(Reuters) – The XFL and USFL said on Thursday that the two troubled American grid iron leagues plan to merge and begin play next year.
The XFL is owned by movie star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson while the USFL is under the ownership of Fox Corp.
In a joint statement the XFL and USFL said the merger will be subject to customary regulatory approvals.
“If the transaction is consummated, the new league will establish best-in-class operations based on the most recent seasons of both leagues,” said the statement.
“This historic combination will anchor professional spring football with substantial capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and continue to enhance the development of the collective players, coaches, and staff that are coming together.”
While the National Football League dominates the U.S. sport scene, attempts to tap into America’s love for grid iron have failed despite the backing of major television networks.
Fox and NBC broadcast USFL games while the XFL has a deal with Disney.
Neither the XFL or USFL or a new league pose a threat to NFL dominance with the merged entity continuing to play a Spring schedule.
The original XFL, which was owned by longtime WWE chairman Vince McMahon, lasted only one season in 2001 then folded.
McMahon relaunched the league in 2020 but never finished the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former wrestler Johnson teamed up with ex-wife and investment company RedBird Capital Partners to buy the XFL for $15 million in 2020, hours before the bankrupt league was set to be auctioned.
The USFL has had an equally turbulent past.
The league first operated for three seasons from 1983 to 1985 before folding and relaunched in 2022.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto)
