As fans get excited about UFL football returning for its second season. Behind the scenes there is anxiety and uncertainty. Unlike the 2024 season, where a new league was born with the merger of the XFL and USFL, there was a sense of endless possibilities with spring football finally heading in the right direction. That is not the case in 2025.
UFL News Hub has been hearing that behind the scenes, its players, coaches and staff are not happy at all. We have had two head coaches, out of the eight, leave a week before the season kicks off for different reasons.
But the foundation on why they left is the same. We are hearing from UFL News Hub sources that there could be more head coaches on the way out. Stay tuned for that. Like we said, no one is happy.
We break down all the head winds going into just the first game the 2025 UFL season.
Labor Dispute
ESPN had an article today quoting UFL players on the state of contract negotiations with the league. Kai Nacua older brother of Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua said the following.
"It's been tough negotiating with them and trying to figure out where the middle ground is," Nacua said. "And I mean, we've been talking for months and it just doesn't seem like they're budging towards the guys that are making this league happen."
We have been hearing from sources that the league, AKA FOX Sports and specifically UFL Executive Vice President Daryl Johnston, have been approaching things with players as a take it or leave it mentality. We don't need you, we can find more players point of view. We have heard that from multiple people.
At issue, for the players, is year long health insurance for players and their family. Also an up in pay. The players, who have been playing spring football since 2020, have not gotten a real increase since. In fact, since 2020 more has been taken away from them than added.
At issue is the fact that the United Football League is not owned by local business owners like in the IFL or AF1. The league is owned by FOX Sports, ESPN and RedBird Capital Partners. We will leave Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson out of this since we are not sure how much he owns the league anymore.
FOX or ESPN could fire one or two of their over paid commentators to cover the cost of the players pay. Fox Sports, represented by Fox Corporation's market capitalization, stands at approximately $24.0 billion. ESPN is valued at $24 billion. RedBird Capital Partners manages approximately $12 billion in assets. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's estimated net worth is around $841 million. The combined estimated valuation of these UFL owners is approximately $60.841 billion. That is the issue.
Not 'budging' makes this league seem foolish. In the end, if the players walk out, in this highly charged pollical climate, it will make the league look bad. Also, with what little fan base the league has, do you think fans will go to or watch games with scab players? Will fans help promote the league to friends and build on the foundation of spring football with replacement players?
We have heard this line multiple times. 'To FOX this is just a TV show'.
Its like Elon Musk making liberals now hate his Tesla brand. Or Bud Light and the Dylan Mulvaney sponsorship. Not a good business decision. Those brands will never recover. A walkout by UFL players could have the same effect for the United Football League and Spring football.
We are hearing from sources that players and management wont meet again until after week one games on Monday.
What They Are Selling
There are 400 players in the UFL. The league likes to sell the idea that this is their opportunity to get back in the NFL, which is somewhat true. This is why management feels like they don't' need to pay players. Players can't get this game tape anywhere else and its only 4 months out the year. These are accurate points of view.
In reality at best, 5%, that is 20 players stay on NFL rosters for any period of time. That's it. We have seen one 'Jake Bates' per Spring season. 80 players got looks on NFL rosters in 2024, not NFL roster paychecks.
Players train year round and put their bodies on the line for three months. Just think how many potential star football players looked at the UFL and said no thanks over the last several years due to pay and benefits, its just not worth it. With $60.841 billion combined, this should not even be an issue.
Like I say to people who penny pinch for corporations, its not your money. The millionaires behind the scenes will be fine.
Houston Ticket Sales
The first Friday Night UFL game on FOX has the St. Louis Battlehawks taking Houston Roughnecks at 8pm ET. Friday night games on FOX is the biggest get for the UFL this off season.
The UFL's first game of the season, in that Friday Night on FOX space is critical for how casual fans will see the UFL going forward. But there are multiple problems going into this game, the main one is ticket sales.
The Houston Roughnecks return to TDECU Stadium, there home during the XFL days. The team did pretty well at this location in the XFL. However based on estimates, as low as 800-1,000 tickets have been sold. With some estimates at 2,000-5,000. The league had a full year to sell this game. There has been high turn over in the ticketing, social media and marketing over the off season. Not a good sign.
Timing is everything and it might not be all their fault.
TDECU Stadium is the home of the University of Houston. The #1 ranked Houston Cougars men's basketball team take on the #4 Purdue Boilermakers at 10pm ET on March 28th. The same time as the the UFL game.
The forecast for game day? Rain and Thunderstorms all day. Add the Cougars baseball team play at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park which is walking distance to TDECU Stadium at 6:30 pm. Though, that game might get rained out due to the weather. Also, the league could get people to come to the UFL game after that game.
Bad Start To Season
Between low attendance, or a player walk out, it is not the way we want to start the 2025 UFL season. There is an energy around this league that fans want to be all in and bring in new fans. It is hard to get excited about something you fear might not be there in a couple days.
Unfortunately for Spring Football fans, this happened before... multiple times. But we wait with fingers crossed for Friday to see what happens.