United Football League (2009–12)
The United Football League was an American football league in the United States, which was founded in 2007. The United Football League was founded in 1961, has no connections. It was dissolved in 2012.
History
The UFL was founded with the goal to provide the cities with football, where there is no professional football is offered yet or still potential for other teams is given. While the main competition in the form of the National Football League is usually located in metropolitan areas with over one million inhabitants, the UFL is also represented in smaller cities such as Omaha or Hartford. According to UFL there are about 21 cities in the U.S., where the economic basis, the interest and the TV market situation are given in order to work successfully.
The first season was opened with the game Las Vegas Locomotives against the California Redwoods on 8 October 2009. The average attendance of 9,305 in the first season fell short of expectations. In the second season, among others, the well-known former NFL players Daunte Culpepper could be required, which brought the League a little more attention. The average attendance rose for the regular season to almost 15,000 spectators.
In January 2011 it was announced that the Florida Tuskers franchise will not continue to exist. Players and coaching staff switched to the newly formed team Virginia Destroyers. In August 2011, the resolution of the Hartford Colonials followed. Before start of the season 2011, the UFL missed the target new television rights to complete. In addition, the League lost its existing nationwide television partners, which meant that only a few games were broadcast in the regional program. The UFL was found but continued its efforts to expand the league. Candidate for a new team was, inter alia, Salt Lake City. Mid-October 2011, it was announced that the current season would be shortened and would turn the last two days. The Championship Game was preferred. Champion of the 2011 season were the Virginia Destroyers. Last year, the league, the Las Vegas Locomotives could decide the championship.
Game Mode
The games were held at for professional American football atypical game days. It was played on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and Saturday night. Although there was overlap with high school and college football games, the NFL is, however, went out of the way.
The season started in mid-September and closes at the end of November. There were ten game days, each team four home and four away games fought out and had two play-free days. End of November, met the two best teams in the so-called ' Championship Game ' to each other to determine the champion.
Minor differences
In contrast to the NFL, there were some rule differences. A selection:
- Intentional grounding - The quarterback is allowed to throw away deliberately to avoid the ball to a bag if it would otherwise be thrown back to the line of scrimmage.
- Instant replay - All scenes are viewed by the Replay Official in the repetition and if necessary regulated within 90 seconds.
- Overtime - In contrast to the Sudden Death rule the NFL both teams get the opportunity to play off one attack phase. If both teams do not score points during their phase then applies the Sudden Death rule. Is it after 15 minutes of stoppage time still the same points, the game is a draw.
- Touchdown celebrations - After touchdown, player celebrations permitted only in the end zone, or in the areas of the benches.