With the past success of the XFL and current success of the USFL, could Cleveland get a second football team?

The XFL and USFL have had success, so could Cleveland be next in their expansion plans?

The XFL’s first and second seasons were relatively good. Despite being 20 years apart. The second XFL season saw ratings of over one million viewers for the bulk of their games. Even though Vince McMahon and the WWE shut them down before the end of the year, that had to do with COVID, and not because they pulled an AAF fly-by-night operation. The USFL is in its first season and is also seeing at least half of its games hit one million views.

With the XFL coming back in 2023 and the USFL looking like a lock for a second season, one has to wonder if Cleveland would get a team of their own in one of these leagues. They’ve never had an XFL or USFL team before, but historically, NFL cities do end up hosting teams.

Over their two seasons, Dallas, Washington DC, New York, Houston, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Chicago have all hosted XFL teams at some point.

The USFL currently has teams representing Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans, and “Michigan”.  Originally they also had teams in DC, Denver, Oakland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, East Rutherford (Giants/Jets), Jacksonville, and Detroit.

East Rutherford and Detroit were referred to as New Jersey and Michigan-based teams for whatever reason, despite both being prevalent for their football ties.

That leaves a few cities, like Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Charlotte, Miami, and a few others who haven’t had two football teams, in two different leagues, at some point in the last 30 years.

Chief among them is Cleveland.

USFL/XFL football in Cleveland, please

Now some will want to say this is an anti-Browns stance, but it’s really not. I really just want a second team in Cleveland. I love this non-NFL brand football. I’ve watched both the XFL and AAF and am watching the USFL currently. Though that’s just it, I’m just watching. I’m not rooting for anyone. Save for ex-Cleveland Browns players.

I would love to have a Cleveland team to root for in one of these leagues. It’s more football for starters, it’s more jobs, it’s more games to cover and go to but mostly, it’s just more fun.

Especially if the league served as a developmental brand for the Browns. That would be so much fun. I love stat-watching the Captains, Rubber Ducks, and Clippers. I’m a big fan of the Cleveland Charge, and college sports is always a hoot when I know my favorite pro teams are targetting either a specific player or specific positions.

I think a spring team in Cleveland is a ready-made fit. If the XFL or USFL want to expand into Cleveland (and the USFL leaves their bubble), then I would be all for a Cleveland squad. Hopefully, it happens, because I think it would be awesome.

Especially if the USFL and XFL ever merge, with each other or the Canadian Football League. That would be huge for the sport.