goes along. May they might, 646 00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:23.960 they might, but it's not the smash it that it was in the AAF 647 00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:30.480 five years ago now, and so so there's definitely the it's you grade these 648 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:36.519 teams differently, and Birmingham to me is one of the teams that you hope 649 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:40.039 as the season goes along that those numbers start to creep up and they start 650 00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:43.480 to do better and better, that they have a home playoff game that has 651 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:46.280 a twenty three K or twenty four K that will be they should they should 652 00:40:46.360 --> 00:40:51.800 do that, because you got to wonder about that lease. You hate. 653 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:55.280 You can't lose that Birmingham brand. But I believe that lease expires this year, 654 00:40:55.880 --> 00:41:00.480 so oh see what happens. Yeah, in terms of the difference. 655 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:04.480 And I was at you know, the USFL kickoff in twenty twenty two. 656 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:08.239 That felt like a hub. There was branding around there and they had you 657 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:12.480 know, kind of like signage and they had the USML But like if it 658 00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:15.639 felt like that that was the home of that out of the players were staying 659 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:19.280 like literally right across the streets. That kind of helped all that stuff. 660 00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:23.599 There is no like and people talk, oh the XFL or the UFL hub 661 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:28.159 in Arlington, like that doesn't exist, Like it's not the same, it 662 00:41:28.199 --> 00:41:30.039 doesn't feel the same. You would not know it exists. You could see 663 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:35.360 that Texas live across the street and have a barbecue and not realize that this 664 00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:38.519 is there at all. Like it's I understand the comparison there, but like 665 00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:42.280 people if unless you've been to both of them, like it's very different, 666 00:41:42.320 --> 00:41:44.519 but it is. You would think that it would draw better. But it's 667 00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:50.000 remarkable how it does not, you know how its Yeah, and all those 668 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:52.079 teams are there locally in Texas, you would hope because Texas such a great 669 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:57.039 football place that that you know by now. They even adopted the name Arlington 670 00:41:57.159 --> 00:42:01.199 rather than calling themselves Dallas, you know, to try to ingratiate them, 671 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:07.159 you know, themselves with the Arlington area location. So anyhow, But but 672 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:10.599 yeah, you know, you know, some of these things, some of 673 00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:15.840 these teams and cities have underwhelmed, and that's why everyone's always calling for relocations 674 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:21.920 and all that, you know. But we'll see two more things and then 675 00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:24.800 I want to talk to Brahmas and and stuff here with the quarterback. I 676 00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:30.199 know, we're not surprised that Houston is not succeeding this season, you know, 677 00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:32.679 with the rebrand and all that stuff. But like, I don't know, 678 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:36.639 to me, that's like what a swing of the miss like you you 679 00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:38.960 know, and I understand the politics were involved in that merger and you got 680 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:42.679 to keep four and four and all that, but like, I mean that 681 00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:45.639 that killed that franchise. I mean, I don't I don't see anybody in 682 00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:49.159 the comments on our videos and you our team stinks now and they give us 683 00:42:49.159 --> 00:42:52.840 all this stuff and they expect us to come out Like do they reverse course 684 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:54.280 on that? I don't think you can. But I mean either same with 685 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:58.880 the kickoff here and and changing that whatever before the season. But this to 686 00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:00.280 me was a huge swing in THESS that I think has an egg on their 687 00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:05.039 face. Yeah, in hind Site, they should have just stuck with the 688 00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:09.159 Gamblers. If they're gonna keep the Gamblers players, Gamblers coach prompt best Gamblers 689 00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:13.000 players from last season, they should have just said, hey, Gamblers have 690 00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:15.400 their own stadium. They're gonna be playing in Rice. Come on out. 691 00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:16.159 We don't know how we're gonna do, come on out. It would have 692 00:43:16.199 --> 00:43:20.320 been a different feel, right, even if they got six seven thousand and 693 00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:22.000 eight thousand, you know'd be like, hey, this is their first time 694 00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:25.079 playing at home and they're trying to build their brand. This is their first 695 00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:30.760 time actually being there. Once you knew Wade Phillips was out in Houston and 696 00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:35.320 you weren't keeping the rough Necks players, I think at that point they should 697 00:43:35.320 --> 00:43:38.239 have stuck with the Gamblers. Just done the four and four, you know, 698 00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:45.599 don't create this weird confusion, because that's what happened. Basically. You 699 00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:49.599 know, it's like you're not really rooting for the Roughnecks. You're you know, 700 00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:52.599 and then that you know that you're already changing from TDECU to Rice. 701 00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:57.320 You don't have Wade Phillips. It's not the same team. But like if 702 00:43:57.360 --> 00:44:01.119 the Jets all of a sudden, you know, they all their players sauce 703 00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:05.239 guard and all their players go and they move on somewhere else, the entire 704 00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:08.599 roster, and now they're they, I don't know, they're the Cleveland Browns 705 00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:10.760 whatever. You know, you're gonna have a lot of just fans going with 706 00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:15.760 the hell and they're not playing in the same stadium, and you know, 707 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:17.719 so it created a lot of confusion. So in hindsight, they probably should 708 00:44:17.719 --> 00:44:22.679 have just stuck with the Gamblers. And if you're gonna keep the Gamblers staff, 709 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:27.400 the Gamblers players, just keep the brand because these are not the real 710 00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:31.800 roughnecks. Now, maybe over time they'll grow into it, but you know, 711 00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:37.199 it's it was awkward to begin with. From Jump Street. They wanted 712 00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:38.440 to have their cake and eat it too. It was a poor choice, 713 00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:43.480 poor decision, and I would have I would have stuck with the Gamblers brand. 714 00:44:43.559 --> 00:44:46.320 It would be a different optic right now if the Gamblers. If the 715 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:50.079 Gamblers are finally playing at home and they're only doing seven K, but they're 716 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:52.800 not winning games, so maybe they can build it up over time they start 717 00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:57.480 winning and all that. But it's it feels like they failed the rough Necks 718 00:44:57.559 --> 00:45:01.039 brand, because which wasn't like the hottest of things last year. They were 719 00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:05.320 pretty good, they made the playoffs, but it was much hotter than you 720 00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:07.960 know, so anyhow, But it's just the way it went. Well, 721 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:12.199 yeah, because you lost the Roughneck I wouldn't say you lost all, but 722 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:15.400 you lost a non zero a. I would say a larger portion of the 723 00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:20.559 Roughnecks fan. And then it wasn't like there was this huge Houston you know, 724 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.760 Gambler's contingent. They're ready to embrace it. I mean, I know 725 00:45:22.840 --> 00:45:28.159 that there's some go kart driving or whoever out of them, like you know, 726 00:45:29.480 --> 00:45:31.960 fans of this team, But it wasn't. It was it was the 727 00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:36.599 least of both because you lost and then you weren't. You know, it's 728 00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:39.360 like you leaving your wife or the neighbor that's already not interested in you at 729 00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:44.039 all, Like I don't. It wasn't a very good situation, No, 730 00:45:44.079 --> 00:45:47.840 not at all. Final thought here on, we get a lot of people 731 00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:51.400 on here. You know, they got to relocate, they got to relocate. 732 00:45:52.760 --> 00:45:53.920 What is your thoughts on that? Here? As we get and you 733 00:45:54.119 --> 00:45:57.239 kind of see some of this because I don't know if we had teams. 734 00:45:57.239 --> 00:45:59.679 I don't know if we relocate after the season, but what do you think. 735 00:46:01.880 --> 00:46:07.360 Honestly, I think you have to consider it. You have to get 736 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:10.000 there's no way you can't consider it. Once you make that move, though, 737 00:46:10.079 --> 00:46:14.719 that's it, like once you relocate a team, because the problem with 738 00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:16.320 these leagues it's hard to get faith. Like if you go into a new 739 00:46:16.360 --> 00:46:22.719 market, you have to choose the right one too, so it's tough once 740 00:46:22.760 --> 00:46:25.639 you have Once you send the message that a league is shifting their teams and 741 00:46:25.719 --> 00:46:30.000 relocating teams then and there's no stability there, then there's no reason for the 742 00:46:30.039 --> 00:46:32.719 new markets to believe that you're going to stay there. And it creates a 743 00:46:32.760 --> 00:46:37.559 perception that this league's gonna go away quick, you know, because they already 744 00:46:37.559 --> 00:46:40.360 fail. They're just they're just grasping its straws trying to find a solution. 745 00:46:42.039 --> 00:46:45.199 You really need to think it through before you make that kind of decision. 746 00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:49.880 You also could look at the TV numbers at the end of the year, 747 00:46:49.960 --> 00:46:53.079 regional markets all that see how the market is doing in terms of It's just 748 00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:58.599 funny like every year I saw the Fox release their top whatever, top ten 749 00:46:58.679 --> 00:47:01.320 markets, and I keep seeing ULSA in Ohio, Columbus, Ohio. They 750 00:47:01.400 --> 00:47:05.760 keeps brought up in these things. And I'm not advocating a Tulsa team, 751 00:47:05.800 --> 00:47:10.000 but they're you know that they're watching. So I mean, maybe it's a 752 00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:14.360 little bit of the Bob Stoops aspect with the Oklahoma aspect. I don't know, 753 00:47:15.119 --> 00:47:17.519 but they're watching. I know if they've actually had teams, you know. 754 00:47:17.880 --> 00:47:21.760 But I think they need to assess it. You know, a lot 755 00:47:21.800 --> 00:47:24.079 of this comes out of business decisions. It comes down to locking down venues 756 00:47:24.119 --> 00:47:28.800 and and what the rental costs are going to be all that, and so 757 00:47:29.360 --> 00:47:31.679 I think they need to consider it. But once you do it, once 758 00:47:31.719 --> 00:47:36.639 you pull that lever, press that button, that's it. That's it. 759 00:47:36.719 --> 00:47:40.039 You cannot I saw that with the original USFL they were like they were relocating 760 00:47:40.039 --> 00:47:44.519 every five seconds. The Renegades played in like seventy different cities, you know, 761 00:47:44.519 --> 00:47:46.000 everybody they were trading, franchise, was doing all that stuff. It 762 00:47:46.079 --> 00:47:50.880 created tremendous instability, and it made fan base to think, well, this 763 00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:52.599 leage's not going to be around for much longer, and why would you invest 764 00:47:52.639 --> 00:47:55.639 in the team that just abandoned. So like, you know, you you 765 00:47:55.639 --> 00:47:59.199 assume it's just gonna move it anyway. You know, once ticket sales are 766 00:47:59.239 --> 00:48:02.760 bad, all we got to move this too. So you got to plant 767 00:48:02.760 --> 00:48:07.920 your seed and then just put whatever your resources into it to try to make 768 00:48:07.960 --> 00:48:12.519 it work. I'm not a huge fan unless there's a few like you know, 769 00:48:12.559 --> 00:48:15.039 there's a couple of like San Diego and a few places like that you 770 00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:19.679 can find. You know, I'm not a huge because there are markets that 771 00:48:19.719 --> 00:48:23.039 will embrace this league, but you have to select the right ones and then 772 00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:27.599 once you're there, you're there. So that's it. We'll see I think 773 00:48:27.639 --> 00:48:31.119 like Memphis, as crazy as it sounds, I think now watch this will 774 00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:37.519 age poorly, but I think Memphis, I think you could make that work. 775 00:48:37.599 --> 00:48:40.920 I know that sounds crazy. I'm definitely on the outside on this one. 776 00:48:42.840 --> 00:48:45.320 I think you could make that work. I think you obviously have to 777 00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:46.639 have a good team, but I also think you need to you need to 778 00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:50.800 put in money and promotion marketing. I think that's a market that it could 779 00:48:50.880 --> 00:48:55.559 work because to me, like you know, add the cant team or relocating, 780 00:48:55.679 --> 00:49:01.199 or the Nashvilleteiners or tolls that, Like, I would do anything in 781 00:49:01.280 --> 00:49:05.159 my power to get a team on the West coast of any kind. And 782 00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:07.119 I don't say it's got to be like I don't care if it's Seattle or 783 00:49:07.159 --> 00:49:13.000 Portland or Sacramento or Oakland or I don't even I mean even even like Denver 784 00:49:13.079 --> 00:49:15.320 would feel better. Just something that's just not in this mish mash of the 785 00:49:15.360 --> 00:49:19.239 southeastern part of the United States, not to me. And when they show 786 00:49:19.280 --> 00:49:22.280 the map and you're like, there's just so much of the country that you're 787 00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:23.599 you know, ignoring here. And that's why I just went, you know, 788 00:49:23.719 --> 00:49:27.360 I know Andy wants San Diego, but you know, jumping on the 789 00:49:27.400 --> 00:49:29.960 Oakland if there, I know, the baseball thing and it's not quite the 790 00:49:29.960 --> 00:49:31.760 same, but like they just it's too much that they're missing out on. 791 00:49:31.800 --> 00:49:35.760 I would do anything to get a team anywhere remotely near the West coast, 792 00:49:36.039 --> 00:49:37.960 all right, And we, like I talk about so many times, the 793 00:49:37.960 --> 00:49:43.840 floor in the ceiling. One of the reasons that these leagues have limited ceilings 794 00:49:44.239 --> 00:49:46.960 in terms of viewership is because it's only eight markets, right, But you 795 00:49:47.039 --> 00:49:50.760 got to have if you want to maximize your viewership. It's not like the 796 00:49:50.840 --> 00:49:55.280 NFL, where every market watches the games, right watches the Arizona cincinnatig So 797 00:49:55.800 --> 00:49:59.159 if you want to maximize your ratings, you have to be in the right 798 00:49:59.320 --> 00:50:04.679 markets that want these leagues to exist there. So if you're gonna have only 799 00:50:04.719 --> 00:50:07.639 eight teams or ten teams or what have you. That's a big thing with 800 00:50:07.679 --> 00:50:12.960 television and viewership too, is the market share. Not having a New York 801 00:50:13.039 --> 00:50:15.440 a New Jersey team is a factor. Not having a team in the West 802 00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:19.639 Coast is a factor. You want to be in the biggest television markets well, 803 00:50:20.519 --> 00:50:22.800 because if you're doing only let's just say right, because I know people 804 00:50:22.840 --> 00:50:28.199 like to rag on the New York Guardians, but you know they you would 805 00:50:28.280 --> 00:50:30.800 kill right now for an average attendance of fifteen k for these teams. By 806 00:50:30.800 --> 00:50:34.639 the way, the Guardians had a close to thirty thousand fans. So there 807 00:50:34.639 --> 00:50:37.960 are two games in the Dead Winter. But even if you have only ten 808 00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:42.679 thousand fans in a New York game, that TV rating is going to be 809 00:50:42.800 --> 00:50:46.039 higher because you have that market watching the New York, New Jersey market. 810 00:50:46.079 --> 00:50:51.239 Same thing on the West coast. So they're limited themselves by not having a 811 00:50:51.280 --> 00:50:54.840 West Coast presence, by not having another Northeast team. I think, so 812 00:50:54.880 --> 00:50:59.960 they've limited So I if we're up to me, it's not my money. 813 00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:01.519 Again, that they're not on the West Coast because they're trying to save money, 814 00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:05.800 but they're not in the Northeast because you have to figure out that whole 815 00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:08.559 venue situation and all that that costs money. But if it were me, 816 00:51:08.840 --> 00:51:13.360 if you're trying to get bigger and better and trying to get higher ratings, 817 00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:17.480 I would definitely consider a West Coast presence and a New York presence as far 818 00:51:17.519 --> 00:51:23.519 as I'm concerned to make to make this league have a higher ceiling, you'll 819 00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:27.559 have more viewers. You know, the highest rated non NFL games the New 820 00:51:27.639 --> 00:51:30.519 York Guardians game. By the way, that's the highest rated. I just 821 00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:32.400 got to say it. So on Fox Sunday afternoon. It wasn't the opening 822 00:51:32.440 --> 00:51:37.000 game of the of the season like it actually had higher ratings than the opener 823 00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:40.559 for the XFL in twenty twenty so and that was that was on Fox on 824 00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:45.760 a Sunday afternoon, So that market helps. You know, that's one of 825 00:51:45.760 --> 00:51:49.480 the biggest markets. So right now, you know, the XFL, the 826 00:51:49.599 --> 00:51:53.400 XFL, the USFL, the UFL, they don't have a lot of big 827 00:51:53.440 --> 00:51:55.920 TV markets. As far as far as it's going, they need to have 828 00:51:55.920 --> 00:52:00.679 a little wider reach. So if they ever get to the expansion or relocation 829 00:52:00.840 --> 00:52:04.920 business, I think they need to consider, uh, not only hitting areas 830 00:52:04.960 --> 00:52:08.320 that that are watching these games, the regional markets that tell you which areas 831 00:52:08.360 --> 00:52:12.199 have an interest that have been an appetite for this. If you do the 832 00:52:12.320 --> 00:52:15.199 data from the AAF until now, you'll see there's a trend. There are 833 00:52:15.239 --> 00:52:19.840 certain markets that always watch even when they don't have teams. That should tell 834 00:52:19.880 --> 00:52:23.719 you something. Use that info. And so if we're gonna relocate, we 835 00:52:23.800 --> 00:52:27.000 got to have a West Coast presence, I think. And I and a 836 00:52:27.000 --> 00:52:29.440 whole lot of people are against it. There's like a New York bias or 837 00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:32.800 whatever. But like you, I think it's important whatever you do. General's 838 00:52:32.880 --> 00:52:37.800 guardians, whoever it is. I think eventually if this league, I will 839 00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:40.280 know this league has made it when they have a New York or New Jersey 840 00:52:40.320 --> 00:52:44.800 team, and you know that's my opinion. I will know if they get 841 00:52:44.800 --> 00:52:47.239 to that point where they actually have a team there. It's just gonna help 842 00:52:47.239 --> 00:52:51.159 the over It helps you over a league too, to have a New York 843 00:52:51.199 --> 00:52:53.719 team in the in the in the league itself, because you need somebody to 844 00:52:53.719 --> 00:52:59.519 hate that you want to be so it really it's really like a big factor 845 00:52:59.559 --> 00:53:02.679 for these as far as ratings and attention goes and driving interests. So anyhow, 846 00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:07.400 we'll see if they can get to that. It just and I know 847 00:53:07.440 --> 00:53:09.519 we've talked about this, and I think Greg Parks is going to write the 848 00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:13.719 article as well for ufl board. But like, you know, the markets 849 00:53:13.719 --> 00:53:15.800 that they have right now make no sense at all. You know, if 850 00:53:15.800 --> 00:53:17.440 you asked, you know, one hundred people on the street, like you 851 00:53:17.559 --> 00:53:21.599 know what eight markets do you think that you know, this new football league 852 00:53:21.639 --> 00:53:22.920 said, well there's going to be three in Texas and they're gonna have Michigan. 853 00:53:22.960 --> 00:53:27.159 They're gonna like it just doesn't And I know that how we've gotten to 854 00:53:27.199 --> 00:53:29.360 this point, but yeah, there needs to be at some point there needs 855 00:53:29.360 --> 00:53:31.880 to not just be like well, like you know, we have the protectives 856 00:53:31.920 --> 00:53:35.679 at least and you know for birminghammer or whatever. Like. At some point 857 00:53:35.719 --> 00:53:38.320 there needs to be some thought process versus just like well it's cheaper to play 858 00:53:38.360 --> 00:53:40.480 there and then it is to play somewhere else. I mean, the three 859 00:53:40.559 --> 00:53:43.519 you know, the three Houston teams, and I know there are the three 860 00:53:43.519 --> 00:53:45.760 Texas teams. I know we've gone about that. But you know, they 861 00:53:45.840 --> 00:53:49.800 just it makes no logical sense. Why these are the eight markets and you're 862 00:53:49.800 --> 00:53:52.599 cutting out you know, two thirds of the country. Yeah, and it's 863 00:53:52.599 --> 00:53:54.920 like a crapshoots sometimes with these things, because you like a lot of people 864 00:53:55.000 --> 00:54:00.039 who are like casual UFL fans will say why are they in these NFL markets? 865 00:54:00.079 --> 00:54:04.039 And they got a point, right for sure. But you would hope 866 00:54:04.039 --> 00:54:07.440 with the UFL that Birmingham and San Antonio, which are non NFL markets, 867 00:54:07.480 --> 00:54:10.239 would actually do better than they have. So sometimes there is an argument for 868 00:54:10.719 --> 00:54:15.079 you got like the NFL city, you know, let's go to all non 869 00:54:15.239 --> 00:54:17.840 NFL cities. But sometimes some of the non NFL cities don't hit the way 870 00:54:17.880 --> 00:54:22.639 you think they will. You know the reason, sorry, because there's a 871 00:54:22.639 --> 00:54:25.800 reason the NFL teams aren't there. Like some of the time, like there's 872 00:54:25.800 --> 00:54:30.320 a reason why they don't. It's tough, you know, Like and in 873 00:54:30.440 --> 00:54:34.599 Saint Louis has been great, awesome, they deserve that. There's an awesome 874 00:54:34.800 --> 00:54:38.039 sports city, right And because the NFL spurred them, spurn them and you 875 00:54:38.159 --> 00:54:42.320 treated them the way they did, that's giving them ammunition to embrace this league 876 00:54:42.360 --> 00:54:44.960 even more. Battle Hawks just as it turns out, it's kind of a 877 00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:46.920 fun brand and all that, the whole good car they've embraced it. It's 878 00:54:46.960 --> 00:54:51.119 kind it's cool, right, Anthony Beck is awesome all that. There's a 879 00:54:51.159 --> 00:54:54.159 lot of things to love about the Battlehawk's brand and who's behind it all that, 880 00:54:54.679 --> 00:55:00.119 But it's not a guarantee that if you just choose Orlando wasn't not and 881 00:55:00.199 --> 00:55:01.400 out of the park last year with the Guardians. I know that team was 882 00:55:01.440 --> 00:55:07.039 awful. San Antonio hasn't been a killer. They should be doing better. 883 00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:09.679 I love san Antonio personally. I think I thought it was a very cool 884 00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:14.320 choice when the XFL said they were going to go there. It just hasn't. 885 00:55:14.440 --> 00:55:17.000 It hasn't been a disaster, but you know, it hasn't lived up 886 00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:21.079 to obviously what we got in the AAF, and a lot of people expect 887 00:55:21.079 --> 00:55:24.079 it, Like people talk about san Antonio legitimately as a potential NFL. But 888 00:55:24.119 --> 00:55:27.800 I'll tell you what, when you see the attendance for the Brahmas, you 889 00:55:27.840 --> 00:55:30.159 wonder, you know, I know the NFL brand is like so untouchable right 890 00:55:30.199 --> 00:55:35.559 now that if you put it anywhere it's gonna do okay. But but I 891 00:55:35.880 --> 00:55:39.119 do think that they need to start doing market research on what markets are actually 892 00:55:39.199 --> 00:55:45.159 interested in their league and like, and then I'm not saying they should almost 893 00:55:45.159 --> 00:55:49.960 suddenly go to New Mexico and Tulsa and and all that. But hey, 894 00:55:50.199 --> 00:55:54.360 like Columbus, Ohio. You know that's a great football a football state. 895 00:55:54.800 --> 00:56:00.159 So you know they have a nice stadium option there at Columbus Worth looking into 896 00:56:01.480 --> 00:56:05.199 last question here will get you out. I appreciate you taking the time here 897 00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:07.400 during the day. What is it speaking of the promise here? A quarterback 898 00:56:07.440 --> 00:56:09.920 situation? What's going on with this? And then we have the signing. 899 00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:15.760 I was traveling yesterday and I don't even really know all about this gentleman and 900 00:56:15.760 --> 00:56:17.320 everything, but what's going on with that? And I think Tom Flacco got 901 00:56:17.360 --> 00:56:21.440 waved right out saw the transactions. Just kind of catch up on that. 902 00:56:21.960 --> 00:56:25.119 Yeah, so I it's out there now. So last week I was told 903 00:56:25.159 --> 00:56:30.880 that the Brahmas were interested in signing Jaden de Laura. Right, He's has 904 00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:37.440 off field issues, a pretty serious one involving rape. So it's a delicate 905 00:56:37.920 --> 00:56:44.960 situation here, not a great from a pr aspect, him and a teammates 906 00:56:44.960 --> 00:56:50.840 sposy or a high school friend or whatever. Coerced to forced a teenager to 907 00:56:50.880 --> 00:56:53.079 have sex with them, and so that was found out by Texas State and 908 00:56:53.119 --> 00:56:57.840 then he was you know, kicked off the team. Very talented player. 909 00:56:57.880 --> 00:57:00.079 I could see why Mark lily Bridge and know he has experience in the run 910 00:57:00.119 --> 00:57:02.599 and shoot, he has success there in Arizona, so I could see why 911 00:57:02.599 --> 00:57:06.639 they'd be interested in him. But I was told last week, you know, 912 00:57:06.800 --> 00:57:09.159 to not talk about it yet because they're still working on it. So 913 00:57:09.480 --> 00:57:13.920 it's out now. So I guess the team will release that information on Thursday, 914 00:57:13.920 --> 00:57:16.920 will officially announce the signing. It could be a dicey situation. Talented 915 00:57:16.920 --> 00:57:22.199 player DeLaura would come in right now, would be quarterback three would be inactive 916 00:57:22.760 --> 00:57:24.960 with Hey, we're halfway through the season, so there's a question of whether 917 00:57:25.039 --> 00:57:29.519 or not he'll get on the field and even play right you would assume, 918 00:57:29.840 --> 00:57:35.559 I mean, Dormody, Uh wasn't Dormandy wasn't that great last week. But 919 00:57:35.559 --> 00:57:37.039 but uh, you know, you know, you know, maybe down the 920 00:57:37.079 --> 00:57:39.519 road they might make a change, but I think it might would take time 921 00:57:39.559 --> 00:57:43.519 for de Laura to step in and be the starter there. And we're getting 922 00:57:43.519 --> 00:57:47.159 towards the end of the season, so it's a it's an interesting signing from 923 00:57:47.159 --> 00:57:52.199 a talent perspective. I totally see it. From a pr aspect, this 924 00:57:52.239 --> 00:57:55.920 isn't like a Chad Kelly situation. You know, Chad Kelly's being accused of 925 00:57:57.000 --> 00:58:00.159 like basically harassing an employee there in Toronto, but he's not you know, 926 00:58:01.039 --> 00:58:05.400 look, I'm not trying it. Yeah, but there's yeah, there's a 927 00:58:05.400 --> 00:58:07.559 different level, you know. So yeah, so I hear you so like 928 00:58:07.639 --> 00:58:13.400 so this is kind of a different situation altogether. So so it's a tough 929 00:58:13.440 --> 00:58:15.760 one there. I see why they would be interested in talent wise, if 930 00:58:15.760 --> 00:58:20.480 the league had more attention nationally, there would be a lot of people that 931 00:58:20.519 --> 00:58:24.480 would be very upset that they're entertaining signing someone like this. Well no, 932 00:58:24.639 --> 00:58:27.639 I mean it's the pros and cons of that. Yeah, it's just weird 933 00:58:27.679 --> 00:58:30.719 to think they have any pr to you know, if he's even gonna hit 934 00:58:30.719 --> 00:58:32.920 the field or not. So just kind of odd that way. But Mike, 935 00:58:34.039 --> 00:58:37.679 I appreciate it here almost now we're here and they're busy and dealing with 936 00:58:37.719 --> 00:58:40.000 the family things and everything else. I really appreciate it. Like I said, 937 00:58:40.239 --> 00:58:44.960 I like it. Subscribe give us over the thirty five hundred. I 938 00:58:45.000 --> 00:58:46.800 was trying to get Tim kaeper on this week to talk arena football. It's 939 00:58:46.800 --> 00:58:50.280 his birthday as we record this, So happy birthday, Tim, if you've 940 00:58:50.280 --> 00:58:52.840 made it this far. But maybe we'll get Tim on next week because I 941 00:58:52.880 --> 00:58:54.000 want to do a little bit of that. I don't end up full on 942 00:58:54.199 --> 00:58:58.239 real league football, but Arena Football League. But you know, there's a 943 00:58:58.280 --> 00:59:00.960 lot going on there. And then obviously with the CFL stuff, might get 944 00:59:00.960 --> 00:59:02.920 anything else from me before we get out. No, there's some great things 945 00:59:02.920 --> 00:59:07.360 going on in indoor football. I'm so wrapped up in pro football obviously, 946 00:59:07.440 --> 00:59:09.199 but you know, you got t J. Edwards, the Fighters, all 947 00:59:09.199 --> 00:59:13.639 these all these cool teams out there in the IFL, and it's a shame 948 00:59:13.679 --> 00:59:15.400 with the AFL. I was a fan of the Arena Football League during the 949 00:59:15.599 --> 00:59:21.639 like NBC kind of resurgence, that kind of era, and so it's unfortunate 950 00:59:21.719 --> 00:59:24.239 to to see how things have gone there. You want as many of these 951 00:59:24.280 --> 00:59:27.840 leagues, even if it's indoor, which is not my bag of tea, 952 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:30.960 but you want as many these leagues exist and thrive and do well. And 953 00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:35.440 so it's kind of the story by the way, you know, like it's 954 00:59:35.440 --> 00:59:38.880 a you know, uh, I would hope that people out there would subscribe. 955 00:59:38.920 --> 00:59:42.880 You need what fifty subscribers right now reading exactly. I mean, it's 956 00:59:42.960 --> 00:59:46.239 like like one of the BattleHawks the Okay, I know, I know there's 957 00:59:46.320 --> 00:59:50.679 like a lot of negativity and sometimes, like I know, it's easier to 958 00:59:50.719 --> 00:59:54.360 get likes and fan service and subscribers if you preach to the choir, if 959 00:59:54.400 --> 00:59:58.519 you play fan service. So sometimes Reid has some guests here that are pretty 960 00:59:58.519 --> 01:00:00.440 harsh, you know, and then like have some pretty strong opinions and be 961 01:00:00.559 --> 01:00:04.679 negative. You know, a lot of these people that come on here, 962 01:00:04.679 --> 01:00:07.119 I don't know who's agree with their opinions. Like last week's show, I 963 01:00:07.119 --> 01:00:09.639 won't get in all that, but you know, it's this stuff. These 964 01:00:09.679 --> 01:00:13.719 are people that actually passionate and care about the leading and want to see it 965 01:00:13.760 --> 01:00:17.960 succeed. So I think like that. Hopefully that doesn't turn people off. 966 01:00:19.119 --> 01:00:22.199 I hate to be dooming gloom with these leagues because I'm such a huge fan 967 01:00:22.239 --> 01:00:25.159 of them. So so anyway, thank you very much for having me on. 968 01:00:25.199 --> 01:00:29.360 I appreciate it. Awesome, Mike. We'll see everyone next week. 969 01:00:29.400 --> 01:00:30.800 Like I said, stay tuned, should be another good one and then we'll 970 01:00:30.800 --> 01:00:39.079 see you guys next time. Begs