There are a lot of so called Smaller markets I bet would love the have a second tier pro team. And who says it has to be in a different part of the year? AAA baseball plays at same time as the big leagues. I hear a lot of excuses, but none good.
The one good reason-—there are already “semi pro” football leagues all over the place. There is the NEFL which has/had about eight teams from around New England. Its made up of older former high school and college players. They run from 19 to 35 years old.
They go to the games. Their wives and girlfriends go. And thats about it.
Pretty good football. But not exactly enough to fund much of a crowd.