Fran
09-23-2006, 05:49 PM
Florida may host minor-league games
Dave Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE -- Florida has agreed to host three games at Florida Field for a local entry in the All American Football League, which hopes to start play in the spring of 2007.
UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley and league chief operating officer Jim Bailey confirmed the news Friday. The agreement should bring the school $1.5 million over the three games, which would be played in May.
"We're in the facility-rental business," Foley said. "These dollars, we think, could really assist our program."
The AAFL, a proposed eight-team pro minor league, hopes to base its teams in or near college towns and play games at college stadiums. Eligible players will need to have graduated from college and must be out of college eligibility. Players will be kept near their alma maters.
The Florida-based team will have six home games on its schedule; the site of the other three home games remain uncertain, though officials at Florida State and with the Centroplex in Orlando have been approached.
Bailey said the league hopes to set its teams by Dec. 1 and have ownership shored up by the beginning of February. If the organization isn't there, Bailey said the league won't hesitate to delay its debut to the spring of 2008.
"We want to make sure we've got it right before we kick it off," Bailey said.
Dave Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE -- Florida has agreed to host three games at Florida Field for a local entry in the All American Football League, which hopes to start play in the spring of 2007.
UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley and league chief operating officer Jim Bailey confirmed the news Friday. The agreement should bring the school $1.5 million over the three games, which would be played in May.
"We're in the facility-rental business," Foley said. "These dollars, we think, could really assist our program."
The AAFL, a proposed eight-team pro minor league, hopes to base its teams in or near college towns and play games at college stadiums. Eligible players will need to have graduated from college and must be out of college eligibility. Players will be kept near their alma maters.
The Florida-based team will have six home games on its schedule; the site of the other three home games remain uncertain, though officials at Florida State and with the Centroplex in Orlando have been approached.
Bailey said the league hopes to set its teams by Dec. 1 and have ownership shored up by the beginning of February. If the organization isn't there, Bailey said the league won't hesitate to delay its debut to the spring of 2008.
"We want to make sure we've got it right before we kick it off," Bailey said.