Can You Smell The Merger The Rock Is Cooking For His Football League

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Pro Football League XFL and USFL are exploring the possibility of a merger. Combining these leagues could offer a promising future amidst the challenges faced by NFL alternatives.

Details of the potential merger reveal it would be structured as a merger of equals and would require regulatory approval, with hopes of finalizing the combination before the 2024 seasons, Axios.com reports. 

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Fox Corp FOX FOXA owns the USFL, while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners own the XFL. 

Game broadcasts for the merged league may be divided between Fox and XFL media partner Walt Disney Co DIS, while the USFL also has a broadcast agreement with NBC. An official announcement regarding the merger is likely by this week.

Historically, non-NFL pro football leagues have struggled to gain traction despite various attempts. 

The original USFL once competed with the NFL for talent and featured future stars like Herschel Walker and Steve Young. 

Other leagues, such as the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019 and NFL Europe, have come and gone over the years. 

Financially, the USFL has been profitable, whereas the XFL reported a $60 million loss during its first season under Dwayne Johnson's ownership.

Viewership for both XFL and USFL games has been modest, with each league averaging over 600,000 viewers per game. The USFL's championship game drew 1.2 million viewers, while the XFL's season finale attracted 1.4 million viewers.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.