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The commissioner specifically mentioned Des Moines, Iowa, and Wichita, Kan., as possible markets for future expansion. Both cities have metropolitan area populations slightly smaller than Omaha – each are between 550,000 and 600,000 residents - and both have existing facilities that could accommodate a UFL team. Wichita's Cessna Stadium holds just more than 31,000 fans while Des Moines has both Drake Stadium, home of the renowned Drake Relays, and Principal Park, a baseball stadium that is home to the Iowa Cubs, the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affiliate.

Huyghue said a Midwest counterpart could provide a natural rival to Omaha while taking advantage of the football fervor found in that part of the country.

“Everyone is talking about (Omaha) in the other markets, and they only can say 'the people there just really love football,'” Commissioner Huyghue said. “But then, (Nighthawks fans) are supporting everything else, so it gives people a real appreciation for Omaha. It's a name all of our markets are speaking about when they really didn't know much about it at all.”