Fran
07-28-2006, 12:20 PM
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/GATORS01/207280367/-1/sports
Seven markets remain for new league
By KEVIN BROCKWAY
Sun sports writer
July 28. 2006 6:01AM
As a football coach at Florida in the 1970s, Doug Dickey witnessed the passion for football in the Gainesville area first-hand.
Dickey is looking for the startup All American Football League to tap into that kind of passion. The league, which hopes to get off the ground next spring, has approached Florida regarding the use of its facilities.
"The concept is to connect the league with the college game," said Dickey, who also coached at Tennessee and is a member of the new league's board of directors.
Purdue Univeristy was the first to announce a facilities agreement with the league Thursday, leaving seven potential open markets. Under the agreement, the franchise will pay $3 million in rent to use 62,500-seat Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue also will keep all parking and concession revenues.
The league is looking into remaining sites in the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference.
Dickey said the timetable for the league is to establish rental agreements with facilities before pursuing investors. Pricetags for the franchises are expected to range from $2-3 million.
"We're in discussions with a number of people," Dickey said. "We're going to continue those discussions, but we haven't secured any agreements yet in terms of finalizing franchise documents."
Dickey thinks is possible that a franchise could work in Gainesville.
"You take a look at the Gainesville-Ocala area, down to Citrus County and Orlando and to the east with Daytona, that's a lot of people," Dickey said. "We're looking at it not just as a city concept but as a regional concept."
Teams would be likely to pursue former players from their regions in order to attract fans.
Dickey said the league has approached a handful of other SEC markets regarding facilities agreements.
The league will be unique in that it will require college graduates to participate. It's promising $100,000 annual salaries, more than the $30,000 given to entry-level players in arena leagues and NFL Europe.
Seven markets remain for new league
By KEVIN BROCKWAY
Sun sports writer
July 28. 2006 6:01AM
As a football coach at Florida in the 1970s, Doug Dickey witnessed the passion for football in the Gainesville area first-hand.
Dickey is looking for the startup All American Football League to tap into that kind of passion. The league, which hopes to get off the ground next spring, has approached Florida regarding the use of its facilities.
"The concept is to connect the league with the college game," said Dickey, who also coached at Tennessee and is a member of the new league's board of directors.
Purdue Univeristy was the first to announce a facilities agreement with the league Thursday, leaving seven potential open markets. Under the agreement, the franchise will pay $3 million in rent to use 62,500-seat Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue also will keep all parking and concession revenues.
The league is looking into remaining sites in the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference.
Dickey said the timetable for the league is to establish rental agreements with facilities before pursuing investors. Pricetags for the franchises are expected to range from $2-3 million.
"We're in discussions with a number of people," Dickey said. "We're going to continue those discussions, but we haven't secured any agreements yet in terms of finalizing franchise documents."
Dickey thinks is possible that a franchise could work in Gainesville.
"You take a look at the Gainesville-Ocala area, down to Citrus County and Orlando and to the east with Daytona, that's a lot of people," Dickey said. "We're looking at it not just as a city concept but as a regional concept."
Teams would be likely to pursue former players from their regions in order to attract fans.
Dickey said the league has approached a handful of other SEC markets regarding facilities agreements.
The league will be unique in that it will require college graduates to participate. It's promising $100,000 annual salaries, more than the $30,000 given to entry-level players in arena leagues and NFL Europe.