Week 3 of the 2026 UFL season brought the St. Louis Battlehawks back to The Dome at America's Center. That alone was enough to push the league's attendance numbers back up after a Week 2 dip.
Total attendance across four games came in at 48,591 — an average of 12,148 per game. That is a rebound from Week 2's 36,938 total (9,235 average) and sits closer to the league's cumulative season average through three weeks.
Two of the four games aired on ABC, giving the UFL its best broadcast window of the season so far. The schedule also returned to a more standard Friday-Saturday-Sunday format after Week 2's Tuesday night experiment.
St. Louis Draws 20,209 for Comeback Win
The Birmingham Stallions visited the Battlehawks on Sunday afternoon at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis won 34-30 in a game that featured a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback by the Battlehawks.
The announced attendance was 20,209. That is well below St. Louis's Week 1 figure of 31,191, but the Battlehawks entered this game at 1-1 after a 31-15 loss to Dallas in the Week 2 Tuesday night game. The drop could reflect some early-season frustration, the Sunday afternoon time slot, or simply the difference between a season opener and a Week 3 home game.
Even at 20,209, St. Louis posted the highest attendance of any UFL game this week and remains the league's top-drawing market by a wide margin.
Quarterback Harrison Frost came off the bench for Brandon Silvers and threw three touchdowns — including a 64-yard strike to Hakeem Butler — to lead the comeback after St. Louis trailed 23-13 entering the fourth quarter.
D.C. Draws 12,167 for Home Opener
The D.C. Defenders hosted the Houston Gamblers at Audi Field on Saturday in the Defenders' first home game of the 2026 season. D.C. won 45-7, setting a UFL record for margin of victory at 38 points.
The announced attendance was 12,167. Audi Field has a capacity of 20,000. The Defenders averaged 13,000 per home game in 2025, so the Week 3 number falls just below that pace.
D.C. is the defending UFL champion and returned more players and coaches from last season than any other team. Running back Deon Jackson carried 11 times for 97 yards and three touchdowns. The Gamblers managed just seven points on the day.
Louisville Draws 11,082 for Second Home Game
The Orlando Storm visited the Louisville Kings on Friday night at Lynn Family Stadium. Orlando won 29-27 in overtime after the Kings committed a second defensive penalty in the shootout period, resulting in an automatic two points for the Storm under UFL rules.
The announced attendance was 11,082. That is a drop from 14,034 in the Kings' Week 1 home debut. Lynn Family Stadium has a listed capacity of 11,700 for football (15,304 with standing room), so the building was close to its seated capacity.
Louisville fell to 0-3 despite Jason Bean throwing for 352 yards and three touchdowns. The Kings have lost all three games by a combined eight points. Head coach Chris Redman's team has been competitive, but the record has not followed.
A decline from Week 1 to the second home game is common in new UFL markets. The question for Louisville is whether the fan base stabilizes around the 11,000 mark or continues to slide. The Kings do not play at home again until Week 6 on April 30.
Dallas Posts 5,133 as Lowest Figure of 2026
The Columbus Aviators visited the Dallas Renegades on Sunday at Toyota Stadium. Dallas won 28-23 but drew just 5,133 fans — the lowest attendance of any UFL game this season.
That number continues a downward trend for the Renegades at home. Dallas drew 8,870 in Week 1 and 5,799 in Week 2's Tuesday night game. The Sunday noon slot on ABC did not improve the situation.
Dallas is 3-0 on the field. The Renegades have the best record in the UFL through three weeks. Quarterback Austin Reed threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense held Columbus to 23 points despite the Aviators controlling the ball for long stretches.
The wins have not translated to ticket sales. Toyota Stadium holds about 20,500. At 5,133, the building was about one-quarter full.
Week 3 Attendance at a Glance
Game | Day | Venue | Attendance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando Storm at Louisville Kings | Friday | Lynn Family Stadium | 11,082 | ORL 29, LOU 27 (OT) |
Houston Gamblers at D.C. Defenders | Saturday | Audi Field | 12,167 | DC 45, HOU 7 |
Columbus Aviators at Dallas Renegades | Sunday | Toyota Stadium | 5,133 | DAL 28, CLB 23 |
Birmingham Stallions at St. Louis Battlehawks | Sunday | The Dome at America's Center | 20,209 | STL 34, BIR 30 |
Total / Average | 48,591 / 12,148 |
Three-Week Attendance Trend
Week | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 1 | 65,222 | 16,305 | St. Louis (31,191) | Dallas (8,870) |
Week 2 | 36,938 | 9,235 | Columbus (14,810) | Dallas (5,799) |
Week 3 | 48,591 | 12,148 | St. Louis (20,209) | Dallas (5,133) |
Season | 150,751 | 12,563 |
What the Numbers Show Through Three Weeks
Dallas has posted the lowest attendance in all three weeks. The Renegades have dropped from 8,870 to 5,799 to 5,133 despite going 3-0 on the field. That is the clearest sign in the league that winning alone does not solve the attendance problem in certain markets.
St. Louis remains the league's anchor. The Battlehawks have played two home games and drawn 31,191 and 20,209 — accounting for 51,400 of the league's 150,751 total fans this season, or about 34 percent.
The three new markets are establishing their baselines. Columbus drew 14,810 for its home opener in Week 2. Louisville has drawn 14,034 and 11,082 in two home games. Orlando drew 11,127 and 8,585 in its two home dates. All three are trending down from their debuts, which is typical for new UFL franchises.
D.C.'s 12,167 home opener gives the Defenders a solid start. Houston and Birmingham have not had home games yet that tell us much — Houston drew 7,744 in Week 2 (Easter Sunday, NFL Network), and Birmingham has played all three games on the road.
Through 12 games, the league-wide average sits at 12,563 per game. That is inside Mike Repole's stated target range of 10,000 to 15,000. Remove St. Louis's two home games, and the other 10 games average 9,935.
Week 4 begins Thursday, April 16, with Louisville at Houston.