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Fran
10-09-2007, 09:38 AM
The United Football League (UFL), a new professional outdoor fall football league scheduled to debut in August 2008, is inviting fans to help determine which markets will host teams for the league’s inaugural season through an innovative program with TicketRESERVE.

The UFL and TicketRESERVE campaign enables fans the opportunity to purchase reservations for season tickets in an interactive web based marketplace prior to the league’s official launch. The eight cities that generate the most ticket reservations will be designated as the leading markets to host a franchise. The online market will open at 8:00 am EDT on October 9, 2007 at www.ticketreserve.com.

The campaign will focus on 12 potential host cities, including: Austin, Birmingham, Columbus, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Raleigh, Sacramento and San Antonio.

“The UFL’s mission is to deliver high quality and accessible pro football to fans in underserved markets around the country, and we felt it was important to give these fans a voice,” stated Michael Huyghue, UFL Commissioner. “This program will give us a good gauge on market interest and gives fans the power to help impact where our teams land.”

Fans can simply visit www.ticketreserve.com and pay an upfront cost of as low as $5 per ticket to reserve their seats. Should their city get selected, the investment acts as a deposit directly towards their ticket purchase. If their city does not get awarded a UFL franchise, the money will be fully reimbursed.

“Forming a new league based on the actual consumer demand ensures fans have a vote in selecting which markets will host a franchise,” said Rick Harmon, Chief Executive Officer of TicketRESERVE. “We are excited to be a part of the first professional league that offers sports fanatics the opportunity to bring a team to their city.”

In addition to the TicketRESERVE reservation data, the UFL will consider market research and other factors in determining the final team markets.

About the UFL

The UFL was developed to meet the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football. Featuring real, outdoor professional football played in the fall, the UFL will include eight teams comprised of world class football players. Scheduled to debut in August 2008, the UFL is headquartered in New York City and led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue.

About TicketRESERVE

TicketRESERVE (www.ticketreserve.com), founded in 2001, is dedicated to providing consumers with access to the biggest and most prestigious live events. Through the purchase of FanFORWARDS, loyal fans can guarantee themselves a seat at their coveted live event and, if necessary or desired, trade the contract 24/7 real-time on the TicketRESERVE website marketplace. TicketRESERVE pioneered the Pre-Primary or Forward market to give live event fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of watching their favorite events, in-person. TicketRESERVE is a proven and economical alternative to current primary and secondary ticketing operations. The company is based in Chicago.

firewolff
10-09-2007, 10:57 AM
At least the UFL has a logo. Now if they'd only get a website...

Strong Island Sound
10-09-2007, 11:07 AM
You can never have too much football. This league can some good attention and start off on the right foot. I, for one, will be following.

Minor League Man
10-09-2007, 01:26 PM
I actually think they should expand to Rochester, if you ask me.

Fez
10-09-2007, 01:33 PM
I'd be in for tickets if I lived in one of the target cities.

logoguru
10-09-2007, 10:42 PM
I cant imagine putting even $5 to something I dont know thats coming.

chardale
10-10-2007, 02:11 AM
I cant imagine putting even $5 to something I dont know thats coming. So what you are saying is it is FANS like you that will keep football or anything of intrest from coming to your city. They said if a team is not picked for your city you will be refunded your $ 5.00 dollars. Do you want me to pick up the tab for you?

USFL13
11-13-2007, 09:08 PM
Any guesses on which 8 cities will get teams for 2008? I also read somewhere that they planning to expand to 12 for 2009......my prediction, for what its worth:

New York
Orlando
Birmingham
Memphis

Los Angeles
Las Vegas
San Antonio
Sacramento/San Jose

2009

New York
Orlando
Birmingham
Memphis

San Antonio
Oklahoma City
Austin
Mexico City

LA
Las Vegas
Sac/San Jose
Portland

This would give them 8 of the top 30 US television/population centers, as well as an international presence.

feverfresh
11-21-2007, 05:41 PM
Any guesses on which 8 cities will get teams for 2008?...my prediction, for what its worth:

New York
Orlando
Birmingham
Memphis

Los Angeles
Las Vegas
San Antonio
Sacramento/San Jose


Birmingham and Memphis are the stain of failed pro leagues. Having the right array of teams is important, but in New York they probably won't care to see the home team play Birmingham.

BTW, you have listed the XFL city line-up, except for San Antonio instead of Chicago. I suppose some of the market research for the XFL is still valid, and the UFL is conducting their own research with ticketRESERVE, but wherein money is at stake, I forsee the UFL filling the largest TV markets in the country that don't have the NFL.

2. LA
14. Riverside/Ontario, CA
23. Portland
26. Sacramento
27. Orlando
29. San Antonio
30. Silicon Valley
31. Las Vegas
32. Columbus
34. VA Beach
35. Rhode Island
37. Austin, TX

There could and should also be a New York team that actually plays in the City, or Nassau county. Having teams in these markets will facilitate merger with the NFL (probably not Portland), giving each owner a realistic opportunity of joining if and when a merger occurs. Cuban made billions selling to Yahoo, he has no fear of selling out and should be expected to if the opportunity arises.

Two other factors will be key to success. One, if litigation is used as a resort, they have USFL v. NFL precedents, they just have to be careful not to repeat the same mistakes as the USFL, in such a way that the UFL will not be viewed as the primary party responsible for its own losses.

Two, there have to be marquee players from the get go. They will develop their own stars, and they have to retain them to keep them from going to the NFL and coloring the UFL as a minor league or a development league. But in the beginning they will have to pay for name recognition. The good news is that the AAFL may produce some visibility for some players who could then be picked up for less-than-NFL money.

There should also be a de-emphasis on the TV revenue. The XFL put a lot on its NBC partnership, and the low TV ratings made the league's lack of popularity easily quantifiable.

Pounder
11-26-2007, 02:53 PM
There could and should also be a New York team that actually plays in the City, or Nassau county. Having teams in these markets will facilitate merger with the NFL (probably not Portland), giving each owner a realistic opportunity of joining if and when a merger occurs. Cuban made billions selling to Yahoo, he has no fear of selling out and should be expected to if the opportunity arises.

Never mind that you shall soon be exposed to the folly of merger talk. Why you dissin' Portland? :D

There should also be a de-emphasis on the TV revenue. The XFL put a lot on its NBC partnership, and the low TV ratings made the league's lack of popularity easily quantifiable.

I give you the thought that Mark Cuban wouldn't touch this with a 10 meter cattle prod if he didn't think he could get TV money. He does too much to draw attention to himself for me NOT to think that. That doesn't mean he couldn't bring out "affordability" as a platform, but the type of people he will attract will probably out-vote him in the end, anyway.

LandRoverUT60
11-26-2007, 07:38 PM
I still think that Salt Lake City and Hartford should get a UFL franchise.