As news breaks of billionaire Mike Repole's stake in the United Football League. Repole told Sportico that Columbus will be a new UFL market in 2026. Including that between two to four UFL teams will be moving next season.
"Repole said this analysis is ongoing, and between two and four teams will relocate. The only thing settled at this point is that one team will be in Columbus, Repole said, and it will play at the former home of the MLS’ Columbus Crew, Historic Crew Stadium. The club moving to Columbus is still to be determined."
Repole seems to be pivoting to a different approach than past spring football leadership by leaning into the relationship with MLS. Something current UFL CEO Russ Brandon wanted to avoid.
"He says the league is looking to work with other MLS owners and their stadiums. "He says the league is looking to work with other MLS owners and their stadiums. “I think that we complement MLS very well,” Repole said. “When you have 15,000 fans in a stadium that holds 60,000, it looks empty.” He thinks one of the reasons spring football failed in the past was the lack of modern venues that can seat 20,000 to 30,000 people, similar to ones MLS teams have built."
His focus in coming into the UFL is the league’s business operations and he knows where things need to improve in its marketing.
"He gives the on-field product and broadcast high marks, but doesn’t sugarcoat how the first two years of the league went on the business side in several markets. “I don’t think the league did a good job working inside those markets,” he said in reference to marketing, sponsorships, sales and merchandise. St. Louis averaged roughly 30,000 fans per game this season, but every other club was below 15,000, including four under 10,000. He’s confident in his ability to improve those metrics."
He goes on to refer to himself in the third person and talks about how he and his team build brands. He is filling a void that Redbird, FOX and ESPN was unable to do.
“That’s what Mike Repole and his team does,” Repole said. “We build brands. It’s city by city, venue by venue, team by team, fan by fan.”
Repole also drops big news on the UFL expansion plans for 2028 and beyond.
Repole says the 2026 UFL season will stay with eight teams, but he expects 10 teams by 2028 and 16 by 2032. “I would consider that a failure on my part,” he said if the league hasn’t expanded to 16 by then.
He goes on to say how he feels about the current ownership group and how they have all the peices of the puzzle together.
Repole says the current UFL owners were a major draw for him to invest in the league, with each offering different expertise, from operating franchises (RedBird) to broadcast might (ESPN, Fox) to global star power (Johnson, better known as “The Rock”). “I can confidently say this will be the group that makes spring football work,” Repole said. ”I built other brands with a less powerhouse team.”
Lots of interesting quotes from the new UFL co owner. We will have more on his background and plans for the league so stay tuned to UFL News Hub.