Jonah Dylan from The Commercial Appeal examined the Memphis Showboats' struggles this season and their surprising path to survival in the United Football League. It looks like the team will return in 2026 but it could be for the last time. That is, if Fred Smith and FedEx have a say.
Team Performance Hits Rock Bottom
The Memphis Showboats posted a 4-16 record across two UFL seasons, making them the worst team in the league. The franchise finished 2-8 in 2025 despite bringing in a new coach, then losing that coach, a new general manager, and mostly new roster. Their season ended with a 46-9 beat down by the Birmingham Stallions on June 1, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
Attendance Numbers Tell a Concerning Story
Memphis recorded the worst attendance figures in the UFL for both seasons. The Showboats averaged less than 4,000 announced fans per game in 2025, while the St. Louis Battlehawks drew nearly 30,000. Attendance as been down across the board this season but there has been some bight spots. The Michigan Panthers saw an increase in fan support for the 2025 UFL season. Memp
After a full off season of marketing and the league with its eyes on the city, it dropped the worst of all the UFL venues.
FedEx Partnership Provides Financial Lifeline
Despite poor performance and attendance, the Showboats will return for 2026 according to Dylan. The primary reason is continued financial support from FedEx, which has a deal with the league extending through next season. Season tickets for 2026 are already available for purchase.
"If FedEx founder Fred Smith and his family want to continue being involved with the league, it'll be tough for the UFL to pack up," Dylan noted.
League Priorities Focus on TV Over Attendance
Per the report, the league prioritizes its television deal with FOX, ESPN, and ABC. This approach makes local attendance less critical for franchise survival.
Steve Macy, vice president of team business and event operations, acknowledged this setup limits local growth.
"It's winning, it's the game times — I'd love to get some night games — if the team was here, that'd be a really big positive," Macy said. "But I don't think if you said, 'OK, the team is here,' that means there's going to be three times the number of fans in the stands."
Macy set a goal of selling out Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium's lower bowl (8,000 seats) within two seasons, assuming the team still exists in 2027.
Bottom Line for UFL Fans
We have reported this for quite sometime. The Showboats exist because of Fred Smith and FedEx. If he wants a team in Memphis, there will be a team in Memphis. The question is how long is he willing to pay for something that the city is not interested in.
We predicted the Showboats will be back in 2026 as part of our UFL expansion report. The question is, will we see movement from other UFL cities for the 2026 season..