UFL Teams With Casa Grande, Arizona, To Build Training Complex
The United Football League (UFL), which is scheduled to launch with six teams in fall of '09, has partnered with the city of Casa Grande, Arizona, to build a training complex on property adjacent to the Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort. The $20M athletic facility will encompass eight playing fields, four field houses, a sports training and rehabilitation center, locker rooms, office space and other amenities for UFL's use. The UFL will train three of its teams together in Casa Grande while the other three teams will train in a similar environment in a location still to be finalized. Meanwhile, the UFL has partnered with Landor Associates, a strategic brand and design consultancy, on a new logo. The league also has launch a new Web site at www.ufl-football.com. In January, the UFL will announce cities, owners and stadiums. Some cities that are in final negotiations and/or are being discussed by the UFL to house a franchise include Hartford, Las Vegas, L.A., Monterrey, Mexico, N.Y., Orlando, Salt Lake City and S.F. The UFL also is in negotiations with a national sports cable network for a weekly national primetime game (UFL).
SEARCH PARTY: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Daniel Kaplan reports the nation's "economic turmoil has slowed the nascent" UFL's search for owners to buy its six teams. The UFL, "which was hoping to have already unveiled its owners, now expects to do so by early next year, just months before the planned inaugural season." Owners "must commit to invest" between $30-60M in their franchises. UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue said, "I'd like to have them now. I feel good about four of the groups." Kaplan notes if the UFL "does not have six owners by early 2009, the startup may own one or more of the teams." UFL COO Frank Vuono indicated that in a "worst-case scenario where only a handful of committed owners are on board, the first season could consist of exhibitions" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/1 issue).
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