Mets Deny SI.com Report Of Housing UFL Franchise At Citi Field

The Mets "shot down a report by SI.com yesterday that a franchise in the upstart United Football League [UFL] could play at Citi Field next season and be owned by [Mets Owner] Fred Wilpon," according to Bart Hubbuch of the N.Y. POST. Mets Exec VP/Business Operations David Howard said, "We took a meeting with them, but that's not going to happen" (N.Y. POST, 8/13).

HARTFORD: In Hartford, Paul Doyle reports Massachusetts-based Northland Investment Corp. (NIC) is "attempting to acquire a [UFL] franchise." The UFL is scheduled to begin play in '09 and UFL spokesperson Rachel Gary yesterday said that "franchise locations could be announced in the next few weeks." NIC spokesperson Chuck Coursey "confirmed the company is negotiating with the UFL, but a Northland statement said stakeholders involved in Rentschler Field have not been included in the discussions with the UFL because of the 'confidential nature of the negotiations'" (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/13).