With the news from ESPN referencing a San Antonio franchise in the United Football League, Ron Bodine takes a look at the San Antonio market that could be joining the league in 2010.
Very few professional football leagues not named the National Football League or Canadian Football League get to see six years old.
No one knows what the odds are for the United Football League getting to that milestone. But it’s fun to speculate about what the UFL could look like by 2015.
The United Football League will expand by two teams. That much, we know. The question remains – which two markets will be joining the UFL? That is why we are keeping track of public statements, gossip, rumors, and trying to read the tea leaves. The “Expansion Horse Race” is our clearinghouse for that information. Refer back to the original Horse Race for the inaugural rankings. (Image left is copyright United Football League)
Why the UFL absolutely needs San Antonio.
The UFL, which recently completed its first season with four teams, has expressed an interest in expanding, and Jackie Sherrill (the all-time winningest coach for Mississippi State) could be involved with bringing one of those franchises to Mississippi.
Expansion consistently drives interest from United Football League fans because wide sections of the country do not have a team to call their own. It is also, perhaps, the biggest question of the off season. While the UFL will expand by two teams, at least one group seems to have been identified, and some UFL employees were speaking in “specifics” at the Championship Game no teams have been finalized as of yet. Click on the story for the “expansion horse race” as it stands now.
Commissioner Michael Huyghue was clear throughout his address and the following question and answer period that the UFL will be adding two teams for 2010 and that they are in discussions with five potential ownership groups for the two teams. Read the article for the rest of the details!
All indications are that Hartford is officially team number five in the United Football League. Per the Hartford Courant, and other reliable sources, Northland Investment Corp. is the likely ownership group. We also received information last evening that the Hartford team has already identified a likely head coach. Commissioner Huyghue indicated to the press in Connecticut that they are the top priority for the UFL, ahead of Los Angeles, and that we can expect an announcement by the end of the year.