Week 6 of the 2026 UFL season drew 34,929 fans across four games — an average of 8,732 per game. That is the second-lowest weekly average of the season behind Week 5's 7,536.
No St. Louis home game was on the schedule for the second straight week. The Battlehawks played at Louisville on Thursday night. Without the league's top-drawing market at home, the weekly total depended on four mid-tier markets — and none of them cracked five figures except Louisville.
The result is a season-wide average that has fallen from 11,039 after Week 5 to 10,655 after Week 6.
Louisville Draws 10,456 for Third Home Game
The St. Louis Battlehawks visited the Louisville Kings on Thursday night at Lynn Family Stadium. St. Louis won 16-3 to hand Louisville its second straight loss. The Kings dropped to 2-4.
The announced attendance was 10,456. Louisville's three home games have drawn 14,034, 11,082, and 10,456 — a steady decline from the Week 1 debut. Lynn Family Stadium has a seated capacity of about 11,700 for UFL games.
On the field, Battlehawks quarterback Harrison Frost completed 22 of 40 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Kings quarterback Chandler Rogers went 15 of 32 for 199 yards with an interception. Louisville managed just a field goal. Wide receiver Tarik Black had four catches for 72 yards in the loss.
The trend is heading the wrong direction for Louisville, but the decline has been gradual — not a cliff. A drop of about 1,800 fans per home game over three dates is within the range of what other new UFL markets have experienced. The Kings do not play at home again until Week 9 on May 24.
Columbus Draws 8,347 in Third Home Game
The Houston Gamblers visited the Columbus Aviators on Friday night at Historic Crew Stadium. Columbus won 24-17 for their second victory of the season, improving to 2-4.
The announced attendance was 8,347. That continues a downward trend from the 14,810 home opener in Week 2 and the 8,729 second home game in Week 4. Crew Stadium holds about 20,000.
Quarterback Jalen McClendon completed 20 of 26 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Tay Martin had six catches for 103 yards. The Aviators put up a season-high 367 total yards. Running backs John Lovett and Zaquandre White each scored a rushing touchdown.
Columbus has now won both home games against Houston this season (Week 2 was a D.C. home game). The question is whether the Aviators can draw closer to 10,000 with a win streak or whether the 8,000-range is the market's baseline after the debut bump faded.
D.C. Draws 7,019 Despite League-Best Record
The Dallas Renegades visited the D.C. Defenders on Saturday at Audi Field. D.C. won 24-6 for their fifth straight victory, improving to 5-1 — the best record in the UFL.
The announced attendance was 7,019. Audi Field has a capacity of 20,000. The building was about one-third full. The Washington Nationals hosted a game at Nationals Park — located across the street from Audi Field — with a 4 p.m. first pitch. Most fans in the area use the Metro to get to both venues, and the later Nationals start time meant fans could have attended both events. Whether the overlap had any impact on the Defenders' turnout is unclear.
D.C.'s home attendance has dropped in each of its three home games this season: 12,167, 7,940, and 7,019. That is a decline of more than 5,100 fans from the home opener to Week 6. The Defenders averaged 13,000 per home game in 2025. Through three home games in 2026, that average is down to 9,042.
On the field, quarterback Jordan Ta'amu threw three touchdowns in the first half — connecting with Erik Ezukanma, Mason Fairchild, and Daewood Davis. Kicker Matt McCrane hit a 56-yard field goal before halftime. All 24 of D.C.'s points came in the first two quarters. Dallas managed just 50 rushing yards and missed two field goals. The Renegades dropped to 3-3.
D.C. is the reigning UFL champion with the best record in the league and a five-game win streak. None of that has stopped the attendance slide. The Defenders host Louisville in Week 7 and will need a turnaround to stay above the league average at home.
Orlando Draws 9,107 as Birmingham Gets First Road Win
The Birmingham Stallions visited the Orlando Storm on Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium. Birmingham won 20-17 — their first road victory of the 2026 season. Orlando dropped to 4-2.
The announced attendance was 9,107. That is the fourth home game for Orlando this season. The Storm have drawn 11,127, 8,585, 9,735, and 9,107. Inter&Co Stadium has a capacity of 25,500.
Orlando's home numbers have stayed in a range between 8,500 and 11,100 all season. The 9,107 figure does not represent a drop-off so much as a confirmation of where the market sits right now — roughly 9,000 to 10,000 per game.
Birmingham improved to 2-4 with the upset. The Stallions held Orlando to 17 points, the second-lowest total for the Storm this season behind the 16-0 shutout loss Birmingham took in Week 4.
Week 6 Attendance at a Glance
Game | Day | Venue | Attendance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis Battlehawks at Louisville Kings | Thursday | Lynn Family Stadium | 10,456 | STL 16, LOU 3 |
Houston Gamblers at Columbus Aviators | Friday | Historic Crew Stadium | 8,347 | CLB 24, HOU 17 |
Dallas Renegades at D.C. Defenders | Saturday | Audi Field | 7,019 | DC 24, DAL 6 |
Birmingham Stallions at Orlando Storm | Sunday | Inter&Co Stadium | 9,107 | BIR 20, ORL 17 |
Total / Average | 34,929 / 8,732 |
Six-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) |
Week 4 | 39,889 | 9,972 | Birmingham (18,340) | Houston (4,880) |
Week 5 | 30,144 | 7,536 | Orlando (9,735) | Houston (5,166) |
Week 6 | 34,929 | 8,732 | Louisville (10,456) | D.C. (7,019) |
Season | 255,713 | 10,655 |
Home Averages Through Six Weeks
Team | Home Games | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis | 2 | 51,400 | 25,700 |
Birmingham | 2 | 26,460 | 13,230 |
Louisville | 3 | 35,572 | 11,857 |
Columbus | 3 | 31,886 | 10,629 |
Orlando | 4 | 38,554 | 9,639 |
D.C. | 3 | 27,126 | 9,042 |
Dallas | 4 | 26,925 | 6,731 |
Houston | 3 | 17,790 | 5,930 |
What the Numbers Show Through Six Weeks
The league-wide average has dropped below 11,000 for the first time this season. At 10,655 per game through 24 games, the UFL is still inside Mike Repole's stated target of 10,000 to 15,000. But the margin is thinning.
D.C. is the most concerning trend in the numbers right now. The Defenders have the best record in the league at 5-1 and have won five straight games. Their home attendance has dropped from 12,167 to 7,940 to 7,019. A Washington Nationals game was scheduled across the street on the same day, though the 4 p.m. start time meant fans could have attended both. The three-week decline predates any single scheduling conflict. Winning is not filling Audi Field. D.C. averaged 13,000 per home game last season. This season's 9,042 average is a 30 percent decline.
Louisville has settled into a gradual slide — 14,034 to 11,082 to 10,456. The Kings are losing fans, but the pace is manageable. At 11,857 per home game, Louisville still ranks fourth in the league in home attendance. The expansion market has held up better than Columbus, which dropped from 14,810 to the 8,000 range after its debut.
Orlando has stabilized around 9,000 to 10,000 per game. That puts the Storm just below the 10,000 floor Repole set, but the consistency is a better sign than the sharp declines other markets have posted.
St. Louis continues to skew the league-wide numbers. The Battlehawks' two home games account for 20 percent of the league's total attendance through 24 games. When St. Louis plays at home — as they will in Week 7 against Columbus — the weekly average jumps. When they don't, it drops. That pattern has held all season.
Week 7 begins Friday, May 8, with Columbus at St. Louis on FOX. Saturday features Louisville at D.C. on FOX and Dallas at Birmingham on ESPN. Sunday closes with Orlando at Houston on FS1.