San Antonio lands UFL team

[Buddy Holly]

The owner is dedicated to Jacksonville. He'll probably sell it instead of moving, and more than likely, it won't be sold to anyone that would move it to SA (who's going to buy it and move it here with Red retired and Benson already owning the Saints).

Hypothetically? One of the other 7 billionaires that lives in SA or the multiple others that make SA a second home.

Heck, you don't even need a billionaire, just a group of wealthy investors.

IF LA kills the $20 million subsidy, and raises the rent for the practice facility above $1, and doesn't show signs of economic recovery, and doesn't agree to a new stadium in a few years, than maybe.

It's much more likely after Benson either retires or dies and control of the team goes to Rita.

I never put a time frame just answered the question. In 10 years it may be a new group of teams that are potential suitors.

The teams not moving until Wilson dies, and then it's being sold because none of his relatives want the team. At that point, you're stuck with "who's gonna buy it and move it to SA?" Much more likely to move to Toronto.

We're both dealing with uncontrollable hypothetical situation.

Owner seems willing to move them without selling, but I can't see the NFL approving a downward move from Minneapolis to San Antonio. Not without San Antonio guaranteeing a quickly built top of the line stadium, which we can't afford to do. Also, Wilf (or whatever his name it) is looking to control real estate development around the stadium. His goals seems like a good match for the Roski project in City of Industry, so I would expect the Vikes to go there with Roski getting part of the team, and the owner getting part of the development.

Again we're both dealing with uncontrollable hypothetical situation. Neither of us is more correct or incorrect than the other.

[Buddy Holly]

You still make no reason why anyone who is having problems in a small market city, would move to another smaller market.

Because outside of LA, there are no "big" markets left without an NFL team. Holy crap, it's not that hard to comprehend.

But besides that, aside from Minneapolis, the teams I proposed would be going to a larger market. SA is larger than Jacksonville, New Orleans, Buffalo.

Also, how is SA a small market? Aside from some very bogus television market number, there's nothing "small" about SA. I honestly think the term "small market" needs to be retired, especially when trying to be applied to SA.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Allright here's my reasoning...the Athletic Director and Coker have come out and said theyre going FBS in 2013. They already have a stadium in the Dome thats big enough to meet FBS standards, which is the biggest hurdle most teams attempting to go FBS face. Theyre also going independent the first two years instead of joining the Southland Conference, which hasnt sat well with Southland Conference top guys and UTSA runs the risk of being kicked out of the conference altogether, that isnt something a new program with small time aspirations would do. As for support Ive seen the city embrace the Saints after Katrina hit, Ive seen the city embrace the Cowboys during training camp, Ive seen the city follow the Cowboys along with the Longhorns/Aggies as if they were their own. Its practically starving for a football team, support shouldnt be a problem.

Whats your reasoning for your assumptions, cause your basically just spewing out without basis.

It's called being realistic and knowing the city. It takes more than an AD and an overrated old coach to say you are going to the FBS to get there. And sure the city embraced the NFL New Orleans Saints because they are an NFL team. Not a bush league "D1" team.

But go ahead and live in your little UTSA fantasy land and keep believing the university is going to have some relevance because I know they never will. They dream big but of course so do re s.

[fyatuk]

Hypothetically? One of the other 7 billionaires that lives in SA or the multiple others that make SA a second home.

Heck, you don't even need a billionaire, just a group of wealthy investors.

Not many of which have ever showed interest in owning a controlling interest in a sports team. The NFL isn't going to approve an ownership group without a lead owner.

Although rumor says it's one of the Butts that put up the money for the UFL team (it's a bit of chump change though).

I never put a time frame just answered the question. In 10 years it may be a new group of teams that are potential suitors.

Quite true. I think San Antonio's only chance is waiting for Rita to inherit the Saints.

We're both dealing with uncontrollable hypothetical situation.

Again we're both dealing with uncontrollable hypothetical situation. Neither of us is more correct or incorrect than the other.

Agreed. There are too many undetermined, unpredictable variables. It's my opinion that the NFL has no motivation to put a team here, except as a last resort.

I just wanted to bring up more specifics regarding the teams you mentioned and their situations.

[Blake]

If SA does get a UFL team, please, please, PLEASE hire someone with a clue to design the logo. SA has had enough sad high-school quality logos for its teams already.

you mean you didn't like that skinny bad-guy-looking dude for the gunlsingers?

[Blake]

Because outside of LA, there are no "big" markets left without an NFL team. Holy crap, it's not that hard to comprehend.

But besides that, aside from Minneapolis, the teams I proposed would be going to a larger market. SA is larger than Jacksonville, New Orleans, Buffalo.

Also, how is SA a small market? Aside from some very bogus television market number, there's nothing "small" about SA. I honestly think the term "small market" needs to be retired, especially when trying to be applied to SA.

Pretty sure fyatuk covered it earlier when mentioning TV contracts.

The giant bulk of revenue that the NFL gets is from TV contracts.

What is "small" about SA is the amount of municipalities that surround us compared to many other cities.

Last I checked, SA is the 37th largest TV market which would be probably be barely attractive enough if we were all by ourselves in the middle of nowhere. The problem for us is that we already all have our TVs turned on to the NFL on Sundays to watch Dallas play.

Even if an owner for some reason actually wanted to come here to our outdated Alamodome, there would be pressure from the other owners and the commissioner to find another city that would financially benefit the league more as a whole.

[bresilhac]

Pretty sure fyatuk covered it earlier when mentioning TV contracts.

The giant bulk of revenue that the NFL gets is from TV contracts.

What is "small" about SA is the amount of municipalities that surround us compared to many other cities.

Last I checked, SA is the 37th largest TV market which would be probably be barely attractive enough if we were all by ourselves in the middle of nowhere. The problem for us is that we already all have our TVs turned on to the NFL on Sundays to watch Dallas play.

Even if an owner for some reason actually wanted to come here to our outdated Alamodome, there would be pressure from the other owners and the commissioner to find another city that would financially benefit the league more as a whole.

Actually if a group of local investors bought a team and brought it here to SA it would be tremendously successful and very beneficial to the league despite some of the comments made by fyatuk and others. Especially when compared to places like KC, Buffalo and Jacksonville.

And what city, other than LA, and that doesn't already have a franchise, would benefit the league more as a whole? Orlando? OKC? Portland? I don't think so. San Antonio clearly would be a wise choice for a group of investors to place a team.

Incidentally, in a piece published on Sunday Jan Russell mentions that there is now a group of potential investors who are looking into buying a team for San Antonio. There is also a rumor floating around that has several Jacksonville Jaguar staff members looking over the Alamodome very recently.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/col..._NFL_team.html

[Blake]

Actually if a group of local investors bought a team and brought it here to SA it would be tremendously successful and very beneficial to the league despite some of the comments made by fyatuk and others. Especially when compared to places like KC, Buffalo and Jacksonville.

Everything I've seen and read suggests very little would be gained by the NFL as a whole if they had a team move here.

Exactly how do you think it would be very beneficial to the league?

And what city, other than LA, and that doesn't already have a franchise, would benefit the league more as a whole? Orlando? OKC? Portland? I don't think so. San Antonio clearly would be a wise choice for a group of investors to place a team.

I'm not sure any of the cities would benefit the league as a whole. What team is moving that is limiting it's search to those cities?

Incidentally, in a piece published on Sunday Jan Russell mentions that there is now a group of potential investors who are looking into buying a team for San Antonio. There is also a rumor floating around that has several Jacksonville Jaguar staff members looking over the Alamodome very recently.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/col..._NFL_team.html

Rumors of teams looking at SA are nothing new.

We have long been seen as a nice bargaining chip when owners are unhappy with their current situations.

[FkLA]

It's called being realistic and knowing the city. It takes more than an AD and an overrated old coach to say you are going to the FBS to get there. And sure the city embraced the NFL New Orleans Saints because they are an NFL team. Not a bush league "D1" team.

But go ahead and live in your little UTSA fantasy land and keep believing the university is going to have some relevance because I know they never will. They dream big but of course so do re s.

You act like Im saying UTSA will be the Longhorns or the Aggies, all Im saying is they will go FBS and join lower-tier major conference. Something similar to what the University of South Florida has recently done. It isnt just the words of the AD and coach that make this a realistic possibility but also the actions the University has taken in refusing to join a small time conference like the Soutland and going independent despite running the risk of getting kicked out of the conference altogether. As well as the fact that the Dome already meets FBS standards which is the biggest hurdle for teams looking to make the jump. This isnt some farfetched fantasy dream by any means.

But its pretty obvious that you have something against the university itself, so we'll just leave it at that.

[Blake]

As well as the fact that the Dome already meets FBS standards which is the biggest hurdle for teams looking to make the jump. This isnt some farfetched fantasy dream by any means.

Actually this might be the bigger hurdle:

20.9.7.3 Football‐Attendance Requirements. [FBS] Once every two years on a rolling basis, the
ins ution shall average at least 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home football
games. (Revised: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/04, 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05)

http://www.athletics.txstate.edu/the...quirements.pdf

I wouldn't get your hopes up for FBS football before the year 2020.....but we'll see.

[lebomb]

No FkLA, Utsa will never be like the Aggies or UT in San Antonio, neither will TECH, or Baylor or TCU or any other college. Saytown fans are truly Tshirters.........they go for whomever is on top in this state. Let UT start having 8-4 or 7-5 years like they did back in the 90's and A&M starts winning 11 games a year..........all the UT shirts will hit the dresser and all the A&M T-shirts will be dusted off and worn. Utsa may suck to most, but at least Im as my signature states.

[jb4g]

I actually watched the UFL championship game for some strange reason, and the level of play was pretty decent. I would check out a few games if prices werent too bad. And anything that helps cover the costs for the dome is a win for the city. The odds are against it lasting even 5 years, but you never know. Anyone here who believes the Alamodome is going to bring in a NFL club is just crazy, the only shot we ever had was the Saints, and thats definately not happening now. San Antonio does not add a tv market, it simply takes a chunk out of the Cowboys viewing audience. there was a guy a few years back trying to get a team in the valley, from what I read that had a better chance of happening than a team in SA.

And what is with all the hate for UTSA football around here???? Its great for the school and the city, anyone who calls SA home should be excited about this. It would have been one thing if they went FCS and played SLC ball, but they are doing exactly what the public and their alumni want...to play big time college football. You can be a UT or Ag fan and still respect what UTSA is trying to do. In just 3 years you are going to have the chance to go tailgate and watch quality football against the likes of Kansas St, Ok st, Baylor, Tech, Houston, Army...etc......how can that possibly be seen as a bad thing is beyond me.

[Blake]

No FkLA, Utsa will never be like the Aggies or UT in San Antonio, neither will TECH, or Baylor or TCU or any other college. Saytown fans are truly Tshirters.........they go for whomever is on top in this state. Let UT start having 8-4 or 7-5 years like they did back in the 90's and A&M starts winning 11 games a year..........all the UT shirts will hit the dresser and all the A&M T-shirts will be dusted off and worn. Utsa may suck to most, but at least Im as my signature states.

utsa will most likely never have to worry about tshirt fans like the Aggies or UT or Tech or Baylor or TCU or any other college.

[Blake]

And what is with all the hate for UTSA football around here???? Its great for the school and the city, anyone who calls SA home should be excited about this.

I think most think utsa football is a good thing, or they are, at worst, indifferent about it.

some of the utsa fans on this messageboard are a different matter.

[fyatuk]

Actually this might be the bigger hurdle:

20.9.7.3 Football‐Attendance Requirements. [FBS] Once every two years on a rolling basis, the
ins ution shall average at least 15,000 in actual or paid attendance for all home football
games. (Revised: 4/25/02 effective 8/1/04, 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05)

http://www.athletics.txstate.edu/the...quirements.pdf

I wouldn't get your hopes up for FBS football before the year 2020.....but we'll see.

I don't think it'll be as big a problem as you think. From what's been heard, they have several regional FBS schools coming starting in 2013. Because of the close proximity and notoriously obsessed fanbases of many of the FBS schools, we can expect really good travel crowds for those games. And if the compe ion is there, the home crowd will be.

I doubt they'll get there as soon as the UTSA pushers think, but I wouldn't be suprised to see them there by 2017, 2018.

[Blake]

I don't think it'll be as big a problem as you think. From what's been heard, they have several regional FBS schools coming starting in 2013. Because of the close proximity and notoriously obsessed fanbases of many of the FBS schools, we can expect really good travel crowds for those games. And if the compe ion is there, the home crowd will be.

I'm not sure how big a problem it will be at all. I just know that it's a bigger problem than securing a football field to play.

Securing 15,000 attendance for two years straight might be no problem, but it is no gimme. There are a number of FBS schools out there who averaged 15,000 or less last year......Rice, in big town Houston, averaged 13+k.

I also am not expecting huge travel crowds for utsa games. I am also not sure who you think will travel down here to play utsa.

[fyatuk]

I'm not sure how big a problem it will be at all. I just know that it's a bigger problem than securing a football field to play.

Securing 15,000 attendance for two years straight might be no problem, but it is no gimme. There are a number of FBS schools out there who averaged 15,000 or less last year......Rice, in big town Houston, averaged 13+k.

I also am not expecting huge travel crowds for utsa games. I am also not sure who you think will travel down here to play utsa.

It's more of the fact that 1) they are looking for teams within about an 8 hour drive max, 2) a LOT of colleges travel well, and 3) people love coming to SA. And of course they are looking at the service academies, which should get good crowds here in military town USA.

[lebomb]

utsa will most likely never have to worry about tshirt fans like the Aggies or UT or Tech or Baylor or TCU or any other college.

Unlike you, I really, really dont care. I really, really, really, really dont want them to either. I will support the team along with whomever else wants to whether its Alumni or the casual fan.

[lebomb]

Blake we all know you dislike Utsa, and want the football team............. all programs out there to fail. We get it bro.

[j-6]

I'd like to know why the NFL will expand. They have perfect symmetry with eight four team divisions. It would cause an imbalance since they can't grant eight expansion teams at the same time. They have a better chance of absorbing the strongest teams in a rival league than to rock the apple cart and make a couple of divisions five teams, or to go to an imbalanced six division format.

[jack sommerset]

I'd like to know why the NFL will expand. They have perfect symmetry with eight four team divisions. It would cause an imbalance since they can't grant eight expansion teams at the same time. They have a better chance of absorbing the strongest teams in a rival league than to rock the apple cart and make a couple of divisions five teams, or to go to an imbalanced six division format.

No . Not enough good players to go around as is. They should take a few franchises back.

[Blake]

It's more of the fact that 1) they are looking for teams within about an 8 hour drive max, 2) a LOT of colleges travel well, and 3) people love coming to SA. And of course they are looking at the service academies, which should get good crowds here in military town USA.

getting the service academies would definitely be a good thing. If they could somehow get all three in one year that would be a great thing.

I'm just not so sure teams that might accept invites [like utep or Louisiana Monroe] really travel that well.

[Blake]

Unlike you, I really, really dont care. I really, really, really, really dont want them to either. I will support the team along with whomever else wants to whether its Alumni or the casual fan.

Blake we all know you dislike Utsa, and want the football team............. all programs out there to fail. We get it bro.

No, you don't really get it bro. That's why so many give you and the other utsa nutjobs so much .

[lebomb]

No, you don't really get it bro. That's why so many give you and the other utsa nutjobs so much .

Meh? Dont care........I will be downtown tailgating having fun starting in 2011. Have a good evening.

[fyatuk]

getting the service academies would definitely be a good thing. If they could somehow get all three in one year that would be a great thing.

I'm just not so sure teams that might accept invites [like utep or Louisiana Monroe] really travel that well.

Well, UTSATailgaters has "confirmed" that OK State, Kansas State, all three service academies, Houston, and SMU have all already come to an agreement to play UTSA (I don't know where, their phrasing is clunky and makes it sound like all have agreed to play either here, or home and home), and Baylor and TT were close to agreements, for 2013 or 2014.

While those aren't exactly top notch schools or top notch travelers, it's definitely a better class than UTEP or LA-Monroe.

Supposedly, there's been a lot of interest in playing UTSA, even here, because it's a top notch stadium and UTSA shouldn't be that big of a challenge for those schools in 2013 and 2014.