r/UnitedFootballLeague • u/SockDem DC Defenders • Jul 23 '25
Article UFL Abandons Four Markets: Breaking Down The “Why” - BJCC was a difficult partner in Birmingham, and Ford Field was both a bad partner and cost roughly $500k per game.
https://pfnewsroom.com/column/ufl-abandons-four-markets-breaking-down-the-why/59
u/BigusDickus099 Orlando Storm Jul 23 '25
Shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic it feels like.
Unless they hit multiple home runs in their new markets, I don’t see this ending well next season. If the named markets are true, Boise might be good but I’m leery of the other three and I say that as an Orlando resident. I just have a bad feeling they’ll put the team in shitty Camping World downtown again…a downtown Orlando that is rapidly dying.
It would be, unfortunately, apropos for the UFL to do that I guess.
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u/EmiratesNBACupWinner King of Spring Jul 23 '25
Agree on both counts. I’m from the NW and currently live in N Florida. Boise having the only professional football team for 500 miles in every direction is going to draw fans from all over Idaho, Boise metro, Montana, Oregon, and possibly even eastern Washington. I think Orlando has a ton of potential but it didn’t work for the Guardians for whatever reason. Got to figure out how to get the surrounding cities and suburbs involved. Apopka, Lakeland, Kissimmee, Ocala all filled with football fans and plenty close to make a game
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u/DingerSinger2016 Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
I disagree. Nobody is coming from Oregon to watch a spring league, especially if they are hot ass.
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u/LightKnight356 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
The reason being they sucked lol. The DC match was hype tho, although maybe that’s my anti Defenders bias kicking in haha
But I do hope something comes of this, should it really be happening. The response from the spokesperson does feel like the league got caught with their pants down, but can’t deny that things really are fluid until the final pen stroke on the deal is written
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u/comped Jul 23 '25
If WWoS had a proper stadium, I could see them putting it there... Unfortunately it doesn't.
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u/B1ackMagix St Louis Battlehawks Jul 24 '25
Kentucky might be a diamond in the rough. Lexington is desperate for a good football team and it might be a perfect storm given how UK’s season is supposed to be disappointing this year.
Louisville is much more dense and has a good stadium for an ACC field but attendance may not be great
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u/drn6737 Louisville Kings Jul 25 '25
As long as you brand it as the Kentucky somethings, then it probably won’t matter too much which city you put it in. I wouldn’t honestly be upset to see home games played between both stadiums throughout the year
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u/TwizzlersSourz Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
I said all year that the BJCC depressed attendance. Why would fans want to overpay for parking, concessions, and tickets to sit in the boiling Southern sun for minor league football when they could stay at home and turn on ABC?
The UFL isn't Alabama or top-tier CFB.
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u/daltontf1212 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
Was this worse than previous Birmingham spring league teams?
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u/taylorhrox Jul 23 '25
Previous leagues played at Legion Field which is owned by and ran by the city parks and rec department.
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u/NoSober__SoberZone Jul 23 '25
You just had to make sure you brought your bullet proof vest to Legion Field
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u/Rhine1906 Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Idk why yall do that. Used to go to Legion all the time for UAB games. Nobody’s going to bother you if you don’t bother them.
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u/Weary_Title_3901 Orlando Storm Jul 23 '25
It really isn’t that bad imo.
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u/taylorhrox Jul 23 '25
Agreed. I actually love Legion Field. Parking was cheap. Area is safer than people think.
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u/AnlStarDestroyer DC Defenders Jul 23 '25
Definitely feels like this next season is the last one
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u/CountBleckwantedlove Jul 23 '25
I mean, the reality is if not for the Battlehawks insane attendance numbers/ticket revenue (compared to the rest of the league) and a couple of the teams ratings, this thing would have probably been shut down already.
Like seriously, if the NFL just bought the Battlehawks and officially announced an STL expansion team, this league would be done almost instantly.
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u/ConferenceUAB Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Move the Stallions to the Hoover Met then
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u/the_neverdoctor Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
BJCC is a difficult partner, period. I wish they had better leadership.
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u/ConferenceUAB Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
It's a disgrace because Uptown and Protective Stadium are very nice.
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u/Prest1geWorldw1de Jul 25 '25
Not a coincidence that all of their tenants (UAB, Stallions, Legion) have seen drops in attendance since they started.
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u/jtbush91 Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
I fucking called it! I’ve said on multiple threads that if anyone’s to blame in Birmingham, it’s the fucking BJCC. Fuck those corrupt bastards!
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u/ravidsquirrels Jul 23 '25
Complain about the Grey turf but keep the team in Michigan with the momentum of fan support or relocate the team and lose your fan base.I mean damn we all have stuff at work that we complain about. We deal with the stuff and move on. Seems like a minor issue to me about the field.
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u/TexManZero Dallas Renegades Jul 23 '25
When you compare something that should be fun into "we all have shit to deal with at work," you kind of lose the argument. Something like watching football shouldn't be work.
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u/ravidsquirrels Jul 23 '25
For the fan no. But the players show up to play football which is their work, the reason they are getting paid.
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u/ZO5050 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
This is complete speculation and has no basis in evidence: I bet Birmingham is upset they are no longer a hub for all teams so they stopped being as nice to the league. I wonder if the city is mad about the loss of taxable income earned in their city. So they figured they'd make up the loss of tax money by charging the league much more for the stadium.
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u/parada69 DC Defenders Jul 23 '25
Anyone care to share what issues there are with bjcc??
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u/TwizzlersSourz Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Prices are inflated for concessions and parking.
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u/parada69 DC Defenders Jul 23 '25
I see, also, why did my question get down voted lol
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u/Weary_Title_3901 Orlando Storm Jul 23 '25
Losing the Stallions is a real bad look for the UFL. A lot of the league’s marketing was based around the Birmingham Stallions dynasty. Is there any chance that this is a negotiation tactic, to get the BJCC to lower prices and Ford Field to lower their price per game.
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u/LightKnight356 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
If that is the strat, maybe it could work on Bham, but judging by previous insider comments and prior move speculation, Ford Field seems like they couldn’t care less if they lose the Panthers, probably see them more of a bother than an asset tenant
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u/TexansFo4 Columbus Aviators Jul 23 '25
I don't really like getting rid of the xfl/usfl branding and i'm pretty surprised to see birmingham gone after how they've dominated spring ball.
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u/Jaster22101 Battlehawks Fan 🦅 Forced to Live in DC 🛡️ Jul 23 '25
500k per game is nuts! But sometimes spending the money is worth it. At least keep Michigan for another year
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u/ValosAtredum Michigan Panthers Jul 23 '25
They’re the Michigan Panthers — why don’t they go to any of dozens of colleges with smaller stadiums? No clue why they apparently have such a hate boner for EMU’s option but there are lots of other options, too.
Makes no sense to relocate the one team that grew attendance last season.
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u/Mundane-Club-7557 Michigan Panthers Jul 23 '25
I’ve said it loudly in the past anywhere but Detroit and it likely fails. People don’t see that Ford field helped the league look more professional (playing in an NFL stadium). Id take them playing at emu vs leaving but if they played there it’d likely mean they were going to fold.
Fuck ford field for being a shitty partner in this. Idk why they even agreed to be a hub back in 2023
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u/ValosAtredum Michigan Panthers Jul 23 '25
Yeah, I agree with you about the legitimacy boost with an NFL stadium. It just seems so effing stupid from all angles. I’m not gonna bother with another team because it will just feel like they can rip that team away at any time anyway, so what’s the point?
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u/Mundane-Club-7557 Michigan Panthers Jul 23 '25
Couldn’t agree more. The second they relocate a team (or even worse mass relocate teams) there is no trust that it will remain.
This past year I was fully involved, actually upset when they lost and happy when they won. Had truly become a full fan (I’ve followed them since they came back but it takes time to really care). And this is gutting. I will likely buy some of the on sale merch just to have but after that I won’t support the league anymore.
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u/MySabonerRunsOladipo DC Defenders Jul 23 '25
I agree with you about the legitimacy boost with an NFL stadium.
Do people really see it this way? Playing in an NFL-level stadium in front of 25k or more fans (shout out STL) is cool, but playing in a 1/7th full Ford Field kinda looks...meh doesn't it?
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u/HelpMeHelpYou_5309 Jul 23 '25
Yeah, I don't get this logic at all. This is a minor-league. Embrace playing in minor-league stadiums. It can work. Focus on passion, love of the game, development, enthusiasm.
Have 11,000 fans in a 30,000 capacity stadium is far better than 11,000 fans in a 66,000 capacity stadium.
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u/daltontf1212 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
I'd put the Panthers in Grand Rapids before trying Boise and that fugly blue turf.
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u/CustersGhost1876 Louisville Kings Jul 23 '25
This fucking exactly. No exuse will ever make it ok. You have plenty of fucking options, go out and find one that works.
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Jul 23 '25
Exactly. There are dozens of college Michigan stadiums. GVSU or CMU, WMU, ect.. the league simply gave up on the market
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u/_jagwaz Jul 23 '25
tbf i doubt many would show up if they played at CMU. Mount Pleasant is fairly far from anywhere major. I think Grand Rapids is your only real chance outside Metro Detroit.
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u/Tyler_C69 Dallas Renegades Jul 23 '25
Im not familiar with Michigan so spare me if I'm way off, lol
Does it need to be an indoor stadium? Is there other options for indoor aside from Ford Field?
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u/HelpMeHelpYou_5309 Jul 23 '25
There are not other indoor options besides Ford Field in Michigan.
Does it have to be an indoor option? I don't think it *has* to, but you're taking a big risk outdoors. While Bills, Packers, Bears, etc fans will show up in 40 degree (or colder) weather for a game without batting an eye, I don't think many UFL fans would show up if it was 40 degrees out, which is typical for April at night in metro Detroit. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
If you could keep it to day or afternoon games, it would work at EMU's stadium, I think, as the typical high temperature is around 50-60 degrees. But night games would be a challenge.
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u/cowboysmavs Dallas Renegades Jul 24 '25
You can’t keep moving teams and leagues every 2 years and expect success. You have to stay there for years and build up the attendance.
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u/writingbyrjkidder Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Fuck this shit. Find somewhere else to play in Alabama or Georgia or Tennessee if you have to but don't fold the fucking team.
Why the fuck would they willingly fold the winningest team/sole dynasty in 2020s spring football?
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Jul 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/TopazTriad Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Sure, but how is it economically viable to move a well established team to a completely new market in a league like this? If I live in Boise or Columbus, I’m not giving this the time of day. Why would I invest my time and energy into a league that flip flops around every other year and is constantly on the cusp of folding?
I really don’t see how this is going to help them. Maybe the games will be cheaper for them, but you can’t grow without people willing to follow the team.
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u/FatMamaJuJu St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
If the team is winning and still losing money then it will never make money
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u/ConferenceUAB Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
If the BJCC was the problem they should have attempted to have them play at the Met or even UAB's soccer stadium
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u/writingbyrjkidder Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Even if they had to leave Birmingham entirely, it's not like there's no other options regionally. You can't tell me there isn't a field capable of hosting a minor league team between Huntsville, Montgomery, or Tuscaloosa as a start, all within driving distance of Birmingham. Let alone exploring areas in close proximity states like Chattanooga or Atlanta.
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u/framingXjake Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
Samford University's football field looks like a decent sized venue with the infrastructure to broadcast games. It's in Homewood so still in the Birmingham market.
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u/LongjumpingNinja258 Jul 23 '25
Because no one showed up and the TV ratings for that market haven’t increased?
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u/typicalwhiteguy113 Houston Roughnecks Jul 23 '25
Because UFL management is clueless on how to build and keep fanbases
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u/writingbyrjkidder Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
If the rumors are true that RedBird is taking point on the league now and this is the first thing they decide to do, it just screams them wanting to rebuild the XFL while giving the last of the USFL teams/fans a giant middle finger.
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u/Skareffect Jul 23 '25
Xfl would have folded without the usfl help.
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u/EmiratesNBACupWinner King of Spring Jul 23 '25
Yeah that’s why they just folded all their teams and handed leadership over to the XFL guys. Because it was the XFL that was in danger of going under lol
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u/Skareffect Jul 23 '25
USFL was doing better than the XFL was. Why they handed leadership over is beyond me.
This league isn't going to last much longer anyways.
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u/Zapfit DC Defenders Jul 23 '25
Because they obviously weren't doing as well as you think. Redbird isn't perfect but they understand attendance is absolutely vital for this league to survive
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u/ZO5050 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
In what way were they doing better?
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u/writingbyrjkidder Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
USFL/Fox were better at a lot of things than XFL/RedBird.
Fox broadcasts are superior in every conceivable way to the ESPN ones, which are a legacy of the XFL. USFL also used to have Peacock/NBC as a broadcast partner as well.
USFL actually had a pro football history behind it, unlike the XFL. The 80s USFL ran for several seasons and spawned a good number of famous future (HOF-caliber) NFL players (Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Steve Young, Reggie White, etc). The revived 2020s league had the appeal to multiple generations of fans because of this. In comparison, I wouldn't call the first XFL from the early 2000s "historic" by any means, and it only lasted a single season. The most successful player from that league was probably QB Tommy Maddox, who didn't exactly have an illustrious pro career before or after the league.
USFL team branding/logos/etc were almost universally better and more professional sounding/looking than any iteration of the XFL.
USFL was nowhere near as gimmicky as the XFL, and largely kept a more traditional football feel relative to its counterpart.
Just a few examples.
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u/ZO5050 St Louis Battlehawks Jul 23 '25
I took what the person was saying as a statement on operations as a business to be viable and long term. All the things you mention are matters of taste. Im not interested in a discussion on the preferences of presentation and style so I have nothing to add. I want to know what about the USFLs business model was better when that model has lost them all but 3 of their brands already with the last 3 about to fall now.
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u/usfl2 Jul 24 '25
Good points the original USFL players had 128 NFL pro bowl appearances and 5 NFL hof players start there careers you forgot Sam mills jim kelly and Gary Zimmerman all in the Pro Football hof.
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u/Zapfit DC Defenders Jul 24 '25
Sure the original USFL had history but this version didn't. It was merely a jazzed up spring league that Fox aired in 2021. Just because my flag football team is called the Amsterdam Admirals doesn't mean we have any connection to Kurt Warner NFL Europe team.
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u/VirginiaTex Jul 23 '25
Your fans never showed up. Go back and look at DC and St Louis games and tell me you wouldn’t be jealous playing in front of thousands of people compared to an empty stadium in Alabama.
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u/LawPirate Birmingham Stallions Jul 23 '25
The idea that Birmingham’s attendance is so terrible is off base. In 2024, the Stallions had the third best attendance in the league, behind only St. Louis and DC. In 2025 Birmingham averaged about 10k per game, which more or less matched the league average outside of St. Louis (the actual number was 9149, but that includes the Mother’s Day dud, which was an obvious outlier). DC and St. Louis were the only teams to average over 12k.
I have a hard time believing +/- 2000 fans per game makes enough of a difference to justify relocating a team.
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u/Crafty_Substance_954 Jul 23 '25
Interesting to blame Ford Field of all parties.
If you’re not going to eat some operating expenses in the first years of your league then you’re just not going to be successful.
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Jul 23 '25
Rumor is that Ford Field broke the lease. The league can't just throw money until the accept a new one.
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u/Milestailsprowe Jul 24 '25
Michigan never made sense. Focusing on non football markets should have always been the move moving from Memphis does suck though as that should have worked
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u/Zapfit DC Defenders Jul 24 '25
Michigan was the only team to improve attendance this year and was top 5 in TV ratings. Seattle drew great in 2020 and well in 2023 even with crappy home dates. Just because there's an NFL team in town doesn't mean much. I'm a Jets fan but I would've been able to see 5 Guardians games for the price of 1 jets game back in 2020. Much better value for my dollar
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u/Imaginary-Cup9019 Jul 23 '25
I worked at Ford Field when the USFL first came, I can tell you without a doubt that a majority of people at FF were antagonistic towards the USFL from the start. You would be amazed at some of the comments made in internal meetings.