another question.... has the league had any discussions as to if there will be celebrations allowed after touchdowns or sacks? A lot of fun was lost in the NFL when the "accessive celebration" rule came into play. i don't think anyone wants to see the "props" thing happen anymore, but it used to be fun to watch the "fun bunch" in washington. I think these big tough well paid football players can handle seeing some people celebrating without having their feelings hurt. If anything, it should serve as motivation not to let the other team score again :)

Frank Vuono Response:

We definitely want our League to be a fun League.  We will allow celebrations as long as it is not taunting of the other team, fans or officials and is in good taste.

 

Since the UFL will produce it's own broadcasts, will there be programs for game and player analysis in addition to the games themselves? What sort of analysts or commentators does the league expect to acquire? The XFL failed miserably in this department.

Frank Vuono's response:

Ron, great question.  I have represented some of the very best football broadcasters during my career.  We have very high expectations on the talent level for our game broadcasters. Since our announcement we have received many inquiries from top professionals in the business.  We will work with VERSUS on the selection of our broadcasters and I can assure you the positions will be comprised of top level talent.

 

 

Frank, I have a few more question. Is Verus on cable or Sat. When is the league offical kickoff and when is your training camp and how long. Last things you can count on me being from the upper midwest to watch the new league kick off. Congrads on making every college football.

Frank Vuono Response:

VERSUS is available on most cable and/or satellite providers.  VERSUS is on DirectTV (channel 603) and the Dish Network (channel 151 in NY area).  The League is officially kicking off in the beginning of October.  Thanks for your support.

 

 

Is the UFL looking for a more "classic" look when it comes the logos and uniform or are you guys looking for the more "attitude", "futuristics" look?

Frank Vuono Response:

The UFL will be real football with real uniforms designs. However, we will try to innovate in all we do. The basic structure of the uniform has not changed on 75 years. We think it's worth examining in terms of materials and look, from a functional and style point of view. In a previous question, I talked about the Charger uniform as one of the all time best. I re-introduced them as part of a "Throwbacks" program when I was running licensing for the NFL.

 

When will we see both general league merchandise and team merchandise available? Will we see league merchandise available before team merchandise? What kind of products does the league intend to sell?

 

Frank Vuono Response:

We are in discussions with a variety of companies to handle our merchandise needs.  A few are well-established companies that provide merchandise to the other professional sports leagues while others are smaller and newer companies looking to break into the professional football market.   We will definitely have merchandise available at the venues during the game and on our website.  League merchandise will most likely be available on our website during the summer.

 

How will the TV broadcast look different than NFL or college football?

Frank Vuono Response:

Kelly, I am really glad that you asked that question.  The UFL will be controlling its own TV production and we are already in negotiation with top-notch directors and producers with Super Bowl production experience. We are confident that our games will have the highest quality production, similar to that of the NFL and college games ,as well as new innnovations.  We will be reviewing the technical innovations over the next few months as we work out the agreements with our providers.  In addition, I am excited about the potential of sponsor integration into our broadcasts.  One such innovation was revealed at MLS' Seattle Sounders game, the sideline LED signage which will be used for the first time in professional football at our games.

 

When and how will the UFL advertise itself?

Frank Vuono Response:

Everything we do marketing-wise will be with a specific purpose.  Our advertising initially will be geated towards sales.  As such we will be announcing an affiliation with a company that we consider to be the best in the business for local market ticket advertising.  We anticipate our local ad campaigns to kick-off early this summer.  We are also contemplating advertising plans with VERSUS to ultimately drive viewership of our nationally televised games. 

 

We have heard in the past that the UFL announcers would emphasize point spreads during the games, something the NFL shuns during its games. Do you still intend or hope to have gambling lines for UFL games, and if so, do you think it presents an issue with pro football players who may have had issues with illegal gambling activities?

Frank Vuono Response:

Practically speaking, we know that people gamble on pro football.  We will most likely be more liberal in allowing our commentators to address point spreads than the NFL has been.  However, we will be sensitive to all federal and state laws regarding the issue and monitor the legal status of sports-related gambling on a regular basis.

 

I have set up websites for fans for each city (and one for the UFL itself). Will you set up booster or fan clubs?

Frank Vuono's Response:

Dennis, we appreciate the enthusiasm and look forward to viewing the websites.  We are in the process of setting up fan clubs and other various fan/community initiative programs.  Please continue to visit our website for future announcements.

 

Hello, I'm a graphic artist and a HUGE football fan. I spend most of the free time i have to draw painting and drawing football images. I've always been a big fan of alternate football leagues, and have done a lot of research on them for my artwork. My reason for this message was to point out a few things in color, name and logo ideas before you get too far into the process. I think it's important to have dynamic logos, of course, but i think it's more important to look at the teams that have come before you and realize which teams have had lasting impact. An example: look at the Colts in the NFL....instantly recognizable, yet it's only a one color logo and simple. There are a lot of fans still around of the USFL collecting today, and the thing i hear most when interacting with them on why they still collect things from that old league today is because of the classic look of the teams. Now, the other side of the coin.... the XFL. They tried to be so "modern" and have their uni's designed by the jersey manufacturers, who, as you could see by their uniforms, knew very little about how to make a classic, lasting impression with a uniform. Also, no matter what market research says, not every team has to be decked out in black or similar dark colors. Here's a great example.... the Chargers. They came out with their new uniforms, and decided to go with the navy as their primary home jersey. Watch a home game of theirs.... there are FAR MORE people wearing the powder blue in the stands than are wearing the navy.  

continued..... Basically, i'm looking forward to seeing your league in the fall, and I just wanted to throw a few things out there. I would have no one to blame but myself if i ended up seeing 4 teams playing against each other, with them all basically looking the same, and i didn't take a few minutes to email the man in charge of it. I've dedicated a large chunk of my life to this game in terms of fandom, and have always wanted to play a role in some way. If you are interested in hearing any more of my thoughts on this, then let me know in your reply, and then i will contact you thru email. If not, then the best of luck to you with the UFL, and i'll be watching anyway :) thanks gene

Frank Vuono Response:

Gene; thanks for this great input. Don't worry, the UFL will be real football with real uniforms designs. However, we will try to innovate in all we do. The basic structure of the uniform has not changed in 75 years. We think it's worth examining in terms of materials and look, from a functional and style point of view. By the way, I have always thought the Charger uniform you mention is one of the all time best. I re-introduced them as part of a "Throwbacks" program when I was running licensing for the NFL.  We want to hear from our fans. The only imitation is we will not accept logo designs for legal reasons. If you are a professional designer, please contact me through email listed on our website. Thanks.
 

 

This doesn't involve "branding," but it has been reported that the UFL championship will be the day after Thanksgiving on a Friday. The league has been saying "Thanksgiving weekend." Has the date been confirmed?

Frank Vuono Response:

We are excited about hosting our Championship Weekend in Vegas.  We are currently working with VERSUS and the venue on the exact timetable.  Please continue to check our website for the most up-to-date information.

 

Frank, I hope you and yours are well. I saw you quoted in The New York Times today. Your launch allows the league to develop a strategy without the burden of legacy issues, and to develop a product conistent with the realities of the marketplace as it exists - a position that has distinct advantages. I just wanted to congratulate you and wish you all the best in your venture with the UFL. Having started my own asset management business in October, 2007, I appreciate the importance of strong, competent, and passionate leadership in a start-up operation - the UFL is in very good hands. All the best, Greg

Frank Vuono Response:

Greg, it's good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliments.  Today's NY Times article only touched on the opportunities that sometimes come during a recession.  Unfortunately, due to lack of space, we were not able to further discuss how the affordability of our tickets are going to be paramount in today's economic climate.  With an average ticket price of $20, a family of four can attend for less than $100 - there are not many professional sports leagues that allow fans the access that we will at such reasonable prices.

 

I am always impressed by the design and decoration of the stadiums and arenas at the Olympics. . . The "Look of the Games" if you will. Will the UFL being putting similar effort into the decoration of it's stadiums for a better gameday experience and to provide a unified visual identity for the league ? Best of luck with the UFL. Jeffrey Allen Sydney, Australia

Frank Vuono Response:

We very much want our games to be entertainment events. The gameday experience for our fans and television audience will be of paramount importance to us. Decorations will definitely be a part of that experience. We also intend to look at having team bands (we really don't understand why most pro football teams don't have bands; it's a great part of the college tradition). We will also defintiely have cheerleaders. Other plans include live music acts and fireworks. We will add and subtract elements as fans give us feedback.

 

First of all, I am very excited and can't wait to see this league take off; now for my question. How many teams do you think this league can support? Will most of the teams be located in major cities or will this league venture out and possibility hit smaller cities, for example Green Bay, WI?

Frank Vuono Response:

Chris, that is a great question.  The plan is to launch our "Premiere" season with 4 teams, expand to 6-8 teams in Year Two and then evaluate our ownership/team status prior to Year Three.  It is important that we do not expand too quickly and that our current teams are fiscally sound to ensure the longevity of the league.  We have already received commitments from two potential ownership groups for Year Two.  The NFL is currrently in less than 30 of the top 50 markets so there are many cities that we would look to expand to.  Interest will be generated for us through the community and the stadium availability so we will be looking at both big and smaller markets.

 

I was wondering also what brand what going to be sponsoring the uniforms for the league? i.e. Under Armour, Nike also another thing i think that can bring excitement and an in depth look at the game and the league would be to have each team have a player followed with a camera during the week in preparation for the game. For team meretings practice, pre game rituals..everythiong in sort of a reality show segment leading up to the game. it would be very different from other leagues and exciting for the fan.

Frank Vuono Response:

Mike, these are great suggestions and please keep them coming.  We are exploring all types of "behind-the-scenes" access to the League executives, coaches and players so that fans develop a connection to the League and/or team.  We are working with our television partner VERSUS as well as the stadiums we are going to be in to make a UFL game an up-close-and-personal experience for all the fans. We also have already been approached to have the UFL's entire first season documented in a reality show; we are weighing the pros and cons of that now. Other reality type programs are on the drawing board as well, perhaps on documenting "open" tryouts in each market.

 

Mr. Vuono i was just like to say that the colors you guys have chosen for the league are very unique and modern adn think its a good look for the league. In terms of uniforms may i suggest teams having a sort of flashy or black alternate unifirm for big games. I think it will help be good for the fans to look at as well as players loving to where alternate colors...also i was wondering if you would be allowing players to wear colored visors?eye shields..it makes the players look very intense E. Brian Dawkins,julius peppers and with in helmet camers would give a unique look of what the game looks like behind the shielg. thanks and good luck with everything

Frank Vuono Response:

Mike, thanks for your compliments on our league logo colors. There is significance to each color. Everything that we do will be carefully thought out to support the personality of our League.  Also, thanks for the suggestions on the uniforms.  I have been a part of the development of "third color" uniforms in every facet of my career in marketing and I believe they generate great fan response, particularly when tied to big games or special events. As for shields, they will not be a part of the official team uniforms, but they may be allowed in individual cases, depending on the findings of our competition committee.

 

Will the UFL expansion into Mexico?

Frank Vuono Response:

International expansion is something we are definitely considering as we know there are avid football fans worldwide. 
 

 

After seeing other start-up leagues, their teams and players impact in the community, what brand of football can we expect from the UFL?

Frank Vuono Response:

There are an abundance of players out there who simply are not getting the chance to play and develop their on-field talent.  We want to provide that opportunity while also providing fans with affordable, accessible and entertaining alternatives.  We have studied the prior leagues and plan to take on some of their best practices while avoiding some of their mistakes that ultimately led to their demise.   It is important to note that some of these alternate leagues were successful in creating a fan base and attracting them in large numbers to the games.  The UFL will be scheduling various community programs/initiatives in our “Premiere” season markets that will foster a sense of ownership by the fans.  Additionally, in 2010, we are implementing an IPO structure so that the fans will have a true kinship with the team via ownership.

 

Do you think you will reach out to older players in the nfl that seem to want to keep playing however the nfl teams shy away from? I know young Qbs need more work so the UFL will help them but, it would be nice to see the veterans of the sport still have a shot.

Frank Vuono Response:

The UFL is a League of opportunity for new and experienced players.  We are working with our coaching staffs to seek the best potential candidates on the field that will provide our fans with quality football at affordable prices.

 

Players are the products, drive the "business" and are the key selling pieces of every league. What kind of Player Development programming will you have in place to proactively address off the field concerns and player representation of the UFL? As this is an area of personal and professional interest to me. Best of luck to you and your staff with the UFL's inaugural season.

Frank Vuono Response:

We agree with your assesment that players are the products that drive our business.  Most of our League executives have been player advocates during their careers.  At one point in time, I personally spearheaded the QB Club to allow the top stars to control their own rights for intellectual property and for business development.  While it was novel at the time for a league excutive to help players and "bring them out from under the helmet", we knew it would help the popularity of the league.  Since we are positioning the UFL as the League where future stars are born, we feel very strongly in the development of our players on and off the field and we will put in place programs to maximize their potential while providing for their safety.

 

Frank , will there be a plan for community outreach Marketing:such as Players or league representatives visiting Pop Warner or High School football camps this summer or at anytime in the fture?

Frank Vuono Response:

We absolutely intend to be involved in the communities we are in.  Part of our mission as a League will be to promote the game of football at the grassroots level.  Since we intend to play some games on Friday nights, there has been a concern about competing with the high school.  We will work with local high schools, and in fact, may have teams play either before or after our games to large audiences.  Additionally, we will be looking to aid high school programs in whatever manner we can, including the potential of providing new playing fields.

 

Does the UFL have any internships available?

Frank Vuono Response:

We are always looking for qualified people, including interns.  Please submit your resume to jobinquiry@ufl-football.com.

 

Will the games be televised in Canada? If not, will we able to see them via your Web site?

 

Frank Vuono Response:

We are thrilled that we have received interest for international distribution.  As soon as we have reached any agreement, we will announce it.  We will be streaming all of our games live on our website.

 

Will there be any open tryouts? If not how do players set up tryouts?

Frank Vuono Response:

Commissioner Huyghue addressed the issue of open tryouts during his chat last week.  We are primarily going to be signing players from NFL rosters during this year's training camp season.  The coaches will also sign street free agents and veteran players as they become available from NFL rosters. We are considering open tryouts in our local markets but a final decision has not been made.  We encourage you to keep checking the website for further information as this is the primary way we are going to communicate with future players.

 

I was the Office Mgr, Merchandise Mgr and Sr Ticket Sales Rep for the Las Vegas Gladiators for two years before they moved to Cleveland. I would like to know who the owners are so I can pursue a position with the Las Vegas franchise...I am so EXCITED to have a football league return to Vegas. You can contact me at 702.260.9698

Frank Vuono Response:

Pamela, we think Las Vegas is a great market for professional football.  We are excited to have Las Vegas as one of our "Premiere" season markets .   The UFL is a league of opportunity for players and personnel alike.  We are seeking professional skills at the highest caliber on the field; however, we are always looking for talented individuals in our front offices.  If you feel you may make a good addition to our team, please send a resume to jobinquiry@ufl-football.com.

 

Will the pro tryouts for the league creat an opportunity for those players to be drafted and what will the base salary of each player be? Thanks. Jimmy

Frank Vuono Response:

Jimmy, please see my previous answers regarding tryouts.  With regards to the base salary of players, on a per game basis our minimum salaries will be equal or greater to NFL practice squad salaries, while our maximum salary will be equivalent to the NFL four year minimum salary.

 

Mr Vuono, I think the UFL is a fantastic idea and I think the execution so far has been great with one exception: Why are all of the teams training together? I would think that establishing teams in communities would require an investment in local facilities. Having teams fly in for "home games" and then fly back to AZ doesn't make sense to me. I don't see how fans can relate to these teams in this way. I'm sure you have a good reason, so I'd like to hear about it. As a Western Massachusetts resident, the idea of a local team in Hartford really excites me. I plan on supporting the UFL when play begins later this year. Ted Rosenholm

Frank Vuono Response:

Ted, thanks for your thoughtful question.  Building team loyalty is paramount for any start-up league, including the UFL. Our teams will train out of a centralized location during the season only for this Premiere season.  (From a coaching and personnel perspective, we felt it would be beneficial to share resources, foster talent pools and enhance camaraderie amongst the players - all which could prove invaluable as we plan for 2010. ) After this year, we will centrally train for camp, but each team will then train in their respective city during the season.  Even though we will centrally train this year, the UFL will still implement various community programs/initiatives in our "Premiere" season markets that will foster a sense of ownership by the fans.

 

Will the UFL use a standard brown leather football similar to the NFL or USFL or do you plan on throwing caution to the wind and going for an eye catching game ball like the 1967 red, white and blue ABA basketball or the gold with red stripes ball from the 1974 WFL season?

Frank Vuono Response:

John, this is a great question.  I've always been a fan of the ABA basketball and WFL football.  There are many factors to take into consideration when exploring different concepts for the football.  Of paramount importance is not interfering with the performance of the ball in an attempt to in any way alter its look and feel (remember the NBA's attempt to introduce a synthetic leather ball?). Applied colors, logo's and other marks like our Commissioner's signature can all affect ball performance. The way the ball looks to receivers is another important factor. Furthermore, how the ball projects on TV is very important.  We would like to be creative with the design of our football but at the same time we understand the ramifications of making a change.  We are discussing this concept internally and will come to a final decision in the upcoming months.  Please continue to visit our website as we may post a few concepts/designs and have the fans vote on which one they like best.

 

I understand the coaches are going to NFL camps but what if you are not at an NFL camp but you think you can play in this league. How do you do it. Are they having tryouts? How does a good player from a school like christopher newport in virginia get in touch with Jim Haslett to try out for the orlando team?

Frank Vuono Response:

We are primarily going to be signing players from NFL rosters during this year's training camp season.  The coaches will also sign street free agents and veteran players as they become available from NFL rosters. We are considering open tryouts in our local markets but a final decision has not been made.  We encourage you to keep checking the website for further information as this is the primary way we are going to communicate with future players.  Coaches can also sign a certain number of "wildcards" who they may know from prior years.

 

Will the San Francisco team be shared with Sacramento? Also will Sacramento be considered to house its own team next season?

Frank Vuono Response:

In our “Premiere” season, we are trying to schedule one of San Francisco’s home games in Sacramento.  With regards to expansion in 2010, Sacramento is definitely a market we are considering.

 

What are the prospects of having a full league season with more than four teams in 2010? Are smaller markets open for teams? For example, Fort Wayne, Indiana or Grand Rapids, Michigan? Thanks, Drew Kuespert Fremont, Indiana

Frank Vuono Response:

Drew, we are already in discussions about expansion cities for 2010 and beyond.  In addition to the larger markets (i.e. Los Angeles), we are also exploring smaller markets that have great potential to be host cities for the UFL.

 

Yes or no: do you expect any of the four team names to be from corporate sponsors?

Frank Vuono Response:

Mike, unfortunately I cannot provide you with a yes or no answer.  There are many factors to be considered when formulating corporate partnerships.  It becomes even more complex if you choose to explore integrating the corporate name into the team's identity.  As I stated earlier, we are exploring all options for our "Premiere" season since we will not announce our official team names/logos until the 2010 season.  I can promise you that the strategy we choose for our "Premiere" season will be done tastefully and with the League's and our fans' best interest in mind.

 

Hi.Mr Vuono.How many players will each team have and will all be eligible to be in uniform for each game ? Will there be a replay/challenge system in place ? Seven officials on the field ? What will the league's overtime procedure be ? Will the rules be NFL,NCAA or a combination of both ? Will there be a salary maximum/minimum for each team ? Thanks for your time in answering these questions.I look forward to seeing this league do well. Paul, Andover, MA.

Frank Vuono Response:

Paul, all great questions.  Commissioner Huyghue answered many of them in his previous chat.  I would suggest visiting his chat page from last week as he provided great insight on how our league will be structured.

 

Hello. I have only one question for now. Being a football fan from Europe, I don't have access to American tv channels. So, my question is: will the UFL have an online video service, like all other pro sports leagues in the US, so that worldwide fans can watch live games online? Thanks. Cristian

Frank Vuono Response:

Cristian, it’s great to see we will have an international audience.  You will absolutely be able to watch streaming live UFL games on our website during our “Premiere” season.

 

the Orlando Rage of the XFL was the last pro football franchise to reside in Orlando. Despite strong fan support, the league only lasted one year. What sort of long term financial strategy do you have in place to ensure that the same thing doesn't happen to the UFL - or is it a possibility that this experiment too may only last one season?

Frank Vuono Response:

Matt, we believe the financial model that Bill Hambrecht, Tim Armstrong, Paul Pelosi and our other investors created will provide us with the resources needed to expand beyond our "Premiere" season.  We also feel the Public IPO model (2010 season) will provide every fan with a true sense of ownership while adding to the long term sustainability of the League.

 

Mr. Vuono, What sort of model will you be using in regard to team names and uniforms? Will they be based on fan polls, corporate sponsors or decided by the league as a whole? Will the look of the teams be classic or vintage based as compared to a futuristic look? Thanks and best of luck! Bob at the Virtual USFL

Frank Vuono Response:

I have spent most of my career building brands, and I therefore look forward to building our team "brands".  Given our commitment to our fans, we intend to have fans input and eventually choose our team names.   However, we will make sure that the name selection reflects the personality of the home city/area.  Uniform designs and colors will also be carefully selected to reflect the team's "brand personality".  We intend to have fun and be innovative in this naming process, but we also have to take into consideration many business factors.  For this season, we may not actually name our teams.  The first issue with naming teams now is three of our four teams will play in two cities. Another is we want to give the fan voting process a chance to work; while our publicity has been good so far, we certainly have not yet reached as many fans as we think would like to have input.  Finally, we know that once team names and logos are developed our fans will want to buy product.  We will have to do a lot of legal work to protect our marks (we don't want to have people use our marks without permission) and that takes time.

 

Overtime? College like or NFL like?

Frank Vuono Response:

We are currently discussing our overtime rule as well as other rule enhancements.  Our overtime will not be the same as the NFL. Once a final decision is made our fans will be the first to know.

 

Is it possible to send in potential logo designs with our proposed team names for each city?

Frank Vuono Response:

Erik, we are always open to suggestions and welcome the fan's input for our team names.  Proposed team names can be submitted via our online campaign.  We cannot accept submissions for logo designs for legal reasons. If you are a professional designer, please send us your info via the email addresses on our website.