You would be forgiven for not knowing all the markets the United Football League plays in, all things considered. The eight teams currently taking the field have seen serious change since the launch of the spring football leagues. For those who have been removed, the renewed United States Football League, joined forces with the thrice revived XFL. No longer under control of the controversial Vince McMahon (which is a story all its own), the two joined forces following the Covid-19 pandemic. Plans were announced in 2023, with a birth of the united league in 2024.
The original eight teams saw four markets from each league, with the USFL bringing in former markets Birmingham, Detroit, Houston, and Memphis, and the XFL adding San Antonio, Dallas, Washington D.C., and Saint Louis.
While the league launched with some fanfare and support from the juggernaut that is the NFL, games became an afterthought to those outside the immediate area, despite a national TV audience weekly. The American consumer just has not accepted alternate football leagues, especially one that kicks off just weeks after the Super Bowl each February or ones play that play inside shopping malls and convention centers (looking at you Arena Football).
They could never make me hate you, Arena League.
Markets have struggled to retain teams, with just three of the original teams remaining in the league today. To keep some sort of relevancy (and fully operating league), new markets have been brought in, and that’s where our paths cross with the soccer-loving community today. In recent years, teams have been moved to Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando, with those three teams playing their home games inside soccer specific stadiums. It’s been rumored in recent weeks that the team that currently plays in Detroit would move to Detroit City’s new home when that opens doors in the coming years.
Wednesday, the league announced their intent to expand to 10 teams by 2027, with 4 more teams coming to USL markets. Rhode Island and Colorado Springs will join the league this coming spring, at their respective stadiums, with Oklahoma City and Utah joining in 2028.
The four new markets expand the league’s geographic footprint, with an emphasis on pushing further west in the United States. So, the question that comes to mind, what does expansion look past 2028 for a Triple-A American football league, and why does it make the most sense for Sacramento to be included in those conversations.
As the excitement grows for the New Republic Stadium (sponsorship pending), I’ve looked back at what team leaders have said regarding the launch of the new home digs, and they have made no small instance of mentioning “other events” that could be hosted in the future. While concerts are a given, other sporting events would be a shoe in as well.
Before the debacle that was the Burkle-Nagle-MLS saga, Sacramento was previously awarded and scheduled to host NCAA College Cup events, including the 2024 Men's College Cup and 2025 Women's College Cup at the planned Railyards Stadium. Those plans fell through, for obvious reasons. No announcement about their rescheduling or whether the NCAA would consider returning to the capital city.
Collegiate sports have seen a boom of popularity, with Sacramento State leading the way locally. A recent move to the Middle Atlantic Conference and the FBS ranks, come following Dr. Luke Wood’s push for a new stadium for Hornet Football. Notably, during the original announcement of intent for the new 25k-seat stadium, the university mentioned that they were in discussions with a “professional tenant” and that wasn’t Republic. UFL makes the most sense.
For the record, there have been no indications of any ownership interest in a football team, let alone one that would share the same brand-new stadium in the railyards, but let’s imagine. What would support look like?
Average league attendance for games in 2026 came in around 10,500 per game, enough to fill the current Heart Health Park with little room to spare. Those numbers are buoyed by the Saint Louis franchise, which plays in the former home of the Rams. They see over 23k fans file into the dome to see their team, a far stretch from a sellout. The lowest team attendance this season was Houston, which saw a spare 5,000 fans per game, only seeing 28,00 fans the whole season. The markets seeing the most success are the ones that don’t see NFL or Power 5 (the major NCAA schools) regularly. Orlando, Columbus, and Louisville saw just shy of 10k fans regularly during their home games. I have no doubt that Sacramento could bring in a passionate fan base around that number, but would it make sense to play at the Railyards? While the modern amenities would be nice, couldn’t the current Hornet Stadium host those games?
There’s another side that I pose to this question. Image isn’t everything for the UFL. They know what the crowds look like. They know how to broadcast those games without an emphasis on the tarped off sections. They just need stability. If there’s one city in the United States that has, time and again, proven they will support a team through thick and thin, It’s Sacramento. The investment could also be beneficial for the soccer operation, and whatever league they find themselves in opening night two years from now.
The logistics make sense, the fan base would be there, but I worry that those same fans would want more. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen comments under posts or stories regarding The Railyards, clamoring for an NFL franchise. That is a lofty dream, but a laughable reality. The NFL is trying to expand to Europe, Mexico, and far beyond. Sacramento will never have an NFL team of its own. It’s a tough conversation, but there’s an essence of “this is the best you’ve got” regarding sports in California’s capitol. Would I love to see Major League Baseball during the day, then take light rail over for Sunday Night Football? Of course. That’s just not going to happen.
Despite the pessimism, I welcome a potential UFL team. It’s another option for entertainment, and despite my dunking on the league and quality of play, It is still nationally broadcast weekly and would benefit the city and those running the operation. Could I see myself buying season tickets? That’s to be seen, but I’m bullish about the prospects of sports in the city.
