UFL, AAFL postpone 2008 kickoffs

ESPN has broke the news that the All-American Football League (AAFL) will postpone its inaugural season at least a year if it cannot secure additional financing.

UFLAcces.com is also reporting that the UFL will postpone its kickoff to 2009.

With this recent news, it would appear that the chances of either league succeeding (or even making it to kickoff) is slim in none. However, a deeper look is needed into why these decisions were made.

According to the ESPN article, the AAFL is in desperate need of more money. In fact, their website has a desperate plea for someone to step forward and save the season. If no one steps forward, it is doubtful the league will ever get off the ground. AAFL executives are also looking for funding from a potential TV deal.

The UFL on the other hand, appears to be delaying the season for better reasons. The league already has six teams and ownership groups in place. They could have kicked off this season, but decided to wait for several reasons. First, they would like to start the league with at least eight teams. Second, they still need to secure a TV deal.

The UFL also made its presence known at the recent NFL combine. The extra year will give the league time to build stronger relationships with agents, which in turn will increase their chances of poaching mid-level talent from the NFL.

With the moderate success of the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League, the alternative-league market may be too crowded for two more football leagues. The AAFL folding may be best for the long-term chances of the UFL.