Changes come to UFL

When the United Football League kicks off next spring – and I think at this point we can safely say “when” and not “if” – it’ll mark five consecutive years of stable minor league spring football.

From a historical perspective, that’s a significant achievement.

Beginning with the new United States Football League in 2022, the third version of the XFL in 2023, and the union of the two that created the UFL in 2024, many players who might otherwise be out of play-for-pay football have another option.

And when they return to the circuit in 2026, some will be playing for new teams in new stadiums.

The UFL announced major changes this morning, with the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings and Orlando Storm replacing the Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and San Antonio Brahmas.

The Birmingham Stallions, DC Defenders and St. Louis Battlehawks return unchanged, but the Arlington Renegades are now the Dallas Renegades and the Houston Roughnecks will be the Houston Gamblers.

The Renegades return to their XFL city branding, while Houston will claim the iconic Gamblers identity (with tweaked logo and colors) from both the original and rebooted USFL.

“Today marks an important step forward for the United Football League,” Mike Repole, co-owner of the United Football League, said in a league-issued statement. “Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando are true football cities with deep sports roots. We’re proud to bring professional football to these communities – in energetic, fan-driven stadiums built to create an authentic gameday experience and strengthen the foundation of this league for years to come.

“We’re heading into this season with new teams, new markets, new venues, and a renewed energy that reflects the momentum building around this league.”

While TV ratings have been good enough to convince ESPN and FOX to keep it on the air, the UFL has been a more difficult sell when it comes to getting people to show up for games.

And frankly, with every contest televised, there’s not as much motivation for John Q. and Joan Q. Public to brave unpredictable spring weather and summer heat. (If a game has an afternoon start and it’s 95 degrees, your ol’ Uncle Scott is gonna choose the couch potato option 10 times out of 10).

So, instead of agonizing over the size of the in-house fan base, officials have opted to shrink the venue size.

Gone are the Showboats (50,000-seat Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium), Panthers (65,000-seat Ford Field) and Brahmas (64,000-seat Alamodome).

Their replacements will ply their trade in stadiums better suited for Triple A football crowds. Columbus will play at Historic Crew Stadium (20,000); Louisville will call  Lynn Family Stadium (15,000) home; and Orlando will serve as host at Inter&Co Stadium (25,500).

Columbus’ most recent foray into “major” minor league football was the Ohio Glory, which was part of the World League of American Football in 1992.

Louisville rarely comes to mind when talking about pro football history, but it should; the Kentucky city had an NFL team from 1921-23 (the Louisville Brecks) and one in 1926 (the Louisville Colonels).

The Orlando Guardians averaged 12,011 fans during their 2023 XFL season, but weren’t part of the XFL/USFL merger. And in 2019, the city hosted a team in the ill-fated Alliance of American Football.

The Orlando Apollos, coached by Steve Spurrier, had the AAF’s best record (7-1) when the league folded and was second in attendance behind San Antonio with 19,648 fans per game.

As for Houston, it’s not only getting a new old nickname, but will play at cozy Shell Energy Stadium, which holds just over 20,000 fans.

The only oversize stadiums left in the league are in St. Louis and Birmingham.

The Battlehawks regularly draw more than 30,000 fans per game to The Dome at America’s Center (67,000 capacity), while the Stallions do well to put 10,000 customers in Protective Stadium (47,100).

The UFL is also doing away with the UFL and XFL Conferences, which I think is a good move. Instead, it’ll be one eight-team league with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.

Although Repole joins FOX, RedBird Capital Partners, ESPN, Dany Garcia, and Dwayne Johnson in the UFL ownership group, it’s apparent he’s going to be the primary decision-maker going forward.

He’s already talked of expansion for 2028 as well as eventually moving teams out of the Arlington hub and into their own markets.

For the UFL to put down roots – real roots – that last idea is the most important.

I completely understand the use of a hub as a money-saving measure, but this proof of concept approach has served its purpose.

For fans to truly embrace their team, that team needs to be part of their town – not just weekend visitors.

At any rate, here’s hoping today’s news proves to be good news for the UFL and fans of spring football.