Week 7 of the 2026 UFL season produced two of the three lowest attendance figures of the year. Birmingham drew 4,705 and Houston drew 4,409. Combined with a flat number in D.C. and a third straight decline for St. Louis at home, the four-game total came in at 35,627 — an average of 8,907 per game.
The season average has now dropped to 10,405 per game through 28 games. That is the closest the league has been to falling below Mike Repole's stated floor of 10,000 since the season began.
St. Louis Draws 18,563 in Third Home Game
The Columbus Aviators visited the St. Louis Battlehawks on Friday night at The Dome at America's Center. St. Louis won 31-20 to improve to 5-2.
The announced attendance was 18,563. That continues a downward trend for the Battlehawks at home: 31,191 in Week 1, 20,209 in Week 3, and now 18,563 in Week 7. The Dome holds about 65,000, but the UFL uses a reduced configuration.
Quarterback Luis Perez got the start over Harrison Frost and completed 16 of 30 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a score on the opening drive. Receiver Hakeem Butler had three catches for 77 yards. St. Louis built a 24-7 halftime lead before Columbus made it closer in the second half. Aviators quarterback Jalan McClendon completed 20 of 28 for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Tay Martin had seven catches for 55 yards and a score. Columbus committed 14 penalties — the same number as their first downs — which stalled their comeback. The Aviators dropped to 2-5.
Even at 18,563, St. Louis posted the highest attendance of any game this week by more than 10,000. The Battlehawks remain the league's top draw, but the three-game home trend shows a decline of more than 12,600 from the opener to Week 7.
D.C. Draws 7,950 as Louisville Snaps Defenders' Win Streak
The Louisville Kings visited the D.C. Defenders on Saturday at Audi Field. Louisville won 30-13 — snapping the Defenders' five-game winning streak.
The announced attendance was 7,950. That is a slight uptick from Week 6's 7,019 but still well below D.C.'s 12,167 home opener. Through four home games, the Defenders are averaging 8,769.
D.C. led 13-3 with under two minutes remaining in the first half. Louisville scored a touchdown before halftime and then shut out the Defenders the rest of the way. The Kings closed the game on a 27-0 run. Quarterback Chandler Rogers threw two touchdowns — both to receiver Tarik Black, from 9 yards and 6 yards. Louisville out-rushed D.C. 145-89 and recorded four sacks. The Defenders had 414 total yards compared to Louisville's 323 but committed four turnovers in the second half. D.C. dropped to 5-2. Louisville improved to 3-4.
The loss drops D.C. into a three-way tie atop the standings with St. Louis and Orlando, all at 5-2.
Birmingham Draws 4,705 in Third Home Game
The Dallas Renegades visited the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday night at Protective Stadium. Birmingham won 21-17 in overtime.
The announced attendance was 4,705. That is a steep decline from Birmingham's previous home figures of 18,340 (Week 4) and 8,120 (Week 5). Protective Stadium has a capacity of 47,100 in its full configuration, though the UFL uses a reduced setup.
Birmingham's home attendance has dropped 74 percent from the opener to Week 7. The Stallions entered the game at 2-4 and had lost four of their first six games. The Week 4 home opener had a halftime performance by Gucci Mane and the novelty factor of the franchise's return. Neither element was present for Week 7.
On the field, the Stallions trailed 17-7 entering the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns and added two two-point conversions in overtime to seal the win. Dallas quarterback Austin Reed completed 67.6 percent of his passes but did not throw a touchdown. Running back Ellis Merriweather had both of Dallas's rushing touchdowns, finishing with 130 rushing yards for the team. Dallas dropped to 3-4. Birmingham improved to 3-4.
Through three home games, Birmingham is averaging 10,388. That is still above Repole's 10,000 floor, but the Week 4 opener is doing most of the work. The last two home games have averaged 6,413.
Houston Sets Season Low at 4,409
The Orlando Storm visited the Houston Gamblers on Sunday at Shell Energy Stadium. Orlando won 24-23 for their fifth straight victory, improving to 5-2.
The announced attendance was 4,409 — the lowest figure of the 2026 UFL season. Shell Energy Stadium has a capacity of about 20,600. Houston's four home games this season have drawn 7,744, 4,880, 5,166, and 4,409.
Orlando jumped to a 14-3 lead after cornerback D.J. James intercepted Houston quarterback Hunter Dekkers and returned it for a touchdown. Houston clawed back and took the lead in the fourth quarter on a 49-yard pass from backup quarterback John Rhys Plumlee to receiver Jalen White. Storm quarterback Jack Plummer found receiver Elijah Badger for a 31-yard touchdown to retake the lead. Houston added a field goal and had a chance to win on a 63-yard attempt by kicker John Hoyland, but the kick missed. Orlando escaped with its fifth consecutive victory.
Houston dropped to 2-5. The Gamblers have the worst home attendance in the UFL and now have the worst home average of any team in any UFL season.
Week 7 Attendance at a Glance
Game | Day | Venue | Attendance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus Aviators at St. Louis Battlehawks | Friday | The Dome at America's Center | 18,563 | STL 31, CLB 20 |
Louisville Kings at D.C. Defenders | Saturday | Audi Field | 7,950 | LOU 30, DC 13 |
Dallas Renegades at Birmingham Stallions | Saturday | Protective Stadium | 4,705 | BIR 21, DAL 17 (OT) |
Orlando Storm at Houston Gamblers | Sunday | Shell Energy Stadium | 4,409 | ORL 24, HOU 23 |
Total / Average | 35,627 / 8,907 |
Seven-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) |
Week 7 | 35,627 | 8,907 | St. Louis (18,563) | Houston (4,409) |
Season | 291,340 | 10,405 |
Home Averages Through Seven Weeks
Team | Home Games | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis | 3 | 69,963 | 23,321 |
Louisville | 3 | 35,572 | 11,857 |
Columbus | 3 | 31,886 | 10,629 |
Birmingham | 3 | 31,165 | 10,388 |
Orlando | 4 | 38,554 | 9,639 |
D.C. | 4 | 35,076 | 8,769 |
Dallas | 4 | 26,925 | 6,731 |
Houston | 4 | 22,199 | 5,550 |
What the Numbers Show Through Seven Weeks
The season average dropped from 10,655 to 10,405. That is the fourth straight week the average has declined. The UFL has not posted a weekly average above 10,000 since Week 3, when St. Louis drew 20,209 at home.
The bottom of the league is pulling the average down. Houston's four home games average 5,550. Dallas's four home games average 6,731. Birmingham's last two home games average 6,413 after the 18,340 opener inflated the season figure. Those three teams account for 11 of the 28 games played and are dragging the league-wide number toward Repole's 10,000 floor.
St. Louis is still doing the heavy lifting. The Battlehawks' three home games total 69,963 fans — 24 percent of the league's entire season attendance through 28 games. But the Battlehawks' own numbers are trending down: 31,191 to 20,209 to 18,563. If St. Louis dips below 15,000, the league average will almost certainly fall below 10,000.
D.C. has leveled off around 7,500 to 8,000 per home game after the 12,167 opener. The four-game home average of 8,769 is a 33 percent decline from the Defenders' 13,000 per-game average in 2025.
Week 8 begins Friday, May 15, with Orlando at Dallas at Fort Hood's Phantom Warrior Stadium in the "Hats Off to Heroes" game. Saturday features D.C. at Louisville and Houston at St. Louis. Sunday closes with Columbus at Birmingham.