Week 9 of the 2026 UFL season drew 36,406 fans across four games — an average of 9,102 per game. Three of the four home markets posted attendance above 9,000, making this the most balanced week of the season outside of the St. Louis-driven peaks.
Orlando drew 10,594 — the Storm's best home figure since Week 1. Columbus posted 9,217, their best since the Week 2 debut. Louisville held above 10,000 for the fifth straight home game. Houston posted 6,217 in their home finale.
Three teams completed their home schedules this week: Orlando, Louisville, and Houston. Their final home averages are now locked in.
Orlando Draws 10,594 for Home Finale
The D.C. Defenders visited the Orlando Storm on Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando won 27-19 for their seventh straight victory.
The announced attendance was 10,594 — Orlando's highest home figure since the 11,127 opener in Week 1. Inter&Co Stadium has a capacity of 25,500. The Storm's five home games drew 11,127, 8,585, 9,735, 9,107, and 10,594 for a final home average of 9,830.
Storm quarterback Jack Plummer completed 21 of 27 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Chris Rowland had eight catches for 117 yards and a score. Orlando scored a touchdown within the first four minutes and led 21-10 at halftime.
D.C. played without quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8. Backup Spencer Sanders went 10 of 21 for 160 yards. Running back Deon Jackson had eight carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, but the Defenders could not keep pace with Orlando's offense. D.C. dropped to 5-4 but clinched a playoff berth after Birmingham lost to Columbus later in the weekend.
Columbus Draws 9,217 in Fourth Home Game
The Birmingham Stallions visited the Columbus Aviators on Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium. Columbus won 36-29 in a fourth-quarter comeback, handing Birmingham a loss that eliminated the Stallions from playoff contention.
The announced attendance was 9,217. That is up from 8,347 in Week 6, the last time Columbus played at home. Crew Stadium holds about 20,000. The Aviators' four home games have drawn 14,810, 8,729, 8,347, and 9,217 for an average of 10,276.
Quarterback Jalen Morton made his first start of the season, replacing Jalan McClendon. Morton finished with 309 total yards and four touchdowns — three through the air and one on the ground. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 213 yards and led a balanced offense that put up 392 total yards.
Columbus trailed 23-14 at halftime and 29-21 in the fourth quarter. Morton led a tying drive from his own 9-yard line in the final three minutes, and cornerback DJ Miller Jr. sealed the win with a pick-six off Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the closing seconds. Birmingham dropped to 4-5. Columbus improved to 3-6 but remains on the outside of the playoff picture.
Louisville Draws 10,378 for Home Finale
The Dallas Renegades visited the Louisville Kings on Sunday at Lynn Family Stadium. Louisville won 37-23 behind quarterback Chandler Rogers, who threw two touchdowns.
The announced attendance was 10,378. Louisville's five home games drew 14,034, 11,082, 10,456, 10,025, and 10,378 for a final home average of 11,195. Lynn Family Stadium has a seated capacity of about 11,700 for UFL games.
Louisville is the only non-St. Louis market to average above 11,000 per home game this season. The Kings' home attendance declined from the debut through Week 8 but ticked back up in the finale. The floor held near 10,000 in all five games.
Louisville improved to 5-4 and controls its own destiny for the fourth and final playoff spot entering Week 10. Dallas dropped to 3-6 and has been eliminated from postseason contention.
Houston Draws 6,217 for Home Finale
The St. Louis Battlehawks visited the Houston Gamblers on Sunday night at Shell Energy Stadium. St. Louis won 21-15, clinching a playoff berth.
The announced attendance was 6,217. That is Houston's best home figure since Week 2's 7,744 but does not change the overall picture. The Gamblers' five home games drew 7,744, 4,880, 5,166, 4,409, and 6,217 for a final home average of 5,683. That is the lowest home average of any team in the 2026 UFL season.
Shell Energy Stadium has a capacity of about 20,600. Houston never filled more than 38 percent of the building in any home game this season. The Gamblers dropped to 3-6 and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
St. Louis improved to 6-3 and joined Orlando (7-2) and D.C. (5-4) as the three teams that have clinched playoff spots. The fourth spot will be decided in Week 10.
Week 9 Attendance at a Glance
Game | Day | Venue | Attendance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D.C. Defenders at Orlando Storm | Friday | Inter&Co Stadium | 10,594 | ORL 27, DC 19 |
Birmingham Stallions at Columbus Aviators | Saturday | Historic Crew Stadium | 9,217 | CLB 36, BIR 29 |
Dallas Renegades at Louisville Kings | Sunday | Lynn Family Stadium | 10,378 | LOU 37, DAL 23 |
St. Louis Battlehawks at Houston Gamblers | Sunday | Shell Energy Stadium | 6,217 | STL 21, HOU 15 |
Total / Average | 36,406 / 9,102 |
Nine-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) |
Week 8 | 40,459 | 10,115 | St. Louis (21,609) | Dallas (4,001*) |
Week 9 | 36,406 | 9,102 | Orlando (10,594) | Houston (6,217) |
Season | 368,205 | 10,228 |
*Free admission military event at Fort Hood.
Final Home Averages — Completed Schedules
Team | Home Games | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
Louisville | 5 | 55,975 | 11,195 |
Orlando | 5 | 49,148 | 9,830 |
Dallas | 5 | 30,926 | 6,185* |
Houston | 5 | 28,416 | 5,683 |
*Includes Fort Hood free admission game (4,001).
Home Averages — One Game Remaining
Team | Home Games | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis | 4 | 91,572 | 22,893 |
Columbus | 4 | 41,103 | 10,276 |
Birmingham | 4 | 35,989 | 8,997 |
D.C. | 4 | 35,076 | 8,769 |
What the Numbers Show Through Nine Weeks
The season average has dropped to 10,228 per game through 36 games. The UFL remains above Mike Repole's 10,000-fan floor, but the margin is thin. One bad week in Week 10 could push the final average below that mark.
Louisville finished with a 11,195 home average — second in the league behind St. Louis and the best of any expansion market. The Kings held above 10,000 in all five home games. For a first-year franchise, that is the result the UFL was hoping for.
Orlando finished at 9,830. The Storm never hit 10,000 in the middle of their schedule (Weeks 2-5) but rebounded to 10,594 in the finale. The seven-game winning streak may have helped. Inter&Co Stadium's 25,500 capacity meant the building never felt full, which is the type of problem Repole's smaller-venue strategy was designed to address.
Houston finished last at 5,683 per home game. The Gamblers never cracked 8,000 in any of their five home dates. The market has been the league's weakest since the UFL launched in 2024, and 2026 did not change that.
Dallas finished at 6,185 including the Fort Hood game, or 6,731 across the four Toyota Stadium games. Either number puts the Renegades near the bottom alongside Houston.
The four teams with home games remaining — St. Louis, Columbus, Birmingham, and D.C. — will determine where the final season average lands. St. Louis has the most to contribute. If the Battlehawks draw 20,000-plus in their home finale, it could keep the league above 10,000 for the full season.
Week 10 — the final week of the regular season — begins Friday, May 29.