UNA's postponed football season will hurt Shoals businesses
Credit: WAAY ABC Huntsville, AL
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About what the fall holds.
Breken?
The marriott here in florence told me it's already lost some businesses because of the uncertainty of the football season.
Their big money maker isn't fans - it's una's opposing teams that stay here.
Now - all of that is up in the air.
Miller- with home games it does mean for the hotel and community that were going to lose that economic revenue that we would generally get.
Selena miller is marriott of the shoal's director of sales and marketing.
She said in general the hotel industry has taken a huge hit.
And locally - the possibility of losing the money that comes with una's football season is another blow.
Miller- while it definetly hurts the university it also hurts the entire shoals area.
Monday i spoke with head football coach chris willis.
He said the football team makes money for the university.
U-n-a was supposed play virginia tech on september 26th.
Tech canceled because of the pandemic.
Now - it's unclear if they will have to pay una the $425,000 they were going to get for the game.
Willis- the school lawyer is going through the paperwork but just not having football in itself it's going to be a big financial hit around here.
Football is the cash cow that runs everything that goes and if you don't have a season you aren't bringing in any money.
Willis told waay31 today he hopes to play four non- conference games to help make up for financial losses.
As for miller- she said they are working with the university to offer those hotel packages for teams. miller- we've been talking with una and working with them what do we need to do?
How do we help each other.
I know una has been looking at other teams coming in to play so however we can help the university and continue our partnership with them that's what we want to do willis told me earlier in the week some players have concerns too.
If the school decides to play four non-conference games - players could use up a year of eligibility with no guarantee games will be played in teh spring!
The ncaa is supposed to make a ruling on eligibility friday - and u-n-a said it will make a decision on its fall games after that.
Live in flo bt waay31.