The United Football League plans to expand beyond its current eight-team structure, targeting two new markets for 2026 we are hearing from sources. We have a breakdown of the top 10 markets the UFL could add to the mix in 2026.
UFL CEO Russ Brandon confirmed the expansion process. “We’re exploring markets where spring football can live and thrive,” Brandon said. The league aims to add two teams in 2026, with plans to reach 12 teams by 2027 according to SI’s Mike Mitchell.
.@TheUFL has begun an expansion process.
— Mike Mitchell (@ByMikeMitchell) November 25, 2024
Although a specific timeline for expansion has not been set.
The internal goal for the #UFL is to add two teams in 2026, with the USFL and XFL conferences each adding one team.
The long term goal is 12 teams by 2027. https://t.co/nF72Yt3adt
Sources tell us that there will be a team added to the XFL and USFL divisions. With the Sea Dragons returning to the spring football landscape. That really leaves one open spot for 2026. From what we are hearing, this would be a new location for Spring Football.
Locations like California and New York are off the table. For a league that is trying to cut costs and turn a profit, those two states are out of the question for the foreseeable future. As Vince McMahon would say.. No Chance In Hell
Top 10 UFL Expansion Markets
Seattle, Washington
- Population: Approximately 745,000 (city), over 3.9 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NFL: Seattle Seahawks
- MLB: Seattle Mariners
- MLS: Seattle Sounders FC
- NHL: Seattle Kraken
- Possible Football Venues:
- Lumen Field (Capacity: ~68,000)
- Home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC.
- Previously hosted the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in 2020 and 2023.
- Lumen Field (Capacity: ~68,000)
We are hearing from sources that Seattle has emerged as the frontrunner. The league has been maintaining its Lumen Field agreement since the XFL-USFL merger in 2024. We would be very surprised not to see the Sea Dragons return in 2026.
Columbus, Ohio
- Population: Approximately 905,000 (city), around 2.1 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets
- MLS: Columbus Crew
- Possible Football Venues:
- Historic Crew Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
- Former home of the Columbus Crew.
- Can be adapted for football events.
- Historic Crew Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
The league would like to have a team in Ohio since it is a football state. The USFL did love its relationship with Canton Ohio and the Hall Of Fame Stadium, but that market is not big enough compared to other parts of Ohio. Also, the Hall of Fame Resort’s money problems do not help either. This is a location we have been hearing a lot about. Columbus was also a top 15 TV market for the UFL in 2024.
Louisville, Kentucky
- Population: Approximately 620,000 (city), around 1.3 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- USL Championship: Louisville City FC
- Triple-A Baseball: Louisville Bats
- Possible Football Venues:
- L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (Capacity: ~65,000)
- Home of University of Louisville football.
- Modern facilities suitable for professional games.
- L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (Capacity: ~65,000)
Louisville was also a top 15 TV market for the UFL in 2024. This too is a location we have been hearing a lot about.
Salt Lake City, Utah
- Population: Approximately 200,000 (city), over 1 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NBA: Utah Jazz
- MLS: Real Salt Lake
- Possible Football Venues:
- Rice-Eccles Stadium (Capacity: ~45,000)
- Home of University of Utah football.
- Hosted the Salt Lake Stallions (AAF) in 2019.
- Rice-Eccles Stadium (Capacity: ~45,000)
There is some juice behind this location as the area has been in talks with the XFL in the past and are still interested in being part of Spring Football.
Chicago, Illinois
- Population: Approximately 2.7 million (city), over 9 million (metro area).
- Sports Teams:
- NFL: Chicago Bears
- NBA: Chicago Bulls
- MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
- NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
- MLS: Chicago Fire FC
- Possible Football Venues:
- SeatGeek Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
- Former home of the Chicago Fire.
- Suitable for a smaller football team.
- SeatGeek Stadium (Capacity: ~20,000)
A big market that knows Spring Football but could be too big as there are lots of choices for fans. However, watching football in the spring could be a nice change for die-hard Chicago football fans.
Five other markets stand out as prime candidates:
- Oklahoma City shows growth with its expanding metro area and sports culture.
- Portland presents Providence Park and no NFL competition.
- New Orleans carries previous USFL discussions if the league wants to bring back another franchise and the Caesars Superdome.
- Pittsburgh brings football tradition and prior USFL market talks like New Orleans.
- New Jersey is close enough to New York, but not New York and had a successful USFL team
We have heard from sources the UFL will announce their two new franchise on UFL Championship weekend June 14th, 2025. One of the biggest draws for new fans is the chance for a new UFL franchise within striking distance from their home. Teasing this all season long will really keep fans engaged throughout the season. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
2 Comments
by Ken Granito
I still like New Jersey. If you look at SHI Stadium and it’s surrounding Monmouth, Middlesex and Morris Counties, you are looking at 2,000,000 people there alone. You will get some people from the North of that too, because they previously held Generals tickets. 2,000,000 in population worth of families. New Jersey is the place. I am not saying these other places aren’t good, possible locations, but we need another location that is going to bring in over 12,000 fans. We already have 7 out of 8 teams having a mid-market. We have enough mid-markets. Let’s tip the scales a little bit in our favor. If it takes a new owner like Jon Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen, etc, etc to bring this team to Jersey, please do it and be ready for it. Don’t you want to add a team that will hit over 100,000 in attendance for the year. It just can’t be St. Louis. That sounds silly to say those numbers out loud. It’s the reason you don’t advertise the numbers.
by Gary Winter
Seattle coming back would be great. They probably should have made the cut when the leagues merged. Their attendance was typically higher than a couple of the teams that were kept, I believe. I still believe Oakland would be a good choice simply because those folks may feel they have something to prove since the NFL and MLB have been toying with them for a very long time. I understand the wanting to avoid the costs of California but Seattle isn’t cheap either and isn’t anywhere near Texas where all of these teams travel from, at least for now. Beyond that, I would like to see Columbus because they’re still relatively new to professional sports and it’s a growing area, big football area, etc. I’m not a big New York fan but the New Jersey Generals were pretty successful in their day and the population is not in question. They would make a pretty good selection as well.