“Rumored” USFL Team Relocations Lead To More Questions Than Answers

On Tuesday evening, UFL Newshub broke the story, with Pro Football Newsroom confirming that the UFL plans to relocate all four USFL teams —the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats, and Michigan Panthers —to other US cities.

While the league was quick to respond that no decision has been made yet, they also didn’t deny that the relocations are happening. Instead, they simply issued the following response, “The league office is in the planning stages for next season and beyond. At this point, we have nothing to report on any unauthorized speculation.”

Why UFL Is Considering Relocating USFL Teams

However, if the four teams are being relocated, then the decision raises more questions than it provides answers. First of all, what is prompting these relocations? And, why is it happening after only two years?

The rumored move is allegedly due to a need for lower-cost stadium venues (Michigan and Birmingham) and significantly stronger attendance (Memphis and Houston). The four new locations that are being considered are Columbus, Ohio, Boise, Idaho, Florida, and Kentucky. The destination cities in Kentucky and Florida are yet to be determined.

The high costs associated with continuing to support teams that play to empty stadiums are a legitimate league concern. The heavy cost of rent, along with the associated personnel costs to bring in ground crews, security, vendor concessions, marketing, promotion, and janitorial crews, can be crippling if the crowds fail to materialize. Furthermore, the sight of TV cameras panning empty stadiums and weekly reports of low attendance creates a black eye for the entire league.

Were Teams Given A Sufficient Amount of Time To Build a Fan Base?

While the financial repercussions of running football teams in markets that lack support are understandable, is it fair to assume the situation is beyond salvaging when it’s only been two years? Most new business ventures take time to show a return on investment. The first year of operation will almost certainly be a net loss, with operating costs far outweighing any revenue.

Memphis -Trying To Overcome A Challenging Scenario

During the UFL’s inaugural season, the Showboats were a newly formed team. There was little marketing done to promote the team and support their introduction to the city. The first year’s attendance figures were dismal and reflected the lack of marketing effort.

Memphis’ second season got off to a chaotic start with the rumored players’ strike and the disruptive coaching and quarterback changes. The situation led to a lack of confidence in the team that may have been a deterrent to all but the most loyal of fans.

The Michigan Panthers -Demonstrating Significant Improvement in Year Two

However, in a completely different scenario, the Panthers were one of the few teams that showed a spike in attendance this year. The team generated a level of excitement and local interest that resulted in a 43% increase in stadium attendance. Many of these fans were new to spring football. Expanding the fan base is one of the foundational goals of the league. It seems premature to exile a team that was succeeding in making inroads in the UFL’s primary mission.

If the cost of doing business with Ford Field proved unsustainable, there are other options in the state of Michigan. Central Michigan University’s Kramer/Deromedi Field, home of the Mid-American Conference Chippewas, seats 30,000 fans. There are other smaller venues located throughout the state, and the city of Detroit is also planning to begin construction on a brand new soccer arena later this year that will accommodate 15,000 fans.

Front Office House Cleaning

One of the recent events that lends credence to these rumored relocations is that over the past two weeks, the UFL cleaned house, firing or laying off dozens of front office staff workers. Initially, it was believed that these abrupt terminations were a cost-cutting move. However, the majority of cuts decimated the four USFL teams’ staffing, and it appears that the dominoes are falling. Sadly, a lot of hard-working, dedicated league employees suddenly found themselves out of a job without warning.

While the UFL league office is issuing denials and insisting no final decision has been made, other sources are claiming that there is also the possibility that the moves are happening but may be put off until 2027.

Skip Holtz, the coach of the Stallions, and the city’s mayor, Randall Woodfin, were told to ignore the rumors. As far as they’re concerned, it’s still business as usual. But if that’s the case, then how does the UFL plan to operate teams without its local front office staff?

Impact On The Players

Another factor to consider is the impact and toll on the UFL players. This past season got off to a rocky start with the players’ salary and health care concerns leading to a potential strike. Thankfully, the league and the union were able to agree on terms to avoid a strike. But the possible implications of a prolonged strike reverberated, impacting players and their families. Uprooting players and expecting them to essentially start over again in a brand new location and play in an unfamiliar stadium is a disruption to these players’ lives. It also undermines the unity and morale of the teams.

Another question is, how will the new teams be rostered? Will there be yet another dispersal draft? Or, for example, will the Houston Roughnecks be relocated en masse with (most of) the current roster intact to a new location and renamed the Boise Bandits?

The Uncertainty of A New Fan Base

One perceived advantage of moving to a more fan-friendly city is the potential for increased attendance and building a stronger fan base, but the teams will essentially be starting over from scratch. If the new teams are made up of entirely new players from the league, there will be a definite learning curve as they adjust to each other and a new coaching staff.

If that’s the case, then a longer pre-season should be implemented. However, this costs money. The league will also incur the costs of promoting and properly marketing (well in advance of the season opener) the newly relocated teams. If the UFL is trying to avoid repeating history, the league must learn from the hard lessons of the past. Failure to do so will merely recreate the same old problems in a new setting.

Sue Levine

Sue Levine spent the past five years creating and producing a successful weekly health and wellness podcast starring a wonderful iconic woman as the program host. As part of Sue's responsibilities, she scripted every episode and discovered a genuine love of writing. When the podcast ended late last year, she shifted the focus of her writing to covering pro sports. A passionate fan of NFL and UFL football as well as fantasy, she is delighted to be able to share her articles with other football fans.

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