The United Football League (UFL) took a big step with the 2025 season. After the season, Russ Brandon, President & CEO, and his team conducted a thorough review of their strategy. The goal? “A super accessible and innovative football experience” – not only for the fans but also for the teams and the cities themselves. This led to the decision to deliberately focus on smaller stadiums in the future to create a unique atmosphere. UFL President Russ Brandon emphasises: “We want to create a unique atmosphere on match days.” Just as fans now have more ways to engage with football, modern digital platforms also offer new experiences for enthusiasts, such as using a Stay Casino promo code to access special offers and promotions – showing how accessibility and innovation can extend beyond the stadium. This development has consequences – both for the structure of the league and for the participating teams.
The league in transition
To make this possible, all markets and stadiums were critically examined – with far-reaching consequences. At the end of the 2025 season, the UFL will withdraw from the Memphis (Showboats), Detroit (Michigan Panthers), and San Antonio (Brahmas) markets because the available stadium options no longer fit the league’s new vision. “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Memphis, Michigan, and San Antonio markets. Unfortunately, the stadium options currently available in these regions do not fit with our new vision.” The door remains open for a return, but only when the conditions – especially regarding stadiums – are right. Renewed expansion into these cities is possible in principle as part of the expansion plans for 2028.
Although the future for these three cities is unclear for the time being, the league remains hopeful of a possible return: “With a view to possible expansion in 2028, we remain confident that the right venues will become available in these markets so that we can return and bring UFL football back to these communities.” For now, however, the UFL will continue to grow in other, more suitable locations. A new team in Columbus, Ohio, has already been confirmed for 2026, and two more new franchises are set to be officially announced shortly.
The 2025 season: champions, standings and the role of the departing teams
The UFL consisted of eight teams in the 2025 season, organised into two conferences:
USFL Conference: Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers
XFL Conference: Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks
Each conference played a round-robin tournament during the regular season, at the end of which the two highest-ranked teams advanced to the playoffs. The system is based on the successful models of the NFL but is specifically tailored to the challenges of a spring league.
The Birmingham Stallions (USFL Conference) and St. Louis Battlehawks (XFL Conference) each secured their conference titles. The Michigan Panthers and DC Defenders also qualified for the grand final via the playoffs.
The 2025 UFL Championship Game
The 2025 UFL Championship Game was contested by the DC Defenders (XFL Conference) and the Michigan Panthers (USFL Conference). The Defenders prevailed with an impressive 58-34 victory over the Panthers, claiming the title and producing the highest-scoring game in the league’s young history. The Panthers were narrowly defeated after a strong season, while the defending champions, the Stallions, as well as the Showboats and Brahmas, were eliminated early on.
The San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks have traditionally been among the league’s top attractions, with St. Louis in particular standing out for its passionate fan base. The Battlehawks set several league records, including 460 yards of offensive gain in a single game. The D.C. Defenders’ season was marked not only by their title-round debut but also by an outstanding final home game in the XFL Conference Championship against the Brahmas in front of 34,379 spectators – an unforgettable sporting event.
The end for Memphis, Michigan and San Antonio: facts behind the decision
The Memphis Showboats recorded the lowest average attendance in the league, with around 4,157 spectators per game – despite a victory against Houston at the end of the season, the market was unable to establish itself in terms of sporting success or fan popularity. The Michigan Panthers and San Antonio Brahmas, on the other hand, were among the strongest franchises in the UFL in 2025, achieving the third- and fourth-best figures in the league with 8,134 and 11,888 spectators per game, respectively.
Nevertheless, the decision was made to suspend these teams because the stadiums in Michigan (Ford Field, approx. 58,300 seats) and San Antonio (Alamodome, over 73,000 seats) are simply too large for the UFL – with an average of 8,000 to 12,000 visitors, the venues seemed too empty, detracting from the stadium experience. In Memphis (approx. 58,000 seats), there was also no alternative, suitable venue.
The league deliberately focuses on smaller stadiums with lower capacity to create a denser, more intense atmosphere. “No one wants to turn on the television and see 10,000 fans in a 65,000-seat stadium. It looks like a game from the COVID era,” sums up new UFL investor Mike Repole.
An overview of the attendance figures for all UFL teams
How popular is the UFL match day really? Demand varies greatly from city to city. The St. Louis Battlehawks have always been the league’s driving force: with over 34,000 spectators per game at The Dome at America’s Center, they remain the undisputed crowd pullers. The D.C. Defenders attracted more than 12,000 fans on the opening weekend of 2025, achieving the largest crowd across the entire weekend. The Birmingham Stallions (10,255 spectators per game), San Antonio Brahmas (11,888), Arlington Renegades (9,887), and Michigan Panthers (8,134) performed at a solid level, while the Houston Roughnecks and especially the Memphis Showboats (4,157) were significantly weaker.
Here is a detailed overview of the average attendance figures per team in the 2025 season:
- St. Louis Battlehawks: 34,000+ (highest attendance at The Dome at America’s Center)
- D.C. Defenders: 12,000+ (best attendance on opening weekend)
- San Antonio Brahmas: 11,888
- Birmingham Stallions: 10,255
- Arlington Renegades: 9,887
- Michigan Panthers: 8,134
- Memphis Showboats: 4,157
Noteworthy: The move to smaller stadiums is intended to provide a more compact, intense audience experience starting in 2026 – a step that is already in line with the new league vision of President Russ Brandon and investor Mike Repole.
Outlook: Where is the UFL headed?
The UFL plans to start the 2026 season with eight teams. In addition to the existing franchises in St. Louis, Arlington, Birmingham, Houston, and Washington D.C., a new team will be added in Columbus, Ohio, with further markets to be announced shortly. The league continues to focus on gradual, sustainable expansion, aiming to tap into new, attractive locations that can best implement its concept of smaller but fuller stadiums.
“Further details on the league’s new markets and venues will be announced next week,” Brandon announced. The move away from large, often half-empty stadiums is not only a strategic development but also a statement: the UFL wants to reposition itself as a league with high fan engagement, excitement, and stadium atmosphere – a path that will be consistently pursued from 2026 onwards.
Until then, both the UFL and its fans will have to wait for the next decisions and look forward to a season that could open up new perspectives for football enthusiasts.