Pro football could be coming to Salt Lake City in February, according to an official of the Professional Spring Football League, which hasn't yet announced its existence.
Ed Valtenbergs said Wednesday from the league's offices in East Rutherford, N.J., that a search is under way for a local owner.The new league plans an Oct. 1 news conference to announce its existence. Valtenbergs said the league's organizers plan a single-entity corporation, licensing each team as a franchise for a fee of $250,000.
Team operations will be funded through the league office, and Valtenbergs said the team would be placed in Salt Lake City even if an owner is not found.
"We have the funding for all league operations," he said.
Valtenbergs said he believed that agreement in principle has been reached for the team to play in the University of Utah's Rice Stadium.
"It suits our needs," he said. "In (Rice Stadium) we could get 35,000, but we'll be happy with 20,000 per game. We're not selling minor league ball, but we're not selling the NFL either."
Florida attorney Mike Meisler, who described himself as "counsel for certain aspects of stadium leasing and player development," said Ned Alger, the university's associate athletic director, had notreturned his phone calls.
But Meisler said he had been told by league president Vincent Sette that "all systems are go for the use of Rice Stadium. Logistically, it is my understanding that Salt Lake City is ready and ripe."
University athletic officials could not be reached by telephone late Wednesday for comment.
He also said the league had been "trying to keep things pretty quiet until we get organized.
"Right now, we have a number of owners. We're just trying to finalize our franchise agreements," Meisler said.
Valtenbergs said the league is designed to be a professional league rather than a minor or developmental league, and that it would pursue NFL players.
The league plans to use a draft system that implements territorial exemptions to try to keep BYU and University of Utah players in the area," he said.
Meisler said a name for the team will be chosen at a board meeting Monday in East Rutherford. His nomination which will be the Salt Lake Stallions.
Meisler said other teams include the Albuquerque Atomics, Las Vegas Aces, Arkansas Miners, Miami Tribe and Columbia (S.C.) Cougars.