UFL Live - United Football League News and Fan Forum

Sasha at the Professional Cheerleader Blog heard on her radio that Los Angeles has been awarded a United Football League. So it looks like Commissioner Huyghue has spread his campaign of slow leaks to the west coast now.

Speaking of Los Angeles, the fight between USC and the Coliseum Commission continues. USC is angling to gain 100% control of the facility, which might freeze out the UFL should it want to play there.

Perhaps there is someone awake in Los Angeles who still wants a football team. Metroblogging LA just posted about the possibility of the United Football League setting up shop there. They’re also soliciting ideas for team names. Go let them know if you have any ideas.

Some interesting news coming from out in Los Angeles, the USC Trojans, which is the closest thing Los Angeles has to a professional football team right now (how much do those college students get paid anyways?), have given up waiting for improvements and/or an NFL team to come to the famous Memorial Coliseum.
 

With USC threatening to move its home games to Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for a long-term deal to keep the Trojans in the Memorial Coliseum, saying for the first time he has given up hope of the National Football League returning to the aging stadium.

Interestingly, the story fails to mention the prospects of a United Football League team playing in Los Angeles. Sure they haven’t played their first snap, but it’s obvious that Los Angeles is at the top of the list for the UFL’s opening season roster. The UFL has stated that they’re looking for stadiums that are more in the 35,000-55,000 seating capacity range, in Los Angeles the choice really comes down to the Coliseum or the Rose Bowl. Any bets as to where the UFL will end up? (Link)

Keeping in mind that nothing official has been announced yet, here is what we know about potential owners of United Football League teams.

• Mark Cuban is the only officially announced owner. But while everybody thinks he’ll end up owning the Las Vegas team, I’m hearing he’ll instead end up with the Los Angeles franchise.
• The Maloof family currently owns two professional basketball teams in Sacramento, CA (Kings and Monarchs). They also own the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. It’s likely that they’ll end up owning the Las Vegas franchise.
• The UFL team in Sacramento looks like it will be owned by league founder Bill Hambrecht. Teams in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas will give the league a strong west coast anchor to start.
• Islander’s owner Charles Wang is in line for the New York/Hoftsra location. With the Jets moving to a new stadium, Long Island is ripe for the picking and I don’t expect the UFL to pass that opportunity up.
• FEDEX founder Donald Smith has been mentioned as the owner of the Memphis, TN franchise.
• Charles Butts is a strong possibility for a San Antonio team. He’s the founder of HEB, a San Antonio based grocery chain. This is definitely an area of Texas that deserves a team.

That’s six teams. With one foreign team (Mexico City or London), that leaves a few cities fighting for the 8th and final team of the inaugural year. The two cities I hear that are on the top of the list are Raleigh and Orlando. If the foreign location doesn’t pan out both cities may get in.

If your city isn’t mentioned. Don’t give up. It may be that whatever city comes up with ownership and a fan base first wins the team. So it’s time to get serious.

Previously discussed here.