New York: Retired tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, have officially submitted a bid to become investors in the NFL’s upcoming professional flag football leagues for both men and women, according to a report by Front Office Sports.
A league spokesperson confirmed that the couple’s bid is among those received in response to the NFL’s request for proposals. The move follows Williams’ recent appearance at the NFL owners’ meetings, where she participated in a panel discussion on the growth of women’s sports.
The NFL is planning to back the venture but intends to partner with outside operators to run the leagues, Front Office Sports reported. The league is also looking to sell media rights for the new competition once it becomes operational.
According to Sports Business Journal, ten companies have already approached the NFL expressing interest in investing in the project.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the growing enthusiasm for the initiative, stating:
“It’s clear that there’s a lot of interest in a pro flag league. We’ve been getting bids from people who want to invest financially or contribute to the league’s operations. We’re working hard on this, and I expect progress soon.”
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The deadline for bid submissions is set for this week. However, no official timeline has been established for the league’s launch or the selection of franchise locations, SBJ noted.
