UFL Makes Bold Move: Three Teams Cut as League Reshuffles for 2026 Season
The United Football League delivered a shocking blow to three fan bases this week, announcing the closure of the Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and San Antonio Brahmas as the spring league prepares for its third season under new leadership.
For supporters who have followed these teams through the ups and downs of alternative football, the news hits hard. The Panthers and Brahmas weren’t struggling franchises either. They ranked third and fourth in attendance across the eight-team league in 2025, making their elimination all the more surprising.
New Vision Under Mike Repole’s Leadership
The dramatic reshuffling marks the first major strategic move by investor Mike Repole, who gained control of the UFL earlier this year. His vision is clear: abandon the mega-stadiums that make modest crowds look embarrassingly small.
“When you have 14,000 fans in an arena that fits 60,000, it looks empty,” Repole said. “When you have 14,000 in a place that sits 15,000, it’s standing room only. Changing the optics is very important.”
The statistics back up his concern. Only the D.C. Defenders, playing in the intimate 20,000-seat Audi Field, managed to fill more than 50 percent of their venue capacity last season.
Stadium Constraints Force Difficult Decisions
The closures weren’t about market support alone. Memphis struggled with attendance, finishing dead last while playing in the cavernous 58,000-seat Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. But Michigan’s Ford Field (58,300 seats) and San Antonio’s Alamodome (73,000+ seats) simply dwarf what a developing league can realistically fill.
According to the league, these markets lacked suitable alternatives that align with their new strategy of creating more intimate fan experiences.
“Due to stadium constraints, the available venues in these areas do not align with our new vision of focusing on smaller, more intimate settings that elevate the fan experience,” the UFL said.
Three New Markets on the Horizon
The league has already confirmed Columbus will receive a franchise, with Historic Crew Stadium (approximately 20,000 seats) providing the right-sized venue. Two additional markets will be announced next week, with Louisville, Orlando and Boise emerging as potential destinations.
Despite earlier speculation, Birmingham will retain its team, providing stability for at least one existing market.
Attendance Concerns Signal Deeper Challenges
The moves come as the UFL faces sobering attendance realities. Overall attendance declined 5 percent in 2025, a troubling trend after President Russ Brandon identified “butts in seats” as a key business priority.
For a league born from the 2024 merger of the XFL and USFL, maintaining momentum is crucial. The spring football concept has proven viable, but finding the sweet spot between market size and venue appropriateness remains an ongoing challenge.
Impact on the Future of Spring Football
This bold restructuring could define the UFL’s long-term survival. By prioritizing atmosphere over raw attendance numbers, Repole is betting that packed smaller venues will create better television optics and fan experiences than half-empty NFL stadiums.
The strategy makes sense on paper, but it also means saying goodbye to established fan bases and starting over in new markets. For the displaced fans in Memphis, Michigan and San Antonio, it’s a painful reminder of the challenges facing alternative professional football.
The UFL’s third season will serve as a crucial test case: Can strategic downsizing create the sustainable foundation that spring football has long sought?
