Welcome to the first of what I hope is a regular column here at UFL News Hub, the mailbag. This mailbag is built by you, the reader, as you can ask me any questions on any number of outlets (Twitter/X, BlueSky, Instagram), and I’ll answer those questions right here on a semi-regular basis. With all the upheaval going on in the UFL lately, I figured this would be a good time to (re-) introduce this concept. So let’s get to it!
Some questions have been edited for clarity.
Jack Klompus asks, “How will the fields be able to handle the abuse of both soccer and football? Some of these are home to MLS franchises.”
More than half of the UFL teams will now be sharing a stadium with a soccer team. While the move to these new venues brings with it lots of positives, there are some drawbacks or at the very least, issues that will have to be worked out between the UFL, the soccer leagues, and the stadiums. We’ve seen that in D.C., the Defenders have at times been limited as to when they can play, having work around the schedule of the MLS team with whom they share Audi Field. That could cause more issues come playoff time as well.
As for the fields, there is potential for problems related to that, but it hasn’t been a major issue in D.C. the last few years. It would likely be more of a problem for the soccer teams than the football teams, though the grass will certainly take a beating over the course of a shared UFL/MLS season, especially around inclement weather. In discussing potential venues, one hopes this was an issue addressed by all parties involved to a satisfactory degree. But it certainly will be something to look out for as the seasons progress.
Chris asks, “With three new teams, a new UFL logo, and new uniforms, do you feel like this is season three of the UFL or more like UFL 2.0 (or rather 3.0 if you count the 2009 version)? I feel like 2026 is going to be Mike Repole’s version of the UFL and no longer Fox/RedBird Capital’s version.
I take it more as season three of the UFL though the major changes undertaken to this point certainly make it feel like a step away from the original merger of the USFL and XFL. In some ways that was a necessity, however, as what resulted from the merger was a matter of convenience, not necessarily in the best interest of the long-term survival of spring football. I think what we’re seeing now is a bit of a course correction to get us closer to that. Repole’s fingerprints are all over this rebrand, and as someone putting big money into this project (Repole says he’s investing the second-or-third most dollars among ownership), he deserves to have his say. And why not? Clearly there was a limit as to what the previous ownership collective was getting out of this league for what they were willing to put in.
Repole does have a different vision than what we saw in the first two years of the league, but that might be a good thing. My big question is what happens to top management like President and CEO Russ Brandon and those that were closely tied to RedBird; do they get ushered out if Repole wants to bring his own people in? Brandon, for example, feels like a relic of a different era of spring football at this point.
Ed Helinski asks, “What is it going to take for the UFL to get its act together?”
Back when the UFL existed as separate entities the XFL and USFL, both ownership groups were looking for financial partners to invest and help offset the costs of running a league of this magnitude. Until Repole bought in, they were pretty unsuccessful in that effort. So in essence, Repole is here to get the UFL’s act together. It may be the last opportunity of that kind; if Repole’s strategy doesn’t work, I truly don’t see what there is left to try to make the UFL – and spring football on this scale – a success in America.
Mirrorkat asks, “What do you expect for attendance for the 2026 season?”
Attendance projections should be modest this year, especially for the new markets. Expectations from the league are around 15,000 per game. Considering we’re coming up on five months until the regular season kicks off and only season ticket deposits are being taken in those cities, the league is once again behind schedule in selling tickets. The single game ticket on-sale dates will be another critical signpost to keep an eye on; the closer that date is to kickoff, the less time there is to sell those tickets. In the next five months, we’ll also see what the rollout of Repole’s local marketing strategy looks like. Time is ticking. As for the others, I think indications of being able to stop the bleeding we saw in attendance last year would be a reasonable goal.
@MJ11892 asks, “Is the UFL abandoning former XFL and UFL teams with no plans for their return in the future?”
Chris asks, “Now that Houston is the Gamblers, do you think any expansion teams will be former USFL/XFL cities and/or teams? Or will it be new cities and team names going forward?”
I lumped these two together since they’re asking similar questions. It sure sounds like Repole wants to return to Michigan when the UFL plans to expand in 2028, thanks in part to a soccer stadium that will open in Detroit in 2027. Repole is already eyeing that as a potential new home for a franchise. The question becomes, will it be the Michigan Panthers, or will they be rebranded? By that point, the Panthers as they were known the last few seasons will have relocated the roster and coaching staff elsewhere. When spring football was announced as returning to Orlando, it wasn’t as the Guardians; rather, it was a complete rebrand. It would not surprise me if the UFL does decide to return to some of these abandoned cities in the future (and much of that will depend on stadium access), that they are indeed with a completely revamped identity.
Arthur Kinney asks, “Any word on which rosters/staffs will be going to which new cities?”
Nothing has been announced by the league yet, though we may get a hint when head coaches are announced, which should be coming down the pike soon. There doesn’t seem to be a good indication yet of where Michigan, Memphis and San Antonio will be relocating to – if at all. We can’t rule out the possibility that these new franchises will be treated as expansion teams with no continuity from 2025. I think that would be a mistake, but the fact that the UFL hasn’t made any announcement about where the rosters and staff are going yet gives oxygen to this idea.
@AaronSchiro asks, “What are your top two cities for potential expansion in 2028?”
It wouldn’t be a mailbag without an expansion question. Repole has stated his desire to add two new teams in 2028 and two new teams every two years thereafter with a goal of 16 teams by 2035. It sounds like Repole would love to return to Michigan in 2028 and is already talking with the people in charge of the new stadium set to be ready in 2027. That would seem to be number one on the list. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. Repole said 31 cities reached out to the UFL during this relocation process and a number of them will likely get serious consideration in 2028. We just don’t know where those cities are. The best way to figure is to look at what cities have 15,000-25,000 capacity soccer stadiums. Given Repole’s strategy to utilize those types of venues, any city that qualifies would be discussed for 2028. Repole also has ties to the cities that will be new to the UFL in 2026; so if you really want to dig into his background, that may uncover cities that have an inherent advantage in 2028.
3 Comments
by Ken Granito
What timing Mr. Parks! I just commented on a previous article and I asked if they announced which team is headed where. As always, you are money!
Glad the Gamblers are back!
by Johnny the Angry Fuzzball
The other thing that affects the “which rosters go where” issue is that two of the three located teams were on interim coaches already due to resignations/health issues–Memphis and San Antonio.
Pardee did not perform well enough to justify staying as head. Wade has talked about wanting his job back but his contract ran out based on previous reporting and there’s no real guarantee his health will hold out. Turner, ironically, didn’t do well on-field but could very well keep a job solely because he fits Repole’s idea of a coach focused on a “developmental” track rather than winning, since that’s exactly how he approached 2025.
In particular, I’m watching the Memphis roster, since they signed a huge chunk of another team (AF1’s Albany Firebirds) en masse and it would be odd to break that up.
by Ken Granito
I agree. I liked the Turner/Mazzone team, however with Mazzone back to college football, it would seem there is a place for a head coach situation with old Memphis team. I think it may be time for Jarren Horton to find a new home. Hey with how good he is in front of the camera, maybe he becomes a UFL game announcer.