Pick A (it was not a success) or B (it was not a failure). You can't have it both ways. I was around for the USFL. I attended USFL games because I got free tickets. Spring football was a gimmick, and I didn't miss it when it died. The USFL played 3 seasons in the spring/summer before giving up on that time of the year and planning a 4th season at the traditional football time in the fall. I read all about it when it actually happened, and different people gave different accounts. They still are because different people have different perspectives and everyone is pushing their version. It really doesn't matter to me why the USFL ceased to be a viable business and folded its tent. The fact that it went out of business means that it was not a success but a failure. If TV wanted to put big money behind spring football all along, they've had nearly 30 years to use that money to lure someone to come up with some form of spring football to replace the USFL. Spring football is not a hot commodity.