The United Football League (UFL) announced today that it will exit the Birmingham and Houston markets “…as part of its strategic market realignment and long-term growth strategy.”
The Birmingham Stallions played their home games at Protective Stadium, while the Houston Gamblers played at Shell Energy Stadium. Both teams played three seasons in the latest version of the spring football league.
“Departing a market is never easy and this decision is not a reflection of the dedication shown by players, coaches, fans, local partners, or civic leaders in Birmingham or Houston. We are grateful for their passion, commitment, and support, which have helped shape the continued evolution of the UFL,” said UFL Co-Owner Mike Repole. “My mission is to build a league that is not only sustainable today, but also successful and thriving for decades to come. Building a spring football league has required discipline and difficult decisions, which have been guided by our clear long-term vision. Every market evaluation begins with the same three principles I have said since day one – the right market, the right sized venue, and a passionate fan base.”
The UFL plans to add two replacement markets in time for the 2027 season. Then in 2028, the league will expand to 10 teams total with the addition of Oklahoma City and another currently unknown market.
“With Birmingham, this decision was 100% due to the wrong sized venue, ” Repole said. “I appreciate the passion of the fans and respect the history of the Birmingham Stallions. It was clearly my decision that with the wrong sized venue spring football could not succeed in Birmingham. Even on opening day, when 16,000 Stallions fans showed up, the energy, passion, and game atmosphere was not felt due to the size of the venue. We’ve been transparent with local mayors and city leadership that we’d love to return as soon as the right stadium solution becomes available, and we are willing to participate in accelerating those efforts.”
Protective Stadium, the home venue of the NCAA’s UAB Blazers football team, has a seating capacity of 47,100. Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium, home to Houston Dynamo FC of Major League Soccer, the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League, and the Texas Southern Tigers football team, seats 22,039 spectators.
“Houston played an important role in reestablishing modern spring football, and we’re grateful to the fans, partners, and community who supported the Roughnecks and Gamblers,” Repole said. “Houston is a great sports city, and Shell Energy Stadium has been an outstanding partner and venue. The reality is that we did not give this market the consistency it deserved. Between venue changes, team-name changes, and different approaches, we made it difficult to build lasting momentum.”
They’ll be back……. well one of them anyway. My guess is Birmingham within 5-10 years,
Houston we need UFL to return.
That league is still around
I honestly don’t know what this league is doing. For some strange reasons they can’t see that the best metros for it are places that don’t have an NFL team and aren’t in the catchment area of a dominant CFB team but have their own distinct local identity (ideally they’ve been jilted by an NFL team as well). That’s why StL is a terrific fit and Orlando is OK too. But if they strategized, they would see that SD, Oakland, the Inland Empire, Sacramento, and the Hampton Roads area are all better than a bunch of places where they are now.
Richard, you’re not wrong. Omaha, Toledo, those are towns, that theoretically would do well.
But it’s a product that only diehards care about. I love minor league baseball but there’s a reason why the games aren’t on major networks.
People do watch. But at some point, Repole will see the insurance premiums, the rents, the labor costs and he will throw in the towel.
The CFL has been around for 70 years and it appeals to Canada.
I just don’t see the UFL surviving
If we’re going with smaller metros, they should pick ones without any pro football team nearby and no major CFB team right there. I’m thinking of Charleston, Stockton, Albany, maybe Augusta?
And they should take a page out of soccer leagues all over the world and set up local rivalries. A bunch of teams in CA that the locals will call their own, so Sacramento, Stockton, Oakland, and SD. In the SE, have Charleston and Augusta along with Hampton Roads. And definitely keep StL. Orlando too.
The CFL has it’s 113th Grey Cup this year. A lot longer than 70. The CFL has been smart with their roster requirements and slightly different rules that make it an interesting alternative.
Jason Groomes,
Hear-hear! Dittos, Mister Groomes.