Vegas Favorites: City Likely To Land Franchise In Start-Up UFL

The United Football League (UFL) “is close to formally announcing Las Vegas as one of its eight start-up franchises,” according to Mark Anderson of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. While the complete lineup of franchise locations is scheduled to be announced in early January, UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue said Monday that “it would be an upset if Las Vegas isn’t among the eight.” Sam Boyd Stadium Dir Daren Libonati said that an agreement “is close on a two-year deal with options.” The league, which will play games on Friday nights and “includes Mark Cuban as its signature owner, … plans to begin its season in August and play its championship game in Las Vegas." Libonati: “I’ve had a lot of places I’ve worked with, and I really like the direction of the UFL and its goals. [Huyghue] is first class to work with, and he has a great vision.” Huyghue and Libonati have said that the league “is talking to three potential ownership groups to run” the Las Vegas team; Libonati said that he “believed Cuban would be the owner of the Los Angeles club” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/18).