The UFL publicly has admitted that the upstart league is having trouble making ends meet.
A memo from Commissioner Michael Huyghue to “the fans of the United Football League,” Huyghue writes that the UFL “will catch up on our bills and resolve any issues with our business partners in due course,” which is an indirect reference to: (1) the fact that players weren’t paid for the final week of the season, weeks after the season ended; and (2) Mark Cuban has recently sued for the recovery of a $5 million loan that is past due.
Huyghue also strongly implied that the league considered not proceeding with a third season. “Last week at our Board Meeting the owners agreed to fund 2011 because they believe in the UFL and they believe in the progress that we have made,” Huyghue said.
In other words, there was a chance that the owners would have chosen not to fund a third season.
It all makes us wonder whether there will be a fourth season. Even if the NFL has a work stoppage, we simply don’t believe enough people care about the UFL.