The United Football League plans to expand beyond its current eight-team structure, targeting two new markets for 2026 we are hearing from sources. We have a breakdown of the top 10 markets the UFL could add to the mix in 2026.
UFL CEO Russ Brandon confirmed the expansion process. “We’re exploring markets where spring football can live and thrive,” Brandon said. The league aims to add two teams in 2026, with plans to reach 12 teams by 2027 according to SI’s Mike Mitchell.
.@TheUFL has begun an expansion process.
— Mike Mitchell (@ByMikeMitchell) November 25, 2024
Although a specific timeline for expansion has not been set.
The internal goal for the #UFL is to add two teams in 2026, with the USFL and XFL conferences each adding one team.
The long term goal is 12 teams by 2027. https://t.co/nF72Yt3adt
Sources tell us that there will be a team added to the XFL and USFL divisions. With the Sea Dragons returning to the spring football landscape. That really leaves one open spot for 2026. From what we are hearing, this would be a new location for Spring Football.
Locations like California and New York are off the table. For a league that is trying to cut costs and turn a profit, those two states are out of the question for the foreseeable future. As Vince McMahon would say.. No Chance In Hell
Top 10 UFL Expansion Markets
Seattle, Washington
- Population: Approximately 745,000 (city), over 3.9 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NFL: Seattle Seahawks
- MLB: Seattle Mariners
- MLS: Seattle Sounders FC
- NHL: Seattle Kraken
- Possible Football Venues:
- Lumen Field (Capacity: ~68,000)
- Home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC.
- Previously hosted the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in 2020 and 2023.
- Lumen Field (Capacity: ~68,000)
We are hearing from sources that Seattle has emerged as the frontrunner. The league has been maintaining its Lumen Field agreement since the XFL-USFL merger in 2024. We would be very surprised not to see the Sea Dragons return in 2026.
Columbus, Ohio
- Population: Approximately 905,000 (city), around 2.1 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets
- MLS: Columbus Crew
- Possible Football Venues:
- Historic Crew Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
- Former home of the Columbus Crew.
- Can be adapted for football events.
- Historic Crew Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
The league would like to have a team in Ohio since it is a football state. The USFL did love its relationship with Canton Ohio and the Hall Of Fame Stadium, but that market is not big enough compared to other parts of Ohio. Also, the Hall of Fame Resort’s money problems do not help either. This is a location we have been hearing a lot about. Columbus was also a top 15 TV market for the UFL in 2024.
Louisville, Kentucky
- Population: Approximately 620,000 (city), around 1.3 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- USL Championship: Louisville City FC
- Triple-A Baseball: Louisville Bats
- Possible Football Venues:
- L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (Capacity: ~65,000)
- Home of University of Louisville football.
- Modern facilities suitable for professional games.
- L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (Capacity: ~65,000)
Louisville was also a top 15 TV market for the UFL in 2024. This too is a location we have been hearing a lot about.
Salt Lake City, Utah
- Population: Approximately 200,000 (city), over 1 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NBA: Utah Jazz
- MLS: Real Salt Lake
- Possible Football Venues:
- Rice-Eccles Stadium (Capacity: ~45,000)
- Home of University of Utah football.
- Hosted the Salt Lake Stallions (AAF) in 2019.
- Rice-Eccles Stadium (Capacity: ~45,000)
There is some juice behind this location as the area has been in talks with the XFL in the past and are still interested in being part of Spring Football.
Chicago, Illinois
- Population: Approximately 2.7 million (city), over 9 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NFL: Chicago Bears
- NBA: Chicago Bulls
- MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
- NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
- MLS: Chicago Fire FC
- Possible Football Venues:
- SeatGeek Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
- Former home of the Chicago Fire.
- Suitable for a smaller football team.
- SeatGeek Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
A big market that knows Spring Football but could be too big as there are lots of choices for fans. However, watching football in the spring could be a nice change for die-hard Chicago football fans.
Five other markets stand out as prime candidates:
- Oklahoma City shows growth with its expanding metro area and sports culture.
- Portland presents Providence Park and no NFL competition.
- New Orleans carries previous USFL discussions if the league wants to bring back another franchise and the Caesars Superdome.
- Pittsburgh brings football tradition and prior USFL market talks like New Orleans.
- New Jersey is close enough to New York, but not New York and had a successful USFL team
We have heard from sources the UFL will announce their two new franchise on UFL Championship weekend June 14th, 2025. One of the biggest draws for new fans is the chance for a new UFL franchise within striking distance from their home. Teasing this all season long will really keep fans engaged throughout the season. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
14 Comments
by Ken Granito
I still like New Jersey. If you look at SHI Stadium and it’s surrounding Monmouth, Middlesex and Morris Counties, you are looking at 2,000,000 people there alone. You will get some people from the North of that too, because they previously held Generals tickets. 2,000,000 in population worth of families. New Jersey is the place. I am not saying these other places aren’t good, possible locations, but we need another location that is going to bring in over 12,000 fans. We already have 7 out of 8 teams having a mid-market. We have enough mid-markets. Let’s tip the scales a little bit in our favor. If it takes a new owner like Jon Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen, etc, etc to bring this team to Jersey, please do it and be ready for it. Don’t you want to add a team that will hit over 100,000 in attendance for the year. It just can’t be St. Louis. That sounds silly to say those numbers out loud. It’s the reason you don’t advertise the numbers.
by Gary Winter
Seattle coming back would be great. They probably should have made the cut when the leagues merged. Their attendance was typically higher than a couple of the teams that were kept, I believe. I still believe Oakland would be a good choice simply because those folks may feel they have something to prove since the NFL and MLB have been toying with them for a very long time. I understand the wanting to avoid the costs of California but Seattle isn’t cheap either and isn’t anywhere near Texas where all of these teams travel from, at least for now. Beyond that, I would like to see Columbus because they’re still relatively new to professional sports and it’s a growing area, big football area, etc. I’m not a big New York fan but the New Jersey Generals were pretty successful in their day and the population is not in question. They would make a pretty good selection as well.
by Lou Valentino
NYCFC is building a stadium in Queens that would be awesome for hosting spring football. It is set to be completed in 2027
by Shimmy
Expansion, is this “maybe” a signal of selling current, or expansion sites to private ownership. The process of interviewing for these expansion sites would indicate that. Other wise your saying the UFL is willing to take on 2 in 26, 2 in 27 from a central hub more cost. Private or community ownership also would seem to alleviate, failed or even successful franchises to either stay in there markets, or relocate. From these Expansion interviews there has to be local interest within that market for eventual private or a community based ownership, otherwise how would talks start, let alone continue. please other readers, fans, Newshub like to hear your thoughts. Thank You go UFL
by Bandits Fan From Waaaay Back
Ummmm…
Does nobody remember that Tampa Bay has a stadium, has a historic team that the UFL owns the name of, were promised a return of under the old USFL ownership, and that the XFL had a somewhat successful run in as well with the Vipers?
Bring our Bandits back to Tampa and they will succeed. We were all-in on the most recent incarnation of the team, despite the fact that they never played a game here.
by Ted
There has been some discussions in Oakland of the Howard Terminal site near Jack London Square being the possible location for both of its professional soccer teams.
Since the stadium would have about 20,000 seats, it would be perfect for an expansion UFL team.
Jack London Square has long been a popular nighttime and weekend destination for folks wanting a nice meal and to enjoy the Oakland/Alameda waterfront.
While the city of Oakland has its problems, having rabid sports fans supporting teams with ownership committed to the city and willing to put a winning product on the field is certainly not one of them.
Oakland Invaders games were fun to attend back in the mid-’80s… and those uniforms (in my humble opinion) are still the best in spring professional football history.
Hmm… maybe Bobby Herbert as head coach!
by Dan
I’m biased because I live out here, but SLC would be a perfect UFL market. Football is a huge sport out here, as evidenced by the yearslong sellout streaks for Utah and BYU and the number of FBS players the state high schools produce despite the smaller population. It’s the fastest growing state and a large metro but doesn’t have an NFL team to overshadow them. Rice-Eccles Stadium is a great venue and accessible by the local light rail. The only possible issue would be whatever renovations they’ll need to do to RES to get it ready for the 2032 Olympics, but that’s years away and they could always play at LaVell Edwards or America First Field in the meantime.
by Robert Johnson
How about Oklahoma City! Look how successful the Thunder got! It would do wonderful if they got a UFL team! Cmon Man!!
by Chris
Put Seattle and Tampa on the table for 2026. Here’s another thought. The MLB has minor league teams across the states so why can’t the NFL? Don’t you think that would open up more markets if the NFL sponsored teams like the MLB does?
by Chris
Seattle and Tampa.
NFL should look into sponsoring minor league teams like the MLB does.
by Gary Winter
Several things I would like to see from the league next season (Not that anyone asked.):
1. Move the schedule back to no more than 2 weeks after the Super Bowl in order to catch fans while they’re still thinking about football and this will make the season finish prior to the heat waves we saw this year in Texas.
2. When scheduling night games or games when a larger TV crowd would be expected, set the teams with the smaller sized fanbases as the visiting team in order to have at least a decent crowd showing on the TV screen.
3. Move Memphis to Oakland (XFL) and Houston to New Jersey (USFL). Both of these sites would draw better with an established team.
4. Add teams in Philadelphia (XFL) and Orlando (USFL) for 2026.
5. Direct virtually all advertising to selling league stability and excitement.
6. Make schedules geared around typical Spring activities rather than setting up as a mirror image of Fall football schedules. Less afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday when potential fans are going to kids ballgames or family picnics and play in the evenings instead.
7. Promote rivalries whenever possible. People love to go out and watch the team they hate, lose.
8. If possible, try to attach the UFL to the NFL. Try to tie the UFL teams through advertising, press releases, etc. to nearby NFL teams if they are willing or able to do so.
a. Arlington > Cowboys
b. Michigan > Lions
c. San Antonio > Texans
d. DC > Commanders
e. St. Louis > Chiefs
f. New Jersey > Giants or Jets
g. Philadelphia > Eagles
h. Oakland > 49ers
i. Orlando > Buccaneers
k. Birmingham >Falcons
This might help to draw some of their fans to the league.
9. Add Seattle (XFL)(Seahawks) and Columbus (USFL)(Colts) in 2027 but release that information ASAP so they can start building a fanbase as early as possible.
10. Try to establish night games on Friday, Sunday or Monday. Games that are visible and games that are hopefully with fanbases that will show-up. Larger crowds do help to sell the league.
These are a few things I’ve been thinking about while trying to figure out why a good product seems to have such a tough time selling itself to the sports public. The concept is good the price is good the venues are all pretty decent and the games are truly fun to watch. This shouldn’t be that hard to sell.
by Clyde
Like to see Canada Football League join NFL for total 41 teams after Canada join USA 51 States. I hope for UFL , USFL and XFL need merger with NFL will going more Teams so great.
by Adam Simon
I always hoped Iowa could get a team. But Oklahoma makes since – Tulsa Oilers of the IFL I believe broke a record for attendance with well over 10,000 fans for one game. Need to go where the people go.
by Brian
Put a team in the Florida Keys either in Key Largo Key West Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium) There are no pro sports down there and that place would most definitely sell out on game days