18
Because seven games were not played, NFL teams lost about
$250 million in revenues from radio and television, and from
sales of tickets, programs, concessions and parking. For the
1982 season, the Bengals lost $5.3 million in shared television
revenues and about $1.8 million in ticket sales. The Bengals had
an operating loss of about $1 million and a total loss of about
$2.8 million for its fiscal year 1983 (ending February 28, 1983).
5. The United States Football League
Formation of the United States Football League (USFL) was
announced in 1982. The USFL planned to play its games in the
spring, not in direct competition with the NFL. However, it
intended to compete with the NFL for the admissions and radio
revenues in areas where both leagues had teams.
The USFL secured a national TV contract in May 1982 for its
spring 1983 season. The USFL formed teams in Birmingham,
Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New Orleans,
Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. In
the spring of 1983, the USFL announced plans to expand to
Houston, Jacksonville, Memphis, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, and San
Antonio for the 1984 season.
The USFL sought immediately to sign the best college and
professional football players available. The USFL's efforts to
sign NFL and college players became a concern for the Bengals
during the 1982 season. In November 1982, quarterback Jack
Thompson, the Bengals' number one draft choice in 1979, refused
Page: Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NextLast modified: May 25, 2011