Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Las Vegas Locomotives:

Hurting for money and unable to secure TV deal, UFL pushes season back a month

Players from the Las Vegas franchise were set to begin practice this week

Locos vs. Mountain Lions

Sam Morris

Las Vegas Locomotives fans make some noise during a third down play against the Sacramento Mountain Lions during the first half of their game Saturday November 6, 2010 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Sacramento handed the Locos their second loss of the season with a 27-24 win.

The back-to-back United Football League champion Las Vegas Locomotives will have to wait one month to begin their title defense.

The financially-strapped league announced Tuesday it will push the start of its season back one month to the middle of September, with commissioner Michael Huyghue saying the delay was needed to give it time to strengthen business affairs.

Las Vegas was scheduled to open Aug. 20 against Sacramento; the league opener would have been Aug. 13. The league’s five teams are still on track to play a 10-game schedule.

“Unfortunately the uncertainty gripping pro sports given the NFL and NBA lockouts created a destabilizing impact throughout the industry. Ultimately this delayed our ability to secure television agreements and other related business matters.,” Huyghue said in a statement.

“We believe though that the added time will allow for some necessary housekeeping that will strengthen our product and our brand. Any time you have to change your plans midstream it is obviously disappointing. As such, we have decided to resume our normal game schedule. This will allow us the necessary time to finalize our television agreements and other critical business affairs,” he continued.

Players for the Las Vegas franchise had already reported to camp and were set to begin workouts this week. They will return in one month, with the league paying for travel back to their hometowns, according to the statement.

The league has been a money pit since its inception and is expected to work at a $40 million deficit this fall. For instance, its franchise in Virginia still needs funding to expand its stadium, according to reports.

Officials moved to season to start in mid-August to meet fan demand during a slow sports month, according to the release. Now, it will return to a mid-September to the end of November format, with the championship game played over Thanksgiving weekend for a third straight year.

“Our ownership group is committed to funding our 2011 season. Uncertainty and instability in professional sports, notwithstanding, we believe fully in our investment, our product and the UFL mission,” UFL owner Bill Hambrecht said.

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