Even though the USFL and XFL were quite successful last season, their merger did not produce the results that some had anticipated this season.
It appears that one UFL official knows why. Former Super Bowl champion and UFL president Darryl “Moose” Johnston appears to attribute the league’s lower attendance figures this year to WNBA player Caitlin Clark and other issues.
According to Johnston, “I think we were all probably a little bit disappointed, especially in the attendance.” “I think one of the problems is that the TV numbers are amazing. Since the merger came together later than expected, I believe we were protected by TV.
We had some difficulty this year getting people to the games, and I think we should take some of the blame because we were late with the merger, the schedule, and other things that happened,” Johnston continued.
When it comes to spring sports, we’re in a very competitive environment. With the growth of soccer in this country and the rise of Caitlin Clark as a phenomenon, there are a lot of different things out there vying for viewers’ attention. So while ratings were good, attendance is the one we need to figure out,” he said.
They might have suffered from not being in some of the biggest markets in the nation. Many UFL clubs are based in mid-sized cities, including Birmingham, San Antonio, and St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the WNBA has seen a sharp increase in attendance since Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joined the league.