Home field in question for Locos

There is a four-team league, a national TV contract and a schedule, announced Wednesday. Now all the Locomotives need is a place to play their fourth United Football League season and players to represent them on the field, wherever that field might be.

The Locos, who won the first two UFL titles and reached October's championship game before falling to Virginia, will open their season Sept. 19 at home against Sacramento. The team again plans to play at Sam Boyd Stadium, assuming it can settle an $80,000 debt to UNLV and post a check that will make good on the rent for the four home games in 2012.

"If they pay up and pay all anticipated expenses for the upcoming season, sure, we'll have them back," said Mike Newcomb, director of the Thomas & Mack Center. "But given their track record, we're not going to extend them any more credit. They'll have to pay in advance."

The Locos' alternative is to play at Cashman Field. Team president and coach Jim Fassel said he has met with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority about playing at Cashman and is scheduled to meet with Newcomb today regarding a return to Sam Boyd.

"I hope to have a venue nailed down by next week," Fassel said.

Fassel said he is trying to address several issues, some football-related, the others of a financial nature. The league, which has lost $120 million in its first three years, still owes individuals and companies in excess of $2 million.

There's a workmen's compensation issue that remains unresolved in which the UFL is on the hook for several million dollars. And there's the matter of trying to come up with a marketing plan, sell tickets and win back the trust of fans who found themselves having one game to attend last year before the league dropped the final two weeks of its regular-season schedule to save money.

The UFL again will consist of Las Vegas, Sacramento, Virginia and Omaha. Seven of Las Vegas' eight games will be played on Wednesdays, with the Oct. 25 game at Virginia on a Thursday.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Fassel said. "We're behind. But we have a plan to address all of that. We know what we owe down to the last nickel, and we're going to make good on all our debts."

Players will report to training camp Aug. 23, with the first on-field workout scheduled for Aug. 26.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.