2026 will mark the third consecutive year of operation for the United Football League. Changes with respect to some of the league’s markets will be in place by the time the campaign begins. 
Entrepreneur and co-founder of the likes of Vitaminwater, Smartwater and BodyArmor Mike Repole has joined the UFL’s investment group. He is now in control of the league’s business operations. Repole spoke about his intentions in an interview with ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
Ahead of the 2026 season, at least two teams – and as many as four – will be based out of a different market. It is not yet clear which markets will be departing the league, but Repole noted Columbus will be among the new ones. The UFL will remain at eight teams for the coming season. If his vision for the league is fulfilled, though, that number will grow considerably. Repole aims for the UFL to have 10-12 teams within the next five years and 16 within the next decade.
“We’re going to be aggressive as far as being nimble and scrappy and gritty and making aggressive moves,” Repole said. “If by 2035, if we can’t have 16 teams, I’m going to consider it a personal failure. This is it. Other leagues didn’t have the capital that this league has, didn’t have the media giants that this league has, didn’t have the entrepreneurs that this team has.”
Investment from the likes of RedBird Capital along with league co-owners Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, and broadcast partnerships with ESPN and FOX have allowed the UFL to operate so far. Repole rightfully noted that – with the exception of the St. Louis Battlehawks – attendance represents a key issue. St. Louis has averaged roughly 30,000 fans per home game, but that figure ranges from 5,000-12,000 on average for the UFL’s other markets. Relocation will be aimed at raising attendance levels while expansion receives consideration.
The UFL recently trademarked four team names which date back to the original USFL: the Oakland Invaders, the Philadelphia Stars, the New Jersey Generals and the Tampa Bay Bandits. Once more information about the upcoming changes becomes available, it would come as no surprise if one or more of those locations were to become new markets for a franchise.
St. Louis needs to bring home the championship! #KaKaw
St Louis belongs back in the NFL.
It’s a baseball town and they already have 2 strikes against them.
Obviously, you don’t relocate from a market that is bringing you success so the UFL has some problems solidifying their fan base. Hopefully one of the teams relocates to a playground close to Goku.
Columbus isn’t far. I’m pretty pumped
Deck chairs on the Titanic
Bring back the Pittsburgh Maulers. But don’t bring back the old purple and orange color combo.
Who are you directing this to?
Grok, probably.
“If any historical figure could bring back the Pittsburgh Maulers…”
Absolutely one of the best nicknames in the old USFL!!!!!!! I don’t remember their colors, and I believe they joined the league in its second season. Pittsburgh would be a great place to play. I think the UFL can both pay tribute to the original USFL, and be creative at the same time, by having the old Breakers franchise play in Boston…AND New Orleans…AND Portland!!!!!!! Or have the old Oklahoma Outlaws face the old San Antonio Gunslingers…EVERY WEEK!!!!!! It would be like watching Bonanza every week!!!!!!
I had another idea that both honors the past and yet is still creative…at the UFL Championship Game, the loser pays the winner $1…and in the post-game festivities, The Rock ceremoniously trebles the award to $3!!!!!!! Oh, the pageantry!!!! Get Jim Nantz to announce the postgame ceremonies: “…a tradition unlike any other…”
UFL, the Ultimately Flopping Losers. FINALLY THE UFL WILL COME BACK TO, Paducah, Kentucky,– Valdosta, Georgia — Parhump, Nevada — and — Tijuana, Mexico, with hope that French Lick, Indiana will join in 2027. The new commissioner will be Chad Ochocinco and there will be no referee’s. Horse collar tackles, tripping and nad punches are allowed. Come watch us on Analog TV, channel 73.
Oakland Columbus san Diego san Antonio Milwaukee all towns that dont have nfl
Other leagues may or may not have had those things, but it still took a lot of time and failure to build the NFL (and sport of football) into what it is today. The NFL is also firmly in place as a giant competitor, and NIL has made college its own minor league complete with its own kings to make money there. The UFL can stick around, certainly, but it needs to be patient and consistent. Getting too aggressive and transitory may end up backfiring. Half of the league might have fans, and the other half might end up akin to traveling curiosities if they move too much.
In my personal opinion it is more exciting to watch arena football than the UFL. More action, faster scores, strippers for cheerleaders, you get to keep the footballs when you catch them, and these guys try so much harder than 97.5% of the UFL guys. I’ve been to games and it’s non stop action, whereas UFL games seem like you’re watching Friday night high school games. Just my 2 cents.
Lloyd Howell: “Strippers for cheerleaders?…count me in.
I cant get into Arena. Just doesn’t feel like real football
For anyone interested:
The Houston Roughnecks will be moving to Columbus next season. The team will likely play at Historic Crew Stadium, owned by Jimmy Haslam.
The Orlando Guardians are also likely coming back to play at Camping World Stadium. The XFL still has an unused year left on their lease from 2023, while the stadium has undergone renovations the past 2 years.
Memphis will be moving to one of the new cities who put in expansion applications with the league office last season.
These cities include, but are not limited to Louisville, Orlando, Boise, Oklahoma
There is a fan effort to keep the Stallions in Birmingham, but they might move if a better deal at Protective is not reached. Birmingham has struggled to grow outside the USFL since the merger, despite being a dominant force on the field.
Michigan’s attendance spiked last season, reaching an avg of 16k per game, but reports are that Ford Field is much too expensive to play at, and there’s minimal other options to play at in the Detroit area.
Boise has shown tremendous fan interest, but reports are that planned off-season stadium renovations could delay their debut until 2027
Potential new stadiums include:
– Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville
– Albertsons Stadium in Boise
– Skelly Field in Tulsa
– Camping World in Orlando
– Historic Crew in Columbus
The league is giving cities a September 1st deadline to complete their stadium deals.
There is a 50% chance of Birmingham staying
And a 30% chance of Michigan renewing at Ford
Memphis and Houston will be moving to new cities.
The new cities will be formally announced at the UFL Draft in early September.
This year features a new later draft date in September which makes more sense after NFL cuts , than when it had been held in July in the past
I feel bad you’re too invested into this thing. We’re focused on the start of NFL season. See you next year, Goku.
Oh boy, minor league football talk. Why do people waste time watching this? This was over sold as quality football and they have never recovered. To use the USFL as name recognition when it started was a joke, just like the play.
These new spin offs are TV leagues. They assumed the fans of the NFL would pay attention. When they didn’t and do not it continues to flounder. Now they want to shuffle teams?
At least with the real “New leagues” back in the day the USFL and WFL. They tried to attract real NFL players. These leagues just use castoffs and minor league talent.
If it is a developmental league. Get the NFL on board for farm teams. Otherwise, don’t waste your money.
Today’s attendance is 3, 506. This is the ninetieth straight sell out at Ore Ida Stadium in Boise!!!!!! Go Tots!!!!!!!!!!!