2024 USFL Season

The 2024 USFL Season is the planned third season of the rebooted United States Football League. The regular season will start in April 2024 and is expected to end in June 2024. The postseason is expected to begin in June 2024 and end with the 2024 USFL Championship Game in July 2024. The league is expected to expand the locations their teams play from four total stadiums.

## Background

On June 28th 2023, FOX, the owners of the USFL, confirmed that there would be a third season of the USFL in 2024.

The league second season was also marked with the same complaints from the previous season of a lack of fans in the stands in some locations and "neutral site games", while the league announced "it will be maintaining their policy in partnership with their venues of not releasing attendance figures" during the season.

The USFL also planned that all 8 teams will play in their own cities. As the previous two seasons have been in hubs, it was intended that 2024 would be the season where all teams play in their home markets. A further interview will take place regarding that in the future.

On 2nd September, the USFL confirmed that all 8 teams will be playing in their own cities for the 2024 season. The USFL confirmed that FOX and NBC invested into the USFL and gave them enough money with the addition of some of the profit from the first two seasons to buying stadiums. It costed 40% of the USFL's total profit with FOX and NBC investing $12.4 million combined. They first off announced the North Division stadiums at 7pm ET. They announced the Panthers playing at Ford Field (as they did in 2023), the Stars playing at Lincoln Financial Field. The New Jersey Generals playing at the New York Red Bull Arena and Pittsburgh Maulers playing at Acrisure Stadium. At 9pm ET, they confirmed the South Division stadiums. The Stallions playing at Protective Stadium (as they did in 2022, 2023), New Orleans Breakers playing at Yulman Stadium, Houston Gamblers playing at NRG Stadium and Memphis Showboats playing at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (as they did in 2023).

On the 8th December 2023, USFL confirmed that the 2024 season will begin on March 30th 2024.

### XFL Merger Talks

In September 2023, there was speculation that the USFL and XFL would merge, and on 26th September, both leagues announced their intention to merge. Many thought that they would agree before the 2024 season, but on the 6th October 2023, the XFL confirmed that their 2024 season will go ahead by themselves, so the USFL merger would not take place in 2024.

On the 26th October 2023, there was a leak that 12 teams would take place in the new league, with the list allegedly being DC Defenders, Seattle Dragons, St Louis Battlehawks, Frisco Renegades, San Antonio Tigers, Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers, Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers. However on 4th November 2023, there was another leak that there would only be 10 teams, denying the rumor. It is currently unknown what is happening right now.

On the 6th December 2023, XFL confirmed that the 2024 season will begin on Friday 16th February 2024 with all 8 teams returning, confirming that the XFL and USFL will have their own 2024 seasons. However, on the 8th December 2023, XFL and USFL confirmed that their league champions will play each other a week before the start of 2024 NFL Preseason. Sxm Sports stated: ''It will be a great for both leagues and it will be a great match we believe, it will hopefully bring both leagues closer to each other and our hopeful merging plans in the future can increase after this season.''

## Teams

As of July 2023, the 8 teams will remain the same as the 2023 Season.

## Broadcasting

This will be the final year of the current TV deal with FOX (the league owners) and NBC. However, NBC confirmed they will not broadcast games for 2024 due to increasing conflicts in schedule.

## References

1. ↑ USFL: Season 3 confirmed
2. ↑ 2024 USFL Season: Could this be the season where all teams finally play in their own cities
3. ↑ USFL teams to play in their own stadiums for 24 season
4. ↑ USFL finally getting all 8 teams to play in their home stadiums.
5. ↑ XFL-USFL Merger: Details about 12 proposed teams
6. ↑ XFL-USFL Merger latest news busts 12 team proposed league
7. ↑ USFL: 2024 season details to be confirmed as they will run seperately
8. ↑ XFL-USFL Champion Game confirmed by Sxm Sports and FOX Sports for 2024 season
9. ↑ USFL: NBC not to broadcast for 2024 season.