SARASOTA -- A Sarasota franchise will begin play in the Ultimate Indoor Football League early next year.

The Sarasota Thunder will be unveiled at a Thursday news conference at Robarts Arena.

The Thunder are the third of 10 expansion teams to be announced by the UIFL, joining the Indianapolis Panthers and Missouri (St. Charles, Mo.) Monsters. The other seven expansion teams will be unveiled in the next 60 days. There are existing teams in Lakeland and Estero.

The 2013 season is expected to begin in late February or early March. Sarasota will play seven home games.

Jared Lorenzen, the former University of Kentucky and New York Giants quarterback, is the league commissioner.

Visit www.uiflfootball.com for more information on the league.