Professional football is coming to Salt Lake City. The Alliance of American Football league, led by film producer Charlie Ebersol and and Hall of Famer Bill Polian, is set to kickoff on February 9, 2019.
At the unveiling of @TheAAF Salt Lake City team at RES.
The Alliance league will play during the NFL’s offseason and has also announced franchises in Atlanta, Phoenix, Memphis and Orlando. pic.twitter.com/u1S5XF4bT6
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) May 16, 2018
Alliance Salt Lake is the latest of the five franchises announced so far, joining the ranks of Atlanta, Phoenix, Memphis and Orlando. A remaining three teams will be announced in the coming months.
Just one year removed from his tenure as a Ute, Dennis Erickson was named the head coach of Alliance Salt Lake in a press conference this morning. Erickson was introduced by head of AAF player relations Troy Polamalu, AAF Director of Football Operations JK McKay and UofU VP of Administrative Services John Nixon.
“Well I didn’t stay retired long.”
Dennis Erickson has been named head coach for Salt Lake City’s @AAFLeague new team.
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) May 16, 2018
“We knew from the outset that we had to get the cities right and I think we did,” McKay said. “We also knew we had to get the head coaches right because I think success in an organization like this starts at the top. Our choice was pretty easy.”
Erickson’s list of accomplishments isn’t short. The 2x Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year, 3x Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 3x Big-East Coach of the Year and 2x National Champion hopes to continue his winning ways in Salt Lake City.
“Well, I didn’t stay retired long,” Erickson said. “I’m really excited about being back here in Salt Lake City. It’s a great football community.”
The Alliance of American Football isn’t the first expansion league to test the waters in Salt Lake City, but they insist this one will be different.
“There’s been a lot of leagues that’ve tried to do this,” Erickson said. “The people that are running this league and the way it’s organized – it’s going to be very, very special.”
With a CBS Television deal in place and support from notable NFL veterans, the AAF seems to already have a sturdier foundation than most other leagues that have tried – and failed – at their hand underneath the NFL’s umbrella.
Debuting the week after Super Bowl LIII, the AAF will play a ten week schedule culminating with a championship game on April 26-28.
Fans looking to secure tickets for the inaugural season can purchase season-ticket deposits on AAF.com. Ticket prices and seat locations for Alliance Salt Lake at Rice-Eccless Stadium will be available later this summer.
