In a "middle of the night" move, owner Sid Allison took his franchise out of Memphis, falling out of grace one could say and into Salt Lake City, Utah.
"It was time" the owner said. "I've never actually been to Memphis so it made sense to me".
"Salt Lake has grown exponentially over the past decade, it's no longer a place where everyone knows everyone. It has plenty of people who want a team and will support a football team there."

The team will be called the Templars, their colors are Crimson, White, and Onyx. The don't have an official stadium to call their own for the time being so they will play a Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. It has a capacity about 20,000 less than the Elvis Aaron Pressley Memorial Dome.

"I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the fans in Memphis. We cheered together, we went through the bad times together, but all things have an end." was Sid's message he wanted the people to hear.

Do they sell beer at the Templars games on Sunday?

Oh yeah. Utah has changed in that way as well. I went to a soccer match at an academy and they had beer there. I was surprised. Utah is losing a lot of it's uniqueness with all the new people coming in. It's like every where else now.

I went through Salt Lake City this year on vacation. Spent one day there when passing through. It was a Sunday. I went to the mall right across from the Temple and everything was closed. Definitely a unique sight to see even Walgreens/Nordstrom/everything closed.

Arkansans can’t buy beer on Sundays. Another arcane law.

I wish I would have known you were in town norm. I realize that we really don't know each other but I would have liked to have met you. That mall is the only one in town that is closed on Sunday. All the other ones are business as usual. Beer is sold here on Sunday. No hard stuff though. I have taken rides up to Evanston, Wyoming on a Sunday or two to get some Stoli but I quit drinking a few years ago and I really don't miss it at all.
But yeah, Sundays in Salt Lake City can be a little quiet downtown but if you know where to go, it's got some things going on.

TEMPLARS START THE PRE SEASON COLD

The Templars were in Waco, Texas to take on The Real Kayfabe at the Firefly Fun House last night and things could have played out better.

But we will try to be positive.

McCrea got the start and really couldn't get the offense moving. He didn't throw any picks though. He went 7/16 for 62 yards, 32 of them yards coming on a screen play to RB Angell. He was sacked a couple of times.
David Espinal threw 2 picks but he had the team driving at the 2 minute mark of the 4th Quarter and it looked like it may be the dreaded first game OT. (That's how teams get banged up quick) He had the team just about to the red zone when the Kayfabe pulled a reversal and sacked the Rookie twice, taking away any chance for a score.

On defense MLB Zamora forced a fumble and Danger Grainger opened his sack account with 1. We hope to see good things from the big fella this and many seasons to come.

The Real Kayfabe 7 Salt Lake 0.

I passed through with the family on our way up to Yellowstone, so probably wouldn’t have had much time for a meet up had I known you were around. Also had the whole family in tow.

In our one day there, we visited the State Capitol, Temple Square (in the afternoon - some folks said to go morning and listen to the choir but it was a lot calmer to go later), City Creek Center, Great Salt Lake, Ensign Peak. Drove around also and saw stuff like the Vivint Arena and the Air Force Museum in Ogden. So we filled up our time passing through.

Last went through Salt Lake about 20 years ago. Still much more quiet there on Sundays than out in California. And driving through Idaho, Wyoming I never realized how much Mormon stuff is out there everywhere. The Templars probably have a big fan base to draw on.

I'm happy you were able to see that much. I'll be the freeways here were like a ghost town to you being from LA. Some Mormons that arrived in Salt Lake were told to go South and they did. All the way to San Diego. They started Las Vegas.

It's understandable not being able to meet up. Everyone is busy and we really don't know each other.

I'm going to put this out there but any of you guys in this Moguls League come through Salt Lake City and have time, let me know and i'll give you my number. I would like to say hi.

TEMPLARS HOME DEBUT RUINED BY WRAITHS

The team was a Rice-Eccles Stadium to begin the new era last night and were haunted by the Las Vegas Wraiths 19-3.
The team could only muster up 76 yards total offense compared to 372 by Vegas. The QB duo will probably have nightmares tonight as they were sacked 9 times.
The offense went 1-13 on 3rd down situations. The visitors also controlled the ball for 42 minutes to our 18 minutes.
On a more positive note. Rookie LDE Mickey McCloud had a sack, his first as a pro. and Lakes got to the QB once.
We need to get this team moving the football on offense and creating some turnovers on Defense quick as the Regular season is getting closer.