Stephan RachukSports Business Reporter Darren Rovell wrote today on his Twitter account that a lawsuit has been filed against the Alliance of American Football and Charlie Ebersol by Robert Vanech, who alleges it was his idea to come up with league and that he is entitled to 50% ownership, with many of the ideas he had for the league now being credited to others.
In the lawsuit filing, Rovell reported, the original plan for the AAF to resurrect the XFL name themselves and that there were meetings with Vince McMahon and NBC, along with a $50 million offer to buy the XFL property. After the meeting, McMahon instead decided to relaunch the league on his own and is currently on track to do that in 2020.
Ebersol, the son of legendary NBC Sports Executive Dick Ebersol, was the director of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary on the XFL, which ended with McMahon and the elder Ebersol sitting to reminisce about the league over dinner and McMahon teasing the idea of doing something football-related in the future.
JUST IN: Charlie Ebersol and the new football league, the AAF, have been sued by Robert Vanech, who said it was his idea to come up with league and was entitled to 50% ownership.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2019
Vanech says agreement with Ebersol was ignored, seeks $$ and wants his name part of its history.
In lawsuit against AAF and Charlie Ebersol, Robert Vanech -- who believed he had a "handshake agreement with Ebersol" said much of what he founded about the league was later credited to partner Bill Polian.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2019
Exhibit in lawsuit shows that AAF originally planned to use XFL name & purchase assets from WWE & NBC for $50M.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2019
AAF met with Vince McMahon and he decided to start league on his own.
