UFL Founder Says League Will Return For '12 With Five Teams Despite Financial Losses

UFL founder and Las Vegas Locomotives Owner Bill Hambrecht said Friday that "the UFL will return in 2012," despite the resignation of Commissioner Michael Huyghue and "losses of more than $120 million in its first three years," according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Hambrecht, who also owns the Las Vegas Locomotives, said, "We're moving forward. We fully expect to play." An official announcement “is expected around May 1,” and the league “will conduct a meeting April 16 in Las Vegas to finalize plans for the season.” Hambrecht said that the league “will play primarily on weekday nights beginning in mid-September and is expected to have a national television contract.” The five-team league will consist of Las Vegas, Virginia, Omaha, Sacramento and "an expansion team, most likely in San Antonio, though Southern California and Portland, Ore., have been discussed.” Carp noted the UFL “reportedly has cut a deal for games to be aired on the CBS Sports Network.” Each team “also is trying to sign a regional TV deal with a cable operator in its area.” Hambrecht said that the UFL “will not have a commissioner or a league office.” Hambrecht and Virginia Destroyers Owner Bill Mayer “will oversee the business end, and Locos president and coach Jim Fassel will be responsible for the football side” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/7).