Suffice to say… recent days and weeks have seen a huge amount of news and developments for the United Football League. Tickets have gone on sale, merchandise is available, a second television partner joined with VERSUS to broadcast all of the UFL games, three of the four teams have announced their branding identity, and the apparent signings of Koren Robinson, Odell Thurman, and Michael Pittman to the Florida Tuskers.

Perhaps most importantly all four teams now have major lead investors.

Las Vegas’ ownership will be lead by William Hambrecht who had previously funded much of the operations of the league itself. Hambrecht has proven to be a driving force behind the league for some time now. The reality of the situation is that without Bill Hambrecht this league would not exist. His ownership of the Locomotives was a great addition to the owners of the league and it shows his continued dedication to the venture.

But nothing… and I mean nothing… was bigger than the Tampa Bay Rays purchasing the Florida Tuskers.

A Major League Baseball franchise purchasing a team in a new football league provides increased viability and credibility for the UFL. It shows that the league is built to last and that the business plan is solid. “Big Four” (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) teams just don’t purchase teams in upstart leagues which makes this a gigantic story and a huge positive for the league.

The Rays owning the team should also provide a solid foundation for the possible success of the Florida Tuskers. Just read what the team had to say:

Michael Kalt, the Rays senior VP for development and business affairs, said the UFL approached the Rays about six months ago. After doing their due diligence, Kalt said the Rays saw owning the UFL franchise as a tremendous opportunity, citing the “overwhelming demand” for more football across the country. He said they believe it’s a league that’s sustainable, “If we didn’t think it was money well spent, we wouldn’t be doing it,” he said.

…

Said Kalt: “We have the Trop sitting empty 200 days a year, and it’s an opportunity to bring more events into the Trop, and provide more quality, family friendly, affordable entertainment to the Tampa Bay area.”

With this being the first season of the UFL, Kalt said the league will have its hand in a lot of the promotional, marketing side. But he said in future years, the Rays plan to more aggressively look at potential cross-promotion between the teams.

Essentially, the marketing side, as well as operations side of the business (when the games are at the Trop) will be the main places the Rays impact can be felt. Kalt said Haslett and the Tuskers will handle all the player-personnel decisions, “We have a baseball team to run,” but added they plan to help bring the “Rays Way” of doing things to the franchise.

“They say baseball is America’s pastime, and football is America’s passion,” said UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue. “Now we get to blend them together.”

Huyghue acknoweldges it’s a “very unique” partnership, with a team (especially a baseball club) owning a football franchise, but he pointed out the Rays were an attractive partner because not only are they “great operators,” but they’re also a proven commodity that provides credibility. That, combined with the Tampa Bay market they want to attract, makes it a “perfect fit.”

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article1027083.ece

When you hear a Major League Baseball franchise speak to the “opportunities” present within the United Football League… well, you have to think that other investors will also see that opportunity in 2010 and beyond. The fact that the marketing and business operations end of the Tuskers will be managed by the same folks currently managing a major league team is another net positive for the team.

All in all nothing that has happened in the past two weeks is bigger for the league or shows that the UFL is building a solid foundation then the announcement of the Rays becoming owners today. Fans of the league should be excited by this announcement… perhaps excited enough to quit yelling about the uniforms.