Post by Banana Cat on Jul 27, 2011 19:02:12 GMT -5
We'll see what happens in two weeks.
www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-hartford-colonials-ufl-fold-20110727,0,916388.story
www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-hartford-colonials-ufl-fold-20110727,0,916388.story
Despite Rumors, UFL, Jerry Glanville Say Hartford Colonials Still Alive ... For Now
By PAUL DOYLE, pdoyle@courant.com The Hartford Courant
July 27, 2011
HARTFORD -- While rumors among some employees of the Hartford Colonials were spreading Wednesday morning that the UFL team was folding, league officials say nothing is decided.
A league source said the UFL is considering several scenarios to cut costs, including the reduction from five to four teams. One possibility would have the Colonials folding and owner William Mayer taking over the Virginia franchise and another has Virginia suspending operations.
Also, UFL officials continue to pursue a deal with the NFL that could infuse needed cash into the league. The league pushed training camps up 30 days in an attempt to settle its murky financial picture.
Colonials coach/general manager Jerry Glanville said Wednesday that he has not heard anything definitive about the future of his team.
"All I know is we want to save this thing," Glanville said. "The league, the team . . . all of the above." He add he should "know more next week."
"The commissioner's office is conducting a review of the league's business model and considering many options.," Mayer said in an email. "The ownership group has not been presented any recommendations as yet from the Commissioner. I expect we will announce whatever the conclusion is in early August."
Reached by phone Wednesday, UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said rumors have been floating because the league is considering many scenarios.
"We've had the league is folding, we've had Hartford is folding, we've had the players' salaries are being cut in half," Huyghue said. "The pundits are all making large guesstimates as to what will happen. The only thing that's happened is, we've pushed the season back 30 days. . . . we haven't made any decisions about what we are doing, whether we are adding teams, reducing teams, decreasing the season. All of that's being decided. Our expectation is to move forward August 15.
"By August 10, we kind of set an internal date to go through some housekeeping and some big ticket items that we have to look at with respect to worker's comp and other things. But nothing has been decided yet. No decisions have been made. We're considering a lot of options, but we have made any decision yet."
The Colonials were 3-5 in their first season in Hartford, after playing in New York during the UFL's inaugural 2009 season. The franchise and the league have been plagued by financial troubles since last season.
Players reported to the Hartford area for training camp earlier this month, only to sit for 10 days while the league attempted to address outstanding worker's compensation bills. The league finally decided to move the start of camp until mid-August and push the start of the season until mid-September.
Huyghue, a Windsor native, said on a media conference call last week that the league's fee to play at Rentschler Field is by far the highest in the UFL. He said Hartford may not be a long-term option for the league if attendance didn't rise about the 2010 average of 14,366.
"I like Hartford," Huyghue said. "I'm from Hartford. That's part of the reason that we came there. I think that Hartford did well for us. Whatever decisions we make going forward, Hartford is not on the chopping block because it can't sustain a franchise for the UFL. There's been great support. . . . In terms of Hartford being a troubled facility or situation, no, that's not the case."
By PAUL DOYLE, pdoyle@courant.com The Hartford Courant
July 27, 2011
HARTFORD -- While rumors among some employees of the Hartford Colonials were spreading Wednesday morning that the UFL team was folding, league officials say nothing is decided.
A league source said the UFL is considering several scenarios to cut costs, including the reduction from five to four teams. One possibility would have the Colonials folding and owner William Mayer taking over the Virginia franchise and another has Virginia suspending operations.
Also, UFL officials continue to pursue a deal with the NFL that could infuse needed cash into the league. The league pushed training camps up 30 days in an attempt to settle its murky financial picture.
Colonials coach/general manager Jerry Glanville said Wednesday that he has not heard anything definitive about the future of his team.
"All I know is we want to save this thing," Glanville said. "The league, the team . . . all of the above." He add he should "know more next week."
"The commissioner's office is conducting a review of the league's business model and considering many options.," Mayer said in an email. "The ownership group has not been presented any recommendations as yet from the Commissioner. I expect we will announce whatever the conclusion is in early August."
Reached by phone Wednesday, UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said rumors have been floating because the league is considering many scenarios.
"We've had the league is folding, we've had Hartford is folding, we've had the players' salaries are being cut in half," Huyghue said. "The pundits are all making large guesstimates as to what will happen. The only thing that's happened is, we've pushed the season back 30 days. . . . we haven't made any decisions about what we are doing, whether we are adding teams, reducing teams, decreasing the season. All of that's being decided. Our expectation is to move forward August 15.
"By August 10, we kind of set an internal date to go through some housekeeping and some big ticket items that we have to look at with respect to worker's comp and other things. But nothing has been decided yet. No decisions have been made. We're considering a lot of options, but we have made any decision yet."
The Colonials were 3-5 in their first season in Hartford, after playing in New York during the UFL's inaugural 2009 season. The franchise and the league have been plagued by financial troubles since last season.
Players reported to the Hartford area for training camp earlier this month, only to sit for 10 days while the league attempted to address outstanding worker's compensation bills. The league finally decided to move the start of camp until mid-August and push the start of the season until mid-September.
Huyghue, a Windsor native, said on a media conference call last week that the league's fee to play at Rentschler Field is by far the highest in the UFL. He said Hartford may not be a long-term option for the league if attendance didn't rise about the 2010 average of 14,366.
"I like Hartford," Huyghue said. "I'm from Hartford. That's part of the reason that we came there. I think that Hartford did well for us. Whatever decisions we make going forward, Hartford is not on the chopping block because it can't sustain a franchise for the UFL. There's been great support. . . . In terms of Hartford being a troubled facility or situation, no, that's not the case."