NORFOLK, VA — Professional football moved one step closer to Hampton Roads with the head of a recently-formed league in town to give his blessing officially and the team owner saying that he is likely to select a stadium in a month.Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the fledgling United Football League, removed the "conditional" tag from the start-up franchise awarded to the area last month after fully vetting team owner Jim Speros and receiving assurances that a suitable playing facility could be secured.
"I wanted to bring the league in and get comfortable," Speros said Monday during a presser at downtown Norfolk's World Trade Center, "so people don't think we're trying to play this (area) against Richmond or Raleigh. That's over with. We put the stake down today. We're coming here, we're going to play football here in 2011, and the venue will be announced soon."
Speros, who spent weeks crisscrossing Hampton Roads, said that he will choose from Old Dominion's Foreman Field, Norfolk State's Dick Price Stadium, Harbor Park and the Virginia Beach Sportsplex for a game venue, though he intends to hold scrimmages and practices all over the area.
"The good news is right now that the league is comfortable with us," he said. "We have a home. All the mayors want us, the community wants us, the business leaders want us. There's nobody (who has) told us that they won't embrace it and help us be successful."
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