The Alliance of American Football (AAF) recently announced that they have suspended operations permanently. Among other reasons, this is partly due to the fact that the AAF failed to come to an agreement will the NFL Players Association, which would have allowed the AAF to use NFLPA practice squads and young players. Without agreement, it was feared the AAF could never become a proper developmental league. The AAF was short lived and is no more, but even amidst its fall, we see new beginnings on the horizon.
The XFL, run by Vince McMahon of WWE fame, will resume after having a brief stint as a league in the early 2000s. The XFL will begin in 2020, with many former NFL and former college players planning to participate. The XFL will take the AAF's place as an off-NFL-season professional football league. Currently, eight teams are signed up to begin play in February of 2020. Orlando's closest XFL team will be Tampa Bay.
Indoor, or arena football is coming back, as well. The Arena Football League (AFL) is back up to six teams, after having contracted to only four in the previous year, and will begin its 2019 season late this month. The Orlando Predators are back after a year away from arena football. They have joined the National Arena League, a newer arena league, which also has six teams currently, and is set to begin soon.
It is great to see so many new football leagues coming around, giving players more opportunities to play and fans more opportunities to watch. The future of future is bright, as at least one of these business ventures is bound to find success in this NFL-driven market. We hope you all can catch a game soon, and see what these leagues have to offer.
