The Alliance of American Football is placing its Phoenix franchise at Sun Devil Stadium. The Tempe facility is going through $307M in renovations, and Arizona State is making a big push to bring in more events, which could include soccer games and serving as a temporary home to Phoenix Rising FC if the USL team moves up to MLS. The AAF franchise also named CBS college football analyst Rick Neuheisel coach. He said of his broadcasting duties, "I'm going to be able to continue to do that. That makes me extra happy." The AAF launches next year and has already announced teams in Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Orlando and Memphis (Mike Sunnucks, Staff Writer). AAF CEO Charlie Ebersol said, "From the very beginning of the conversation about this league, starting two years ago, (Neuheisel) made it his life’s mission to bring a team to Arizona and the Phoenix-Tempe area." ASU VP/Athletics Ray Anderson said that games will be "played mainly on Saturdays, with some Sundays." In Phoenix, Katherine Fitzgerald noted the AAF is "looking to avoid weekday games, both for player safety and out of convenience for fans." The Phoenix franchise will be looking to "capitalize on sports fans who are in the area" for Spring Training (AZCENTRAL.com, 5/18). Meanwhile, Ebersol said the AAF "would be open to players who take social stances." Ebersol: "The way we’re structuring our relationship with players, that alliance that I talk about, starts with the idea that we’re gonna listen. We hope they’re gonna listen. And we’re gonna play together” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/19).
REASONS TO BELIEVE: In Phoenix, Greg Moore wrote, "Don’t sleep on the Alliance of American Football. This can work." The league "has an opportunity to give more action to football -- and gambling -- fanatics." The AAF has the "opportunity to exploit a smart, tech-focused business model," as well as to "get some things right where the NFL and NCAA have struggled." Meanwhile, Ebersol said the league wants the "best available players." Ebersol: "You show up, and you can play, and you want to play in our league, then we want to talk to you.” Moore noted Ebersol and Neuheisel "say the talent is there to support the new league." They also believe that NCAA and NFL football have "become so fundamentally different that quarterbacks and other players often need a developmental bridge." The AAF "wants to be that bridge" (AZCENTRAL.com, 5/19). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith wrote as the AAF "makes concrete plans that show it has real backing, it raises questions about whether the XFL will be too far behind to catch up." The AAF's one-year head start is a "massive advantage over the XFL." Although the XFL "still has much greater name recognition" than the AAF, that "can get the XFL only so far" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 5/19).
ANOTHER CITY CONSIDERED: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic cites a source as saying that the city is "'on track' to get one of eight clubs" in the AAF. The "preferred venue in San Diego would be the Mission Valley stadium where the Chargers played" from '67-'16 (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 5/21).
