UFL co-owner Mike Repole told ESPN's Kevin Seifert he wants to put teams in smaller venues that fit the league's attendance. In most cases, that means a soccer-specific stadium.
Repole named several markets the UFL could expand into beyond its current eight teams. His stated plan is to use smaller venues in less crowded markets. Soccer-specific stadiums fit that goal. Most seat 20,000 or fewer, have grass or turf fields built for a rectangular pitch, and sit in growing markets.
Here is the soccer stadium picture in each market Repole listed, plus the Oklahoma City team the UFL has already announced for 2028.
Oklahoma City — MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium (2028)
Oklahoma City is the one confirmed expansion market, and its venue fits the soccer-stadium theme. The UFL announced an agreement to place a team in Oklahoma City for the 2028 season. The team will play in the MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, under development as a soccer venue in downtown Oklahoma City, seating about 10,000 fans for football.
Designed by Populous, the venue is scheduled to open in early 2028 with a capacity of just over 10,000, with the ability to increase if needed. It will host professional soccer, concerts, rodeo, and other events in addition to the UFL team. The stadium sits near the Bricktown entertainment district.
OKC is the UFL's ninth franchise. The league plans to add a 10th team to reach 10 clubs by 2028, in line with Repole's goal of reaching 16 teams by 2035. That second market has not been named.
The UFL owns rights to the Oklahoma Outlaws name from the old USFL, the team that played in Tulsa in 1984. The team's name, colors, and branding will be set later with local input.
UFL co-owner Mike Repole tied the move to the state's football culture. "Oklahoma lives and breathes football, so bringing the UFL to Oklahoma City was an easy decision," Repole said. President and CEO Russ Brandon called the market a clear fit. "Oklahoma City has long been one of the most glaring vacancies on the professional football map," Brandon said.
Queens, New York — Etihad Park
This is the strongest stadium fit on Repole's wish list. The 25,000-seat Etihad Park is expected to be operational by the 2027 MLS season. It will be the home of New York City FC and the first soccer-specific stadium in New York City. The stadium broke ground on December 4, 2024, at a cost of $780 million, designed by HOK in Willets Point, Queens. It will be MLS's first all-electric stadium. A 25,000-seat venue in the country's largest market fits Repole's model well. New York Guardians return in 2028?
New England — Gillette Stadium (and a new Revolution stadium)
New England already has soccer venues. The New England Revolution play at Gillette Stadium, where soccer capacity is listed at 20,000 and expandable. Gillette seats more than 64,000 for football, so the lower bowl is the realistic UFL setup.
A better long-term fit may be coming. The Revolution plan a new soccer-specific stadium in Everett with a capacity of 25,000, with preliminary cost estimates near half a billion dollars. By the end of 2025, key legislative issues were resolved.
Austin, Texas — Q2 Stadium
Austin already hosts Austin FC at Q2 Stadium. Q2 Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in North Austin with a capacity of 20,738. It opened on June 16, 2021, and cost about $260 million. Austin FC has sold out every match since the stadium opened. The size fits the UFL model, though a shared market with a popular MLS team and the nearby Houston Gamblers raises scheduling and market questions.
Utah — America First Field
Utah has a ready MLS venue. America First Field in Sandy, Utah, is a soccer-specific stadium that opened on October 9, 2008, and seats 20,213 for soccer, expandable to over 25,000 for concerts. It is home to Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. The capacity and existing setup fit Repole's preference closely.
New Mexico — A new United stadium in Albuquerque
New Mexico United draws well but is still building its own home. The club plays at Isotopes Park, which has a capacity of around 13,500. A new stadium that will seat 8,000 to 10,000 fans is planned to serve as the primary home for New Mexico United, after a court dismissed a lawsuit that had stalled the project. New Mexico United led the USL Championship in attendance in its 2019 inaugural season at an average of 12,693 fans per game. The attendance history fits the UFL's interest in passionate mid-size markets.
Raleigh, North Carolina — WakeMed Soccer Park, with a bigger plan stalled
Raleigh has soccer roots but no finished large venue. North Carolina FC played at the 10,000-seat WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary since 2007. On November 4, 2025, the club announced it was suspending operations pending an application to join USL Premier in 2028. The club had unveiled plans for a 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in downtown Raleigh that could expand to 28,000, but that project has faced funding hurdles for years. For now, the 10,000-seat park is the available option.
South Carolina — Greenville or Charleston
Repole listed Greenville or Charleston. Both have soccer venues, but they are smaller than the rest of the list.
In Greenville, GE Vernova Park currently features 4,006 fixed seats; a $29 million project will bring gameday capacity to 6,300 when completed in 2027. It is the home of the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty. In Charleston, the Charleston Battery play at the 5,000-capacity Patriots Point Soccer Complex. A larger option in Greenville is Furman University's Paladin Stadium, a 16,000-seat stadium that already hosts the Triumph for select dates.
Boise, Idaho — Stadium at Expo Idaho
Boise is one of the newest soccer markets in the country. The Stadium at Expo Idaho is a soccer-specific stadium in Garden City, Idaho, home to Athletic Club Boise of USL League One. It opened on April 4, 2026, at a cost of $42 million, with a capacity of 7,227. The stadium initially seats 6,225 fans, with future expansion plans to increase capacity to over 11,000 seats. The current size is on the smaller end for the UFL, but the market is growing fast.
Stadium Comparison
Market | Soccer Venue | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City | MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium | ~10,000 | Confirmed; opens 2028 |
Queens, NY | Etihad Park | 25,000 | Opens 2027 |
New England | Gillette Stadium | 20,000 (soccer config) | Open; new 25,000 venue planned |
Austin, TX | Q2 Stadium | 20,738 | Open |
Utah | America First Field | 20,213 | Open |
New Mexico | Isotopes Park / new venue | 13,500 / 8,000–10,000 planned | New venue in progress |
Raleigh, NC | WakeMed Soccer Park | 10,000 | Open; 22,000 venue stalled |
Boise, ID | Stadium at Expo Idaho | 7,227 | Open (2026) |
Greenville, SC | GE Vernova Park | 6,300 (2027) | Under expansion |
Charleston, SC | Patriots Point | 5,000 | Open |
What's Next
Oklahoma City is the only confirmed expansion market, set for 2028 at the MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium as the UFL's ninth team. The league plans to add a 10th team by 2028, with a goal of 16 teams by 2035. That second market has not been named. The UFL will review all eight current markets after the 2026 season, and Repole framed his broader list as possibilities, not commitments.