This is gonna be a long post, but I refuse the idea that we can't have a professional (or more likely a semi professional) women's and men's volleyball leagues that run for 3-4 months every year.
I refuse that idea because, as of today, we have the following leagues or planned leagues:
MLS - Was laughed at and people said it wouldn't make it. Some are still laughing, but the league is successful. Minimum salary is now 60K and
19 players make over 1 mil. All teams in the league are worth > $100 million and the average attendance is > 21K. It is now expanding rapidly and will probably be a real major league in the next 20 years (as in up there with the NHL and other major european soccer leagues).
PRO/
NRFL - Professional Rugby Organization/National Rugby Football League. One or both to be launched spring 2016. The former is more pragmatic, smaller venues, and salaries ranging from 25-40K. Teams in Den, Phi, Sac, SF, NY have been announced with one more to be expected. It's also sanctioned by USA Rugby. The latter has been more troubled without being sanctioned by USA Rugby.
PFL/
MLF - Professional Futsal League/Major League Futsal. Former has already had exhibition games (broadcast on watchespn). NBA managers and leadership investors. Exhibition season in 2016 and first season in 2017. The latter is planning on starting its initial season next March, with an exhibition season in February.
MLL/
NLL - Major League Lacrosse/National League Lacrosse. Former is outdoor lacrosse, has salaries of 10-25K, and has been around since 2001. Latter is indoor lacrosse, averages 9-10K attendance, and has been around since 1987.
MASL - Major Arena Soccer League. Basically foosball arena soccer. 20 teams and has been active since 2008. Average attendance >2K for the last season
AFL - Arena Football League. I'm sure everyone knows about this league, about 8K on average. In business since 1987 with a break in 2010/11. 8K average attendance.
NWSL - Third time seems to be the charm for women's soccer. Attendance of > 5K in 2015 and has expanded twice. Salary ranges from 6850 to 37.8K. TV deals with ESPN and FS1.
WNBA - Most like to laugh at the WNBA and often mention the, mostly true, statement that the league would have died if not for the NBA. The league today is different though, $12M/year broadcast deal, half of the teams are profitable, the league overall is profitable (
and it could actually afford to pay its players way more money). The WNBA, like every other league, wants you and their players to think they are struggling financially so they can suck more money out of you and the city in taxes. The WNBA is doing just fine according to all evidence.
PFP - Professional Fast Pitch. Softball league, pay is paltry at 4-6K per season on average. League started with 4 teams, but has expanded in the past two seasons (Dallas and Houston). Has been in business since 2004
NWHL - National Women Hockey League. First season just started and pay is between 10-25K. They already have broadcast partnership with NESN and have had talks with the more established, but not paid, CWHL and with the big daddy, the NHL. The big thing here is that this league was launched by a 27 year old ex hockey player.
There are also small sports that have some professional tournament/events/leagues such as wrestling (AGON WC/Global WC/FPL), swimming (Arena Pro Swim), bowling (PBA), beach volleyball (APV, NVL), and badminton (WPBL). Table Tennis is also planning on starting one, according to Larry Hodges and Gordon Kaye.
Plus there are countless minor baseball leagues, hockey leagues, basketball (NBDL), and soccer (NASL, USL). All of the above are pro/semi pro leagues with salaries.
A lot of the leagues above have live streaming matches on youtube or some other streaming channel.
USA PVL is a tournament style championship with a 10K purse. It's a good idea, but IMO it serves a better purpose as a feeder league. I believe the PVL is what Doug Beal was referring to when
he said, "Our plan is to develop our league slowly over the coming years. We’ll start by some special events, small tournaments throughout the country to grow interest. In 2013 we’ll have more women’s teams and the men’s division will start. By 2016 I believe we’ll be ready to start a league as you see in Italy, Russia, Brazil or Poland. I’m not saying we’ll begin at the same level, but maybe the format, the presence of pro players".
We have never heard anything about moving to that kind of model though.
I fail to believe how having a 4-8 team league on a 3-4 month schedule playing Sept - Dec for men and Feb-Jun for women is not feasible. Salaries should be modest too, 5K to 25K per season for the first few years. Smaller venues so that you pay cheaper rent on the arena. Volunteer staff whenever possible. Sponsors on the court and jerseys. Ticket prices of $10-25. Sponsorships and partnerships for bus charter companies, airlines, and hotels.
Realistically speaking, this league wouldn't make anyone a millionaire or multimillionaire. Not initially and not for a few years. In its initial years, the league would not be able to get and compete with the salaries demanded by the best players in the world. It would provide a groundwork though where we could grow and provide a professional venue for our men and women to continue playing volleyball right here in the US.
Unfortunately I do not have the wherewithal or the know how to get something like this off the ground. I would definitely be willing to work with someone who does.
Sorry for the long rant.
TLDR:
A men and women's volleyball league is feasible in the USA, as long as we are realistic about its short, mid, and long term goals.