UFL Team in Omaha?

[RustShack]

UFL to make "major announcement" in Omaha
Posted by Mike Florio on April 13, 2010 12:52 PM ET
The UFL recently has made "major announcements" regarding the relocation of franchises previously headquartered in New York and San Francisco.

On Thursday, the league will be making a "major announcement" in Omaha. The obvious answer? The UFL will be placing a team there.

It fits with the UFL's plan to expand by two teams in 2010. If so, if means that at at least one more team will be added via a future "major announcement."

The approach makes sense. The UFL, if it hopes to become a viable minor-league complement to the NFL, needs to put teams not in cities with NFL franchises, but in markets that currently don't have the outdoor version of pro football.

[ChiefsCountry]

They need something to fill TD Amertitrade Park. Omaha would be a good market for minor league football.

[Bugeater]

YES! I LOVE FOOTBALL PLAYED IN BASEBALL STADIUMS!

[Reaper16]

Omaha already has minor league football. GO BEEF!

[Bugeater]

What's funny about this about a month ago when the prospect of a UFL team first came up, the mayor said a football field won't fit into the stadium.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

What's funny about this about a month ago when the prospect of a UFL team first came up, the mayor said a football field won't fit into the stadium.

Changed his tune when he realized it would sit empty most of the year. Hell if I was Omaha I would try for a Triple A soccer team as well. Try to keep events at that place.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Changed his tune when he realized it would sit empty most of the year. Hell if I was Omaha I would try for a Triple A soccer team as well. Try to keep events at that place.

Supposedly Creighton is going to use it for baseball. They're currently playing on a modified parking lot...lol. There's talk about having some outdoor concerts there as well.

Isn't a soccer field larger than a football field?

[Pushead2]

why won't the UFL just merge and accept the role as the minor leagues for the NFL?

So many more people would go and turn out for the teams. Just have the practice squads, which make more than the UFL players anyway, play against each other....?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

why won't the UFL just merge and accept the role as the minor leagues for the NFL?

So many more people would go and turn out for the teams. Just have the practice squads, which make more than the UFL players anyway, play against each other....?

That's been discussed, and it's up the NFL, so far they haven't been willing to get on board. I'm sure the plan here is to throw a bunch of ex-Huskers on the team, that'll sell the place out.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That's been discussed, and it's up the NFL, so far they haven't been willing to get on board. I'm sure the plan here is to throw a bunch of ex-Huskers on the team, that'll sell the place out.

I read that it was too, but I think it would be way more marketable if they were known as the Minors of Football. Like the Nationwide Series to Sprint etc.

People in NYC would actually know there's a team here when they see it's the Giants or Jets Minor league system.

[ChiefsCountry]

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...ighlight=omaha

[ChiefsCountry]

Here is what I would do, I have changed my plans quite a bit over the year.

I would do a 12 team league.

Eastern
Birmingham (Legion Field) – Falcons, Steelers
Hartford (Rentschler Field) – Giants, Jets, Patriots
Louisville (Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium) – Bengals, Browns, Colts
Norfolk (Foreman Field) – Panthers, Ravens, Redskins
Orlando (Citrus Bowl) – Buccaneers, Dolphins, Jaguars
Toronto (BMO Field) - Bills, Eagles, Lions

Western
Las Vegas (Sam Boyd Stadium) – Cardinals, Chargers
Memphis (Liberty Bowl) - Rams, Saints, Titans
Omaha (TD Ameritrade Park) - Bears, Chiefs, Packers
Portland (PGE Park) – 49ers, Raiders, Seahawks
Salt Lake City (Rice-Eccles) – Broncos, Vikings
San Antonio (Alamodome) – Cowboys, Texans

Play a 12 game schedule, home and home with your division and play 2 crossover opponents from the other division. Play a spring season. Games on NFL Network – 3 Sunday Games (12, 3, 7cst), 2 Saturday (3, 7cst), and Thursday (7pm). Schedule from March to June. Make the NFL Draft weekend, the bye week for all teams.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Here is what I would do, I have changed my plans quite a bit over the year.

I would do a 12 team league.

Eastern
Birmingham (Legion Field) – Falcons, Steelers
Hartford (Rentschler Field) – Giants, Jets, Patriots
Louisville (Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium) – Bengals, Browns, Colts
Norfolk (Foreman Field) – Panthers, Ravens, Redskins
Orlando (Citrus Bowl) – Buccaneers, Dolphins, Jaguars
Toronto (BMO Field) - Bills, Eagles, Lions

Western
Las Vegas (Sam Boyd Stadium) – Cardinals, Chargers
Memphis (Liberty Bowl) - Rams, Saints, Titans
Omaha (TD Ameritrade Park) - Bears, Chiefs, Packers
Portland (PGE Park) – 49ers, Raiders, Seahawks
Salt Lake City (Rice-Eccles) – Broncos, Vikings
San Antonio (Alamodome) – Cowboys, Texans

Play a 12 game schedule, home and home with your division and play 2 crossover opponents from the other division. Play a spring season. Games on NFL Network – 3 Sunday Games (12, 3, 7cst), 2 Saturday (3, 7cst), and Thursday (7pm). Schedule from March to June. Make the NFL Draft weekend, the bye week for all teams.

I'm sure the NCAA would have a shitfit if we played spring football in the(ir) ballpark.

[Bugeater]

Oh hell, they're actually thinking about getting this going this fall and playing a season at the 'blatt. lol

http://www.omaha.com/article/2010041...s-announcement

Omaha, welcome to the United Football League . . . almost.

The commissioner of the upstart professional football league will be joined by Omaha officials Thursday at Qwest Center Omaha for what the UFL bills as a “major announcement” regarding the league.
UFL officials were in Omaha two weeks ago talking with local officials about the possibility of playing this fall at Rosenblatt Stadium and perhaps moving to the new downtown stadium in 2011-12.
As for Thursday's announcement, the UFL — heading into its second year of attempting to meet the needs “of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football” — is remaining coy.
“We'll have an announcement on Thursday. The UFL has been in Omaha to discuss possibilities, but I can't say more than that," said UFL spokesman Michael Preston.
UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and officials from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority are scheduled to be on hand for Thursday's announcement at 9:30 a.m.

Some of the UFL's discussions with Omaha officials have been on a possible playing venue.
The manager of downtown's TD Ameritrade Park, MECA, confirmed to The World-Herald in late March that it has held discussions with the UFL. But MECA President Roger Dixon said at the time through a spokeswoman that no agreement had been reached.

The UFL, which currently has four teams, features former players from the National Football League and former college players hoping to get there.

The league had listed Omaha, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as contenders for a new franchise.

In a previous interview, Huyghue said a local ownership group is not required upfront. He said the league could start out owning the team and add a local group later.

[Bugeater]

Sounds like the league is already folding, can't say it surprises me.

http://www.wowt.com/sports/headlines...131947908.html

The Omaha Nighthawks announced Sunday night the team will play one final game, 7 p.m. Friday at TD Ameritrade Park against Sacramento. The United Football League announced earlier that the rest of the season was canceled and the top teams, Las Vegas and Virginia, will play for the championship on Friday.