UHL Co-Owner Margenau Awarded af2 Team In Uncasville, CT

The AFL has awarded UHL New Haven Knights co-Owner and United Sports Ventures President Dr. Eric Margenau a new af2 franchise in Uncasville, CT. The team will begin play in the Mohegan Sun Arena in April '02 and will be owned and operated solely by Margenau. Mohegan Sun owns and operates a casino (AFL). In CT, Mike DiMauro wrote the team "was trumpeted as a signature piece" of the Mohegan Sun's $1B expansion. Margenau said that the team will be named with input from the eastern CT communities. The arena "is expected to seat about" 7,500 for the af2 team. Last year, the prices for tickets leaguewide averaged $11.75. Margenau and af2 Exec Dir Mary Ellen Garling said that "Mohegan Sun" will "not appear in the team's name so as to avoid the perception of a connection between the league and gambling." Margenau: "Because of a potential relationship with the NFL ... there's not going to be a specific relationship with a gaming destination" (New London DAY, 7/20). Margenau will operate the team from the Knights' offices until football offices are built at the Mohegan Sun (New London DAY, 7/20).