Post by Banana Cat on Jan 23, 2009 21:48:43 GMT -5
UFL's Sports Complex a no-go for now...is this a bad sign for the league playing this year as well?
www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20246863&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=68561&rfi=6
www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20246863&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=68561&rfi=6
22 January 2009
UFL deal dead, but could be resurrected
City council ends site-work pacts for joint sports complex at Francisco Grande resort; offers to revisit plan
Harold Kitching / ZWire.com
Casa Grande has terminated its memorandum of understanding with the United Football League about a city/UFL sports complex envisioned at Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort. No single reason was presented during Tuesday night's City Council meeting, but staff apparently felt the league had not progressed to the point the city could maintain a commitment.
The matter, however, may not yet be dead. Following the regular meeting, the council went into executive, or closed, session to discuss new agreements with the UFL and with Francisco Grande. Because the initial agreements involved both the UFL and the resort, the memorandum of understanding with Francisco Grande also was terminated. The city could not move forward on one without the other, Mayor Bob Jackson said.
The basic initial proposals called for six football/soccer fields to be built at Francisco Grande by June, followed by two more in 2010, all maintained by the resort. There would also be a sports building and other projects.
Deputy City Manager Larry Rains said, however, that staff had concerns.
"There's a variety of reasons that we certainly can cite, ranging from economic climate to the fact that it's going to be somewhat difficult, based on a time line that the UFL would anticipate announcing the launch of their league, for us as an organization to meet the June 1 deadline," he said.
Jackson asked if it is true that the UFL would make announcements after the Super Bowl Feb. 1.
"They have advised us that they have been working diligently around the clock to secure a number of ownership agreements," Rains replied. "But, yes, they envision that they will be making a formal announcement sometime around the Super Bowl. And certainly they would like to maintain the relationship, or they've expressed that, and understand our need at this particular time."
The deadline for the agreement was Wednesday, Rains said, adding, "As staff has been working diligently over the course of the last two months ... , we have found that we have not been able to complete our due diligence in a satisfactory methodology to come to the council and ask you to maintain the terms of the memorandum, and as such our recommendation is to terminate the memorandum of understanding this evening."
Jackson told the council, "I think when they originally talked to us, their original intent was that they would announce at Thanksgiving and they've had it set back. Our time frame stayed the same."
Councilman Karl Montoya said, "The timing and the economic situation just didn't come together. They got pushed back, of course, by their economics and of course we're on a time line that we can't move, we need to do something. I hope the doors remain open."
As Councilman Steve Miller sees it, "We as the city, I think, were not able to reach a comfortable level at this point in time. I certainly hope that maybe in the future that something does to come together."
Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Helen Neuharth and board member Craig McFarland, speaking from the audience, urged the council to continue to work toward some new agreement with Francisco Grande.
"I think the Francisco Grande's been a wonderful corporate partner in working through this and certainly we ran out of time on this particular agreement," Councilman **** Powell said. "But it certainly is not any fault of theirs and they've certainly held up their end and been an excellent corporate partner with the city of Casa Grande."
Discussions with the UFL continue, Rains told the council.
"I will be honest with you, the staff has built a very good relationship with the UFL over the course of the last two months," he said. "I know that they are very anxious to bring in this league and produce it. I believe from our perspective we certainly want to be a player.
"We believe that the city of Casa Grande is poised to be able to provide the facilities and the amenities that the UFL desires. We'd like them to consider us a serious location."
UFL deal dead, but could be resurrected
City council ends site-work pacts for joint sports complex at Francisco Grande resort; offers to revisit plan
Harold Kitching / ZWire.com
Casa Grande has terminated its memorandum of understanding with the United Football League about a city/UFL sports complex envisioned at Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort. No single reason was presented during Tuesday night's City Council meeting, but staff apparently felt the league had not progressed to the point the city could maintain a commitment.
The matter, however, may not yet be dead. Following the regular meeting, the council went into executive, or closed, session to discuss new agreements with the UFL and with Francisco Grande. Because the initial agreements involved both the UFL and the resort, the memorandum of understanding with Francisco Grande also was terminated. The city could not move forward on one without the other, Mayor Bob Jackson said.
The basic initial proposals called for six football/soccer fields to be built at Francisco Grande by June, followed by two more in 2010, all maintained by the resort. There would also be a sports building and other projects.
Deputy City Manager Larry Rains said, however, that staff had concerns.
"There's a variety of reasons that we certainly can cite, ranging from economic climate to the fact that it's going to be somewhat difficult, based on a time line that the UFL would anticipate announcing the launch of their league, for us as an organization to meet the June 1 deadline," he said.
Jackson asked if it is true that the UFL would make announcements after the Super Bowl Feb. 1.
"They have advised us that they have been working diligently around the clock to secure a number of ownership agreements," Rains replied. "But, yes, they envision that they will be making a formal announcement sometime around the Super Bowl. And certainly they would like to maintain the relationship, or they've expressed that, and understand our need at this particular time."
The deadline for the agreement was Wednesday, Rains said, adding, "As staff has been working diligently over the course of the last two months ... , we have found that we have not been able to complete our due diligence in a satisfactory methodology to come to the council and ask you to maintain the terms of the memorandum, and as such our recommendation is to terminate the memorandum of understanding this evening."
Jackson told the council, "I think when they originally talked to us, their original intent was that they would announce at Thanksgiving and they've had it set back. Our time frame stayed the same."
Councilman Karl Montoya said, "The timing and the economic situation just didn't come together. They got pushed back, of course, by their economics and of course we're on a time line that we can't move, we need to do something. I hope the doors remain open."
As Councilman Steve Miller sees it, "We as the city, I think, were not able to reach a comfortable level at this point in time. I certainly hope that maybe in the future that something does to come together."
Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Helen Neuharth and board member Craig McFarland, speaking from the audience, urged the council to continue to work toward some new agreement with Francisco Grande.
"I think the Francisco Grande's been a wonderful corporate partner in working through this and certainly we ran out of time on this particular agreement," Councilman **** Powell said. "But it certainly is not any fault of theirs and they've certainly held up their end and been an excellent corporate partner with the city of Casa Grande."
Discussions with the UFL continue, Rains told the council.
"I will be honest with you, the staff has built a very good relationship with the UFL over the course of the last two months," he said. "I know that they are very anxious to bring in this league and produce it. I believe from our perspective we certainly want to be a player.
"We believe that the city of Casa Grande is poised to be able to provide the facilities and the amenities that the UFL desires. We'd like them to consider us a serious location."