As the UFL regular season draws to a close, once again, the games provided plenty of thrills. On Saturday afternoon, the underdog 1-7 Arlington Renegades prevailed over the playoff-bound St. Louis Battlehawks with a decisive 36-22 win, while the San Antonio Brahmas upset the seemingly unstoppable Birmingham Stallions 18-9.

On Sunday afternoon, in the scorching Texas heat, the Michigan Panthers mounted an impressive fourth-quarter come-from-behind rally to defeat the Houston Roughnecks by a score of 26-22. Did the fans catch all the excitement this week or did they miss out? The UFL week 9 ratings are in and according to Mike Mitchell,@ByMikeMitchell this week’s numbers are good news for the league and the television broadcast networks. In a crowded sports weekend filled with premiere horse racing, Major League Baseball, NBA playoffs, and NASCAR, fans showed up to cheer on their favorite UFL teams.

 

Saturday 5/25

St. Louis Battlehawks at Arlington Renegades: Averaged 886,000 on ABC

It took almost the entire season but the Arlington Renegades finally put it all together to prove this team is far better than their 1-7 record. In a game with little to gain, Luis Perez and the Renegades claimed a 36-22 victory over the playoff-bound St. Louis Battlehawks.

Attendance: 8,545

San Antonio Brahmas v. Birmingham Stallions: Averaged 1,072,000 viewers on ABC

On Saturday afternoon, the San Antonio Brahmas defense accomplished what every other team in the league failed to do thus far; shut down Adrian Martinez and the Birmingham offense, holding them to a mere 9 points to secure the victory 18-9.

Attendance: 11,839

Sunday 5/26

Michigan Panthers v. Houston Roughnecks:  Averaged 800,000 viewers on FOX. (Regional coverage split). The telecast peaked between 5:30 -5:45 pm with 1,122,000 viewers.

After a rough start, the Michigan Panthers came storming back in the fourth quarter to snatch a 26-22 victory from the Houston Roughnecks. Quarterback Bryce Perkins who took over from starter Danny Etling, sparked the comeback, passing 12/15 for 121 yards with one passing touchdown, two rushing touchdowns on 79 yards, and one interception.

Attendance: 6,527

D.C. Defenders v. Memphis Showboats: Averaged 800,000 viewers on FOX (Regional coverage split)

Jordan Ta’amu and the D.C. Defenders put together an impressive showing as they defeated the 1-8 Memphis Showboats 36-21. The Defenders controlled the time of possession and dominated the Showboats in every offensive category. Ta’amu finished with 20/24 for 237 yards with two passing touchdowns and another rushing touchdown.

Attendance: 6,387

The Attendance Issue

Despite the encouraging TV ratings, the week 9 attendance figures were dismal. Last week’s attendance figures ranked a healthy 63,413, but this week’s total of 33,298 reflected a drop of more than 30,000 fans. While three of the four cities hosting had already been eliminated from the playoffs, the league has an ongoing issue of in-person attendance at these locations, and putting “butts in the seats” remains a challenge.  Although the league has tried everything from special themed game days paying tribute to first responders and service men and women in the “Hats Off to the Heroes” and bobblehead giveaways, what else could the UFL be doing to attract fans to the games?  

This weekend’s games will close out the regular season. In an ironic scheduling twist, fans will get a preview of next week’s division championships when all four playoff teams face off against the rival they will play the following week in the division championship. At stake in at least one of these games is the home-field advantage and the opportunity to host the division championship game next week.

The Regular Season Ends This Weekend  

This weekend, tune in as the Birmingham Stallions host the Michigan Panthers in a preview of next week’s division championship. Catch the action on Saturday, June 1st on ESPN at 2:00 pm EDT.  

In the second game on Saturday, June 1st, the St. Louis Battlehawks will host the San Antonio Brahmas. The game will be televised on FOX at 4:00 pm EDT. Throughout the season, St. Louis has boasted the best attendance in the league. Will the hometown crowd help the Battlehawks emerge victorious to ensure the division Championship is played at The Dome at America’s Center?  

In the season finale for two teams who failed to qualify for the playoffs, the D.C. Defenders will host the Arlington Renegades at Audi Field.  ABC will broadcast the game on Sunday, June 2nd at noon EDT.

Also on Sunday, June 2nd at 7:00 pm EDT, FOX will broadcast the final game of the regular season when the Memphis Showboats take on the Houston Roughnecks at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. 

Check your local listings for details.

author avatar
Sue Levine
Sue Levine spent the past five years creating and producing a successful weekly health and wellness podcast starring a wonderful iconic woman as the program host. As part of Sue's responsibilities, she scripted every episode and discovered a genuine love of writing. When the podcast ended late last year, she shifted the focus of her writing to covering pro sports. A passionate fan of NFL and UFL football as well as fantasy, she is delighted to be able to share her articles with other football fans.

2 Comments

  • Posted May 29, 2024 9:50 pm 0Likes
    by Shimmy

    I still think starting the season earlier, end of February, early March. Those southern cities that play outside ,cooler weather, more night games, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday Season start, then maybe a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 2nd week .(check out the start of the Canadian FL season start especially its 1st 4 to 5weeks) this kind of stretches out the schedule. I realize TV is trying to fill scheduling voids, you are coming out of winter, people want to get outside the later you start in the year. UFL start date 3/30/24 seems to be a USFL start date , the AAF, XFL 2020, 2023 were February there attendance was better, and what about private ownership, since I do not live in one of these markets, how is being presented, Remember these clubs were chosen by either the USFL or XFL ownership. Six teams qualify for the playoffs, 2 divisional winners then the next four best records( example could be 4 teams from one division could Qualify. This year is odd but still that 6th spot is still up for grabs in week 10. Finishing the season at the same time NBA finals, NHL Stanley cup finals, NCAA baseball CWS, would indicate a Late February, early March start date. The UFL is going to have to have a very “open mind to were these teams are wanted by communities if local ownership believe they can put actual turn style attendance 18000 plus I think you have to listen no matter what the size of that TV market”.

  • Posted May 29, 2024 10:31 pm 0Likes
    by Shimmy

    This is only my opinion just mine, with 3 teams after 9 weeks 2-7 or 1-8 and ending the regular season Birmingham vs Michigan St. Louis vs San Antonio and then playing the following week in the playoffs, just seems so odd, It is not ideal just quirky no disrespect , to any teams it is what it is just a weird way to end it and go into playoffs what were the odds of that happening, was there a betting line on how this went down. Go UFL

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