United Football League (2024)#Broadcasting
{{Short description|American football league}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{About|the current league with this name|the original|United Football League (1961–1964)|the second incarnation|United Football League (2009–2012)}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season = 2025 UFL season
| title = United Football League
| logo = United Football League 2024 logo black.png
| logo_size = 260px
| sport = American football
| founded = December 31, 2023
| founder =
| inaugural = 2024
| motto =
| country = United States
| last_season =
| upcoming_season = 2026
| champion = Birmingham Stallions
(1st title)
| most_champs = Birmingham Stallions (1 title)
| classification = Spring football league
| teams = 8
| replaced =
| owner = National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC{{cite web |title=USFL, BJCC reach tentative MOU to bring relaunch season to Birmingham|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/10/usfl-bjcc-reach-tentative-moa-to-bring-relaunch-season-to-birmingham.html|website=AL.com |access-date=18 October 2021 |language=en |date=2021-10-18}} (Fox Corporation) (50%)
{{ubl|class=nowrap|
|(Dany Garcia) (50%)
}}
| commissioner =
| president = Russ Brandon
| ceo = Russ Brandon
| TV = {{unbulleted list|class=nowrap|
| United States:
| International:
| ESPN{{efn|Spanish audio/broadcast}}
}}
| streaming = {{unbulleted list|class=nowrap|
| United States:
| International:
| Disney+{{efn|Spanish audio/broadcast}}
}}
| website = {{url|https://www.theufl.com/|theufl.com}}
| dissolved =
| headquarters = 1401 Nolan Ryan Expy
Arlington, Texas, U.S.
| most successful club =
| related_comps = Direct: XFL, USFL
Affiliated: IFL
Other: NFL, CFL
}}
The United Football League (UFL) is a professional American football high level minor league in the United States. The league was created following the merger of the latest incarnations of the XFL and United States Football League (USFL); it started play in March 2024.{{Cite press release |date=December 31, 2022 |title=UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE ("UFL") SET TO LAUNCH AS THE PREMIER SPRING FOOTBALL LEAGUE |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/united-football-league-set-to-launch-as-the-premier-spring-football-league |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=theufl.com}} It comprises eight teams, all of which were members of the XFL or USFL prior to the UFL's creation, concentrated in the Midwest and Southern United States.{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Joey |date=2024-01-03 |title='St. Louis was all in' – UFL leader Daryl Johnston speaks on Battlehawks and new merger |url=https://fox2now.com/sports/battlehawks/st-louis-was-all-in-ufl-leader-daryl-johnston-speaks-on-battlehawks-and-new-merger/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=FOX 2 |language=en-US}}
Background
{{main|XFL (2020–2023)|United States Football League (2022–2023)|}}
=2020–2021=
{{Main|2020 XFL season|2020 The Spring League Fall season|2021 The Spring League season}}
In 2017, Vince McMahon, who had previously launched the XFL in 2001 as a partnership with NBC Sports, registered a trademark for the United Football League name.{{cite web|url=https://deadspin.com/timing-of-trademarks-suggests-new-xfl-may-be-a-respon-1821393884|title=Timing Of Trademarks Suggests "New XFL" May Be A Response To NFL Protests|first=David|last=Bixenspan|work=Deadspin.com|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2020}} An unrelated United Football League, founded by Bill Hambrecht, had played four abbreviated seasons from 2009 to 2012. McMahon ultimately did not use the UFL trademark, as response to the ESPN Films 30 for 30 documentary "This Was the XFL" in 2017 showed that the XFL brand was still viable, and in February 2020, McMahon relaunched the XFL with a similar business structure (though, unlike the 2001 XFL, operated as a sole proprietorship of McMahon's separate from his professional wrestling corporation, WWE) and an emphasis on speed and innovation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/will-the-xfl-actually-be-making-a-return-wwe-is-not-exactly-denying-the-rumors|title=Will the XFL actually be making a return? WWE is not exactly denying the rumors|work=CBS Sports|access-date=January 25, 2018|language=en|author=Silverstein, Adam|date=December 16, 2017}} The XFL, which was largely successful with its attendance and television ratings, was forced to shut down halfway through its 2020 season in March due to stay-at-home orders imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and declared bankruptcy in April.{{cite web|last=Florio |first=Mike |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/13/xfl-will-release-to-nfl-or-cfl-players-with-a-credible-contractual-offer/ |title=XFL will release to NFL or CFL players with a "credible contractual offer" – ProFootballTalk |date=March 13, 2020 |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |access-date=2020-03-14}}{{cite news |title=XFL suspends all operations, lays off employees |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29021347/xfl-suspends-all-operations-lays-employees-amid-coronavirus-pandemic |website=ESPN |date=April 10, 2020 |access-date=April 10, 2020}} Later that year, McMahon sold the league to a consortium led by businesswoman Dany Garcia, Garcia's ex-husband and former WWE wrestler Dwayne Johnson (also known as "The Rock"), and private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners.{{cite news|url=https://fox2now.com/sports/battlehawks/xfl-purchased-by-a-group-including-dwayne-the-rock-johnson/|title=XFL purchased by a group including Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson|first=Joe|last=Millitzer|publisher=Fox 2 Now|date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025002051/https://fox2now.com/sports/battlehawks/xfl-purchased-by-a-group-including-dwayne-the-rock-johnson/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29588303/dwayne-rock-johnson-investor-group-agree-buy-xfl-15m|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, investor group agree to buy XFL for $15M|first=Kevin|last=Seifert|website=ESPN|date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803212132/https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29588303/dwayne-rock-johnson-investor-group-agree-buy-xfl-15m|url-status=live}} The XFL chose not to play a 2021 season (most gathering restrictions would not be lifted until spring of that year) and cancelled the 2022 season after partnership discussions with the Canadian Football League collapsed without any agreement in fall 2021.{{cite news |last1=Seifert |first1=Kevin |title=XFL planning 2023 return after talks on partnership with CFL tabled |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31776392/xfl-planning-2023-return-talks-partnership-cfl-tabled |access-date=September 27, 2021 |work=ESPN |date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707163815/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31776392/xfl-planning-2023-return-talks-partnership-cfl-tabled |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |language=en-US |quote=The XFL announced on Wednesday that it is planning to relaunch in 2023 after talks with the Canadian Football League about collaboration between the two leagues were tabled.}}
While the XFL was on hiatus, Fox Sports, which had been one of the XFL's broadcast partners along with ESPN in 2020, entered a partnership with Brian Woods, who had been operating The Spring League (TSL) as a non-paying, pay-to-play developmental showcase for professional players{{cite news | url=https://www.xflnewshub.com/the-spring-league/the-spring-league-week-3-coaching-changes-covid-rumors-addressed/| title=The Spring League Week 3: Coaching Changes, COVID, Rumors Addressed|work=XFL News Hub| date=November 13, 2020 | author=Davis, Josh}} under a single-campus bubble format{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29638025/spring-league-become-first-utilize-bubble-concept-football-six-team-october-tournament-las-vegas|title=The Spring League will be first to use bubble concept in football for October tournament in Las Vegas|date=August 11, 2020 }} since 2017. The XFL had funded The Spring League's 2019 season to test rule changes and were holding discussions about a potential affiliation between the two leagues before the bankruptcy.{{cite news |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Unique Revenue Streams, Elimination of Costly Expenditures Keys to The Spring League's Success |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated. John Wall Street |publisher=Maven |url=https://www.si.com/johnwallstreet/sports-business/the-spring-league-xfl |access-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225192201/https://www.si.com/johnwallstreet/sports-business/the-spring-league-xfl |archive-date=February 25, 2020}} Fox aired the autumn 2020 and spring 2021 seasons of The Spring League.{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/fox/fox-sports-will-televise-the-spring-league-football-games-this-fall.html|title=Fox Sports will televise The Spring League football games this fall|first=Ian|last=Casselberry|date=October 2, 2020}}
=2022–2023=
{{Main|2022 USFL season|2023 USFL season|2023 XFL season}}
Following the 2021 season, Woods and Fox announced they had acquired the trademarks of the original 1980s incarnation of the United States Football League and would be launching a reboot of the USFL in spring 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/03/the-usfl-is-officially-back/|title=The USFL is officially back|first=Andrew|last=Marchand|date=June 3, 2021}} The 2022 USFL season, though its eight teams nominally bore the names of eight former USFL franchises including their cities, continued to use the bubble format with all eight teams based in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 2022 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2022/01/usfl-announce-plans-for-inaugural-season-in-birmingham.html|title=USFL announce plans for inaugural season in Birmingham|website=AL.com|date=January 18, 2022|author=Johnson, Roy}} The playoffs were held in Canton, Ohio.{{Cite web|title=USFL announces inaugural playoffs, championship game in Canton, Ohio|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/usfl/usfl-playoffs-championship-canton|access-date=2022-02-17|website=FOX Sports|language=en-US}} Woods eventually backed out of the USFL after the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Fedotin |first=Jeff |title=Former Dallas Cowboys Star Daryl Johnston Is New USFL President |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffedotin/2023/04/06/former-dallas-cowboys-star-daryl-johnston-is-new-usfl-president/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
The XFL and USFL played separate, partially overlapping seasons in 2023, to roughly similar television viewership numbers.{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Ben|title=USFL baffled by TV viewership drop ahead of championship game|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/06/30/Media/usfl-season-two-viewership-xfl.aspx|website=Sports Business Journal|date=June 30, 2023 |language=en}} The USFL expanded to four home cities, adding Memphis, Tennessee (backed by former Memphis Mad Dogs owner Fred Smith{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Corey |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Local leaders: Why USFL Memphis Showboats' return could boost Memphis' economy |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2022/11/15/showboats-usfl-simmons-bank-liberty-stadium.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=American City Business Journals}}) and Detroit, Michigan,{{Cite web |title='Too good an opportunity': USFL explains move to Detroit, Ford Field|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/other/2023/01/26/usfl-michigan-panthers-detroit-ford-field-philadelphia-stars/69840006007/|access-date=2023-01-26 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}} to Birmingham and Canton, with each city hosting two teams, while the XFL moved three of its eight teams to new cities and held all eight teams' practices at a hub in Arlington, Texas.{{Cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Madison |title=Report: XFL Assigns Coaches to Franchises for 2023 Season |url=https://www.si.com/xfl/2022/06/04/xfl-assigns-coaches-franches-2023-season-report-bob-stoops-wade-phillips-hines-ward |access-date=June 8, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608202833/https://www.si.com/xfl/2022/06/04/xfl-assigns-coaches-franches-2023-season-report-bob-stoops-wade-phillips-hines-ward |url-status=live }}
For the 2023 season, the USFL average viewership in 2023 was down 16% from its debut season to 601,000 and 3% lower than the 2023 XFL season, despite having 28 over-the-air network games compared to eight for the XFL. The championship game also saw a significant decline in viewership from 2022 as the game averaged 1.2 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and NBC Sports digital platforms.{{Cite web|url=https://usflnewshub.com/usfl-news/usfl-2023-championship-game-tv-rating-sees-significant-decline-in-viewership-from-2022/|title=USFL 2023 Championship Game TV Rating Sees Significant Decline In Viewership From 2022|website=usflnewshub.com|date=5 July 2023 }} USFL President Daryl Johnston expressed disappointment and anger that the USFL was comparable to the XFL in ratings for the 2023 season, dismissing the XFL as "no competition" to the "far superior" USFL and musing "to be on par with our competition from a ratings standpoint in Year 2, I'm still trying to figure out: How did that happen? (...) they're not even close." The USFL was already seeking additional investors prior to the start of the 2023 season and had hired Allen & Company to assist in the search; Fox lost an unspecified amount of money on the venture in 2023 due to the high startup expenses for a professional football league.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2022/06/28/foxs-usfl-seeking-outside-investor-to-help-fund-expansion-sources/|title=Fox's USFL seeking outside investor to help fund expansion: sources|website=NY Post|language=en|author=Kosman, Josh|date=June 28, 2022}}
At the same time, the XFL lost nearly $60 million during the season after spending approximately $140 million in expenses over the course of the 2023 season and earning $80 million in gross revenue, including roughly $20 million that came from its broadcast contract with ESPN.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jabariyoung/2023/06/10/dwayne-johnson-says-xfl-succeed-nfl-usfl-dany-garcia/|title=Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Says The XFL Will Succeed. Who Wants To Tell Him He's Wrong?|website=forbes.com|author=Young, Jabari|date=June 10, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/report-xfl-loses-nearly-60-022258619.html|title=Report: XFL Loses Nearly $60 Million This Season|website=yahoo.com|date=12 June 2023 }} Executives with the league and ESPN indicated that they considered the season a success.{{Cite web|title=XFL title game TV viewership sluggish, but ESPN says season met expectations|url=https://theathletic.com/4525161/2023/05/16/xfl-espn-championship-tv-ratings/|website=theathletic.com|language=en-US|author=Shea, Bill|date=May 16, 2023}} Like the USFL, the XFL was also seeking additional investors with the assistance of PJT Partners.{{cite web|date=2022-08-08|title=XFL Seeking New Equity Investors, Retains PJT Partners For Search|url=https://www.sportico.com/leagues/football/2022/xfl-equity-investors-pjt-partners-1234684970/|access-date=2022-08-08|website=sportico.com|language=en|author1=Coffey, Brendan|author2=Soshnick, Scott}} After the season ended, the XFL made league-wide cuts affecting up to 30 people, including two marketing executives, and shifted other employees to seasonal work.{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: Major Changes in XFL As League Makes Widespread Cuts|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/exclusive-major-changes-in-xfl-as-league-makes-widespread-cuts/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=30 May 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Keeley |first=Sean |date=2023-06-15 |title=The Rock refutes Andrew Marchand's report on ESPN's XFL rights fees |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/xfl/rock-refutes-andrew-marchand-rights-fees-espn.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}
Both the USFL and XFL believed that the leagues could be independently viable in the long term even if they continued to compete against each other but, by the time of the 2023 USFL championship, they had decided that setting aside the business rivalry and merging the two leagues would be even more financially advantageous.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Ben |date=2024-03-25 |title=UFL combines forces to tackle spring football opportunity |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/03/25/spring-football |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}
History
=XFL–USFL Merger=
{{See also|2024 UFL dispersal draft}}
In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/09/19/xfl-usfl-merger|title=Scoop: Football leagues XFL and USFL in merger talks|last1=Baysinger|first1=Tim|last2=Primack|first2=Dan|last3=Fischer|first3=Sara|website=Axios|date=September 19, 2023|access-date=September 19, 2023|language=en}} On September 28, 2023, the XFL and USFL announced their intent to merge with details surrounding the merger to be announced at a later date.{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2023-09-28 |title=XFL, United States Football League announce intention to merge |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/xfl-united-states-football-league-announce-intention-to-merge-1.2013718 |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}} The merger would also require regulatory approval.{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Tom|date=2023-09-28 |title=XFL, USFL confirm intention to merge into single spring football league |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/xfl/2023/09/19/xfl-usfl-discussing-merger/70899491007/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=USA Today |language=en}} In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League".{{Cite news|title=XFL files trademark applications for 'United Football League' and 'UFL'|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/xfl-files-trademark-applications-united-football-18433404.php|website=San Antonio Express-News |date=October 18, 2023 |language=en-US |last1=Moyle |first1=Nick }} On November 30, 2023, Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had received regulatory approval for the merger and were finalizing plans for a combined season to begin March 30, 2024.{{Cite web|title=We are pleased to have completed the antitrust review process in connection with the proposed merger of the XFL and USFL and intend to play a combined season this spring kicking off on Saturday, March 30. We are now finalizing terms of the definitive agreement and will share more about this new League in the coming weeks.|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Rxyhvx3ug/|website=Instagram |language=en-US}}
The merger was formally announced on Fox NFL Sunday on December 31, 2023.{{cite news |last=Russell |first=Jake |date=December 31, 2023 |title=XFL, USFL announce merger to form the United Football League |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/31/xfl-usfl-merger-ufl/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-us}} The eight surviving teams were announced the following day on College GameDay, along with the alignment; the XFL and USFL will survive as separate conferences.[https://twitter.com/XFL_PR/status/1741864231538982929 UFL reveals team markets and head coaches for 2024 season] press release. Daryl Johnston would note in February that maintaining the XFL and USFL conferences as separate entities was designed to build an on-field rivalry between the two brands and to give the winner of the league's championship "bragging rights."{{Cite web |last=Stansell |first=Jake |date=2024-02-09 |title=Stallions hold social event at Protective Stadium ahead of upcoming UFL season |url=https://www.wbrc.com/2024/02/09/stallions-hold-social-event-protective-stadium-ahead-upcoming-ufl-season/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=WBRC |language=en}} President/CEO Russ Brandon would later say that the league would be looking at expansion shortly,{{Cite web|title=UFL President Reveals League's Future Plans, Schedule, Vision|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/ufl-president-russ-brandon-future-plans-schedule-vision|website=SI.com |date=January 4, 2024 |language=en-US}} while Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams revealed plans to expand to 12 teams by 2025 and to 16 teams by 2026.{{Cite web|title=Defenders Greg Williams Talks UFL Expansion In 2025, DC Ticket Demand|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/defenders-greg-williams-talks-ufl-expansion-in-2025-dc-ticket-demand/|website=UFL News Hub|date=March 16, 2024}}{{Cite web|title=UFL 2025: Number Of Teams, Start Dates, and Behind-the-Scenes Updates|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-2025-number-of-teams-start-dates-and-behind-the-scenes-updates/|website=UFL News Hub|date=May 20, 2024}} In a May 2024 interview, Johnston stated that he did not anticipate any relocations for 2025.{{Cite web |last=Infield |first=Matt |date=2024-05-24 |title=Moose Johnston says Showboats likely to return to Memphis next season |url=https://www.actionnews5.com/2024/05/24/moose-johnston-says-showboats-likely-return-memphis-next-season/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=WMC-TV |language=en}}
=2024 season=
{{Main|2024 UFL season}}
The 2024 UFL season began on March 30, 2024, with a matchup between the 2023 XFL champion Arlington Renegades and the 2023 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions. It concluded with the 2024 UFL Championship Game between the Stallions and the San Antonio Brahmas on June 16.
The UFL exceeded internal expectations for the 2024 season, with Fox Sports executive Eric Shanks commenting that, though the league still lost money, it was "ahead of the expected pace" in terms of achieving self-sustenance. Television viewership rose substantially compared to the previous season as separate leagues, while ticket sales in most cities declined, prompting the league ownership to shift investment toward local ticket sales teams.{{Cite web |last=Cahillane |first=Mollie |last2=Fischer |first2=Ben |date=2024-06-21 |title=UFL’s first season provides a building block |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/06/24/ufl-season-review |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}
=2025 season=
{{Main|2025 UFL season}}
The 2025 UFL season began on March 28, 2025 and will conclude with the 2025 UFL Championship Game on June 14. In November 2024, the UFL announced it was officially initiating a team expansion process, and was welcoming proposals from potential markets interested in professional spring football.{{Cite web|title=UFL 2025: Make or Break Season for Spring Pro Football's Staying Power|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/ufl-news/united-football-league-kicks-off-expansion-process|website=SI.com|first=Mike|last=Mitchell|date=Nov 25, 2024}}{{Cite web|title=United Football League Launches Expansion Process for New Team Markets|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/united-football-league-launches-expansion-process-for-new-team-markets/|website=UFL News Hub|date=November 26, 2024|first=Mark|last=Perry}}{{Cite web|title=UFL Expansion: Seattle Leads 10 Markets Eyeing 2026 Entry|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-expansion-seattle-leads-10-markets-eyeing-2026-entry/|website=UFL News Hub|date=November 27, 2024|first=Mark|last=Perry}}
Teams
{{See also|Timeline of the UFL|}}
Four teams came from the XFL and three came from the USFL, while each league's Houston-based teams merged, maintaining the branding of the XFL's Roughnecks, and the divisional alignment, players rights and coaching staff of the USFL's Gamblers.[https://www.theufl.com/news/united-football-league-reveals-team-markets-and-head-coaches-for-2024-season "United Football League reveals team markets and head coaches for 2024 season"]. theufl.com, January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024. In addition, the XFL's Seattle Sea Dragons were suspended without outright folding the team, with the UFL maintaining a retainer agreement with Lumen Field for the team's future revival.{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Mark |date=2024-11-27 |title=UFL Expansion: Seattle Leads 10 Markets Eyeing 2026 Entry |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-expansion-seattle-leads-10-markets-eyeing-2026-entry/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=UFL News Hub |language=en-US |quote=The league has been maintaining its Lumen Field agreement since the XFL-USFL merger in 2024.}}
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Overview of United Football League teams !scope="col"|Conference !scope="col"|Team !scope="col"|Location !scope="col"|Stadium !scope="col"|Capacity !scope="col"|First season !scope="col"|Head coach |
rowspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{Gridiron alt primary style|DC Defenders}};"|100px USFL Conference !scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Birmingham Stallions | style="text-align:center;" | Birmingham, Alabama | style="text-align:center;" | Protective Stadium | style="text-align:center;" | 47,100 | style="text-align:center;" | 2022 | style="text-align:center;" | Skip Holtz |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Houston Roughnecks
| style="text-align:center;" | Houston, Texas | style="text-align:center;" | Space City Financial Stadium | style="text-align:center;" | 40,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2022 | style="text-align:center;" | Curtis Johnson |
---|
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Memphis Showboats
| style="text-align:center;" | Memphis, Tennessee | style="text-align:center;" | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium | style="text-align:center;" | 30,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Jim Turner |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Michigan Panthers
| style="text-align:center;" | Detroit, Michigan | style="text-align:center;" | Ford Field | style="text-align:center;" | 65,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2022 | style="text-align:center;" | Mike Nolan |
rowspan="4" style="text-align:center; {{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}};"|100px XFL Conference !scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Arlington Renegades | style="text-align:center;" | Arlington, Texas | style="text-align:center;" | Choctaw Stadium |style="text-align:center;" | 25,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2020 | style="text-align:center;" | Bob Stoops |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | DC Defenders
| style="text-align:center;" | Washington, D.C. | style="text-align:center;" | Audi Field | style="text-align:center;" | 20,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2020 | style="text-align:center;" | Shannon Harris |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | San Antonio Brahmas
| style="text-align:center;" | San Antonio, Texas | style="text-align:center;" | Alamodome | style="text-align:center;" | 64,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Payton Pardee |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | St. Louis Battlehawks
| style="text-align:center;" | St. Louis, Missouri | style="text-align:center;" | The Dome at America's Center | style="text-align:center;" | 67,277 | style="text-align:center;" | 2020 | style="text-align:center;" | Anthony Becht |
{{Location map+ |United States |width=800 |float=center |caption=Locations of teams for the 2025 UFL season (USFL Conference in red, XFL Conference in blue)
|places=
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=32.751389 |long=-97.082778 |mark=blue pog.svg |label=Arlington |position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=38.868333 |long=-77.012222 |mark=blue pog.svg |label=DC |position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=29.721944 |long=-95.349167 |mark=red pog.svg |label=Houston |position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=35.1495 |long=-90.0490 |mark=red pog.svg |label=Memphis|position=top }}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=42.3314 |long=-83.0458 |mark=red pog.svg |label=Michigan |position=top}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=33.5186 |long=-86.8104 |mark=red pog.svg |label=Birmingham |position=top}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=29.4241 |long=-98.4936 |mark=blue pog.svg |label=San Antonio |position=top}}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=38.632778 |long=-90.188611 |mark=blue pog.svg |label=St. Louis |position=bottom}}
}}
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
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Players
Each team carries 75-men roster to training camp, then in the regular season rosters will cut down to 50 (45 active on game day).{{Cite web|title=United Football League 2024 Training Camp Details|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/united-football-league-training-camp-details|website=SI.com|date=16 February 2024 }}{{Cite web|title=Around The UFL: Training Camp News|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/around-the-ufl-training-camp-analysis|website=SI.com|date=27 February 2024 |language=en-US}} The minimum stay on injured reserve is five games, while season ending injured reserve designation guarantees player a camp invite the following season.
While the UFL embraced more of a "developmental league" mentality,{{Cite web |title=UFL's Russ Brandon on Naysayers, United Football Leagues Ownership & More |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufls-russ-brandon-on-naysayers-united-football-leagues-ownership-more/ |website=UFL News Hub |date=March 24, 2024}} they are also targeting veteran backup players, with Johnston saying: "there are a lot of guys who are at peace that their NFL window has closed, but they love the camaraderie of the locker room. They love the day-to-day grind... That's been the really inspiring thing to me, is there is a number of guys in our league who just love the game and want to keep playing it as long as they can.{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=2024-02-24 |title=Welcome to the UFL! Laying out the new(ish) league heading into the 2024 season |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39578185/ufl-2024-information-xfl-usfl-merger-spring-football-league |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Players that have three or four years in the NFL and want to kind of rewrite that narrative, the way that they’re being viewed by front offices in the NFL, they want an opportunity to come into the UFL and change that narrative".{{Cite web|title=With the merger, Daryl Johnston sees strength and depth in the new UFL |url=https://uflboard.com/news/with-the-merger-daryl-johnston-sees-strength-and-depth-in-the-new-ufl/|website=UFLBoard|date=March 17, 2024 }} Johnston also mentioned that the league would like to change the narrative, from "developmental league" and starting to talk about the "sustainability of spring football": "I think one of the things that we’ve started to have conversations is what do we want our new messaging to be? We do want to move off of the developmental component. We want to get away from the opportunity component. We want to talk about the talent of the players that are in this league... (compare to) spring football that you have seen in other iterations, this will be the best talent that if you’re a fan of spring football, you will have seen in recent history".{{Cite web|title=UFL VP Daryl Johnston Talks UFL Messaging, Kick Off, Logistical Challenges, Betting & More |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-vp-daryl-johnston-talks-ufl-messaging-kick-off-logistical-challenges-betting-more/|website=UFL News Hub|date=March 24, 2024 }}
=Unionization and compensation=
The United Football Players Association, as of 2025, serves as the labor union for the UFL. It is the first league in which the UFPA has served as a formal union for its players. The Local 9004 of the United Steelworkers, which had served as the labor union for the USFL in 2023, continued in that capacity for the UFL for the 2024 season, operating as the United Football League Players Association. (This is not to be confused with the United Football Players Association, which Local 9004 disowned during the 2023–24 offseason.){{cite web |title=UFPA And The United Steelworkers Drop Partnership As XFL-USFL Merger Looms |url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/ufpa-and-the-united-steelworkers-drop-partnership-as-xfl-usfl-merger-looms/ |website= XFL News Hub |date=30 December 2023 |language=en-US}} The league continued operating under the USFL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA).{{cite web |title=UFL Launches UFLPA: New Era of Player Representation, Adopts USFL-USW CBA |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-launches-uflpa-new-era-of-player-representation-adopts-usfl-usw-cba/ |website=UFL News Hub |date=27 January 2024 |language=en-US}}
Initial reports suggested that, contrary to the 2023 XFL season, quarterbacks would not be allowed to sign for salaries higher than the other positional players.{{Cite web |title=D.C. Defenders Breakdown: Jordan Ta'amu Fate, Changes, Dispersal Draft Options |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/d-c-defenders-jordan-taamu-changes-dispersal-draft-update-analysis |website=SI.com |date=5 January 2024 |language=en-US}} However, the UFLPA later clarified that the agreement with the league is for minimum salary only, and any player could sign a personal contract above the minimum.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/TheUFLPA/status/1752763400675790963 |title=x.com}} As late as January 2024, the league had resisted "pushback" from some of the higher-paid XFL quarterbacks to increase quarterbacks' salary, with Johnston at the time refusing to deviate from the plan to pay all players equally while acknowledging "there's a good argument for both sides. How do we manage this situation(...)? It's hard to thread that needle."
Select XFL players, who had voted against joining the USW in 2023, expressed concern about the lack of winning bonuses (a key feature of the XFL's pay structure) and a requirement to pay union dues,{{Cite web |title=AJ McCarron Unsure About Playing for UFL, St. Louis Battlehawks |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/aj-mccarron-unsure-playing-ufl-st-louis-battlehawks-2024-season |website=SI.com |date=31 January 2024 |language=en-US}} while some players decided not to return to the league, citing the pay cut as a contributing factor.{{Cite web |title=QB AJ McCarron Unveils UFL Challenges: Player Pay, Union, Will He Come Back |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/qb-aj-mccarron-unveils-ufl-challenges-pay-living-union-will-he-come-back/ |website=UFL News Hub |date=31 January 2024 |language=en-US}} In an interview after the merger, Battlehawks QB AJ McCarron revealed that XFL players were in advanced talks with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) for exclusive representation.
On August 12, 2024, the UFLPA announced that United Steelworkers had ceased representing UFL players. In a statement, the UFLPA recommended its members affiliate the UFLPA with an established union, strongly hinting not to affiliate with the United Football Players Association.[https://twitter.com/TheUFLPA/status/1822977084844855436 USW Withdrawal from UFL]. United Football League Players Association. News release. Retrieved August 12, 2024. The UFPA stated that it had won an election to serve as the UFL's union on October 12.{{Cite web |last=Larsen |first=James |date=2024-10-11 |title= UFPA Officially Voted In As UFL's Player Union For 2025 |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/ufpa-officially-voted-in-as-ufls-player-union-for-2025/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Pro Football Newsroom |language=en-US}} The UFPA took a much more aggressive negotiating stance against the league than Local 9004 had; it dismissed the previous CBA as being "unacceptable and disgusting," orchestrated a short strike against a quarterback minicamp,{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=Labor strife hits UFL |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/02/27/labor-strife-hits-ufl/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}} and filed an accusation of unfair labor practices with the NLRB in response to the thus-far unsuccessful negotiations for a new agreement.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Ben |date=2025-03-14 |title=UFPA files unfair labor practice charge against UFL |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/03/14/ufpa-files-unfair-labor-practice-charge-against-ufl/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}} On April 18, 2025, the UFPA announced it had ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement will expire following the end of the 2026 season.{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=2025-04-18 |title=UFL, players reach new CBA after months of talks |url=https://www.espn.com/united-football-league/story/_/id/44729619/new-ufl-cba-increases-minimum-salary-roster-size |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
==Salary==
UFL players' minimum salaries were $5,500 per week ($2,500 for inactive players) and $150 a week toward 401K contributions, with $400 a week house stipend and $55-a-day per diem stipend during travel days. All contracts will run from January 1 to August 24. During training camp, all players will receive $850 a week. Players on injured reserve will receive $2,500 a week (plus house stipend). UFL players will also be entitled for "players accolade bonuses" for Player of the week ($1,000), All UFL ($2,500), Player of the year ($5,000), and MVP ($7,500).{{Cite web |title=Revisiting UFLPA's negotiated contract details for 2024 |url=https://uflboard.com/news/revisiting-uflpas-negotiated-contract-details-for-2024/ |website=UFLBoard |date=5 March 2024 |language=en-US}} The overall league player budget was $24 million.
The UFPA agreement raises pay to $6,200 per game, then $6,400 per game in 2026. Health insurance coverage will expand from the previous four months to seven months, and the remaining five months being covered by giving the players access under COBRA.
Rules
Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino are in charge of the UFL's officiating and rules.{{Cite web|title=UFL League Rules: NFL Testing Ground Through Spring Football|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/rumors/ufl-league-rules-nfl-testing-mike-pereira-dean-blandino-usfl-xfl-officiating|website=SI.com |date=12 January 2024 |language=en-US}}
The league rulebook was released on February 13, 2024. Though most of the UFL's unique rules were common to both the USFL and XFL (such as allowing a second forward pass if the first does not cross the line of scrimmage, and the treatment of a fumble through the end zone the same as other forward fumbles in that it is brought back to the spot of the fumble), a limited number required compromise or were changed entirely from both leagues' rules:{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=2024-02-13 |title=United Football League Rules for 2024 Announced |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/united-football-league-rules-for-2024-announced |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en-us}}{{Cite web|title=An in-depth look at the UFL rules: Similarities, differences from the XFL, USFL, and more (part one)|url=https://uflboard.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-ufl-rules-similarities-differences-from-the-xfl-usfl-and-more-part-one/ |website=UFLBoard|date=17 February 2024 }}{{Cite web |title=An in-depth look at the UFL rules: Similarities, differences from the XFL, USFL, and more (part two) |url=https://uflboard.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-ufl-rules-similarities-differences-from-the-xfl-usfl-and-more-part-two/ |website=UFLBoard|date=20 February 2024}}
- For the 2024 season, the UFL used the USFL's kickoff rule, which resembles that used at most levels of the game but kicks off from the kicking team's 20-yard line instead of the 35-yard line used at the college and NFL levels at the time (as opposed to the XFL rule—also adopted by the NFL in 2024—which kicked off from the 30-yard line but had the opposing teams line up 35 and 40 yards downfield from the kick respectively and required the kicker to land the kick within 20 yards of the end zone without going in).{{Cite web|title=UFL Head Coaches Looking for Distance in Kickoffs |url=https://uflboard.com/news/ufl-head-coaches-looking-for-distance-in-kickoffs/|website=UFLBoard|date=March 14, 2024 }}{{Cite web |last=Palermo |first=Gregg |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Expect a McCarron decision on a Battlehawks return in next two weeks |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2024/01/16/battlehawks-prep-for-new-league-in-2024 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}} A rule proposal would have replaced the kickoff with a punt, thereby resembling the safety kick at other levels of the game, but this rule did not make it into the rule book.{{Cite web|title=Panthers Mike Nolan Talks UFL Evolution, Rules Next Week, and More|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/panthers-mike-nolan-talks-ufl-evolution-rules-next-week-and-more/|website=UFL News Hub|date=26 January 2024 |language=en-US}} In 2025, the league—with great reluctance on Johnston's part, as Johnston was a staunch proponent of traditional kickoffs—will switch to the NFL/XFL kickoff formation, after the UFL determined that the NFL was going to make the newer formation a permanent rule and wanted to maintain compatibility with NFL rules.{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Mark |date=2025-02-08 |title=XFL Style Kick-Off Returning, New On Field Tech And More From UFL EVP Daryl Johnston |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/xfl-style-kick-off-returning-new-on-field-tech-and-more-from-ufl-evp-daryl-johnston/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |language=en-US}}
- The onside conversion option will remain available, with a team trailing in the fourth quarter allowed to attempt a single scrimmage play to gain 12 yards from its own 28-yard line. (The XFL used 15 yards from its own 25-yard line; the USFL used 12 yards from its own 33-yard line.)
- Pass interference penalties will be limited to 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage or the spot of the foul, whichever is less.
- The league will use the XFL's variable-distance conversion rule, offering one, two or three points depending upon how far away from the goal line the offense chooses to attempt the play, and prohibiting kicking for the extra point. (The USFL had allowed the two and three point scrimmage conversions but allowed for an extra point kick.)
- All touchbacks will come to the receiving team's 25-yard line. Any coffin corner punt that goes out of bounds beyond the 25-yard line will be treated as a touchback, a rule previously used in the XFL (though that league had used the 35-yard line for its touchbacks).
- The league will use the National Football League rule requiring a receiver to land both feet in bounds for a forward pass to be counted as complete. This was a change from both the XFL and USFL, along with most other professional leagues other than the NFL, that only required one foot in-bounds for a completed pass.
- The XFL overtime rule will be carried over, in that tie games will involve a best-of-three shootout of two-point conversion attempts from each 5-yard line. If the tie persists, multiple attempts will be played until one team scores, which wins it. One timeout can be called per attempt. The overtime has no game clock, but the play clock will still be used.
Partnerships
In February 2022, the XFL signed a collaboration agreement with the NFL to "experiment with proposed rules, test new equipment and develop prospective officials and coaches and explore new ways to address player safety".{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2022 |title=XFL to be 'petri dish' for football innovation, prospect development as part of partnership agreement with NFL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33341262/xfl-petri-dish-football-innovation-prospect-development-part-partnership-agreement-nfl|author=Seifert, Kevin|work=ESPN}}{{Cite web |title=RedBird Capital Partners' Gerry Cardinale Talks XFL-NFL Partnership, Future Of XFL |url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/redbird-capital-partners-gerry-cardinale-talks-xfl-nfl-partnership-future-of-xfl/|work=XFL News Hub|date=April 8, 2022 }} In October 2022, the XFL announced a player personnel partnership with the Indoor Football League (IFL), with the IFL functioning as the XFL's de facto minor league.{{Cite press release|title=XFL & IFL Announce Player Personnel Partnership |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-ifl-announce-player-personnel-partnership|date=12 Oct 2022|publisher=XFL}}
In 2023, Dwayne Johnson said that "the XFL specifically designed its schedule to give its players the best chance of latching on with an NFL team in May",{{Cite web|date=March 27, 202 |title=XFL owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson take stock at season's midway point |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/xfl/2023/03/27/dwayne-johnson-dany-garcia-xfl-midway-point/11541516002/ |website=USA Today}} while Gerry Cardinale stated that "the minor league analogy is valid, that's an important part of this."{{Cite news |date=March 29, 2023 |title=Why this time might be different for the XFL |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/03/29/football-xfl-nfl-viewership-highlights?s=08 |access-date=March 29, 2023}} After the merger, UFL Executive VP of Football Operations Daryl Johnston refuted the notion of a "minor-league" when he said in an interview: "I don’t want to be considered a developmental league or a feeder league. We’re a professional, stand-alone football league", but he also acknowledged the importance of an NFL partnership: "the number of people we have at the top of our league office that have connections to the NFL, I’m hoping we’re able to accelerate that process and have meaningful conversations with the NFL about what our league can provide (...) What we’re trying to do is maximize the talent and quality of play in our league. One way we can do that is having access to guys who are in the NFL, on that fringe, on that cusp". It was later announced that the XFL's previous agreement with the NFL would continue for the 2024 UFL season.
Records
class="wikitable"
! colspan="6" * style="{{Gridiron primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|All-time UFL leaders |
colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Leader
! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Player ! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Team ! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Record ! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Year Accomplished |
---|
Passing Yards
|2,309 passing yards |2024 |
Passing Touchdowns
|18 passing touchdowns |2024 |
Rushing Yards
|528 rushing yards |2024 |
Rushing Touchdowns
|6 rushing touchdowns |2024 |
Receiving Yards
|652 receiving yards |2024 |
Receiving Touchdowns
|6 receiving touchdowns |2024 |
Receptions
|San Antonio Brahmas |56 receptions |2024 |
Tackles
|Willie Harvey |78 tackles |2024 |
Sacks
|9.5 sacks |2024 |
Interceptions
|A. J. Thomas |Birmingham Stallions |3 interceptions |2024 |
Coaching wins
|9 wins |2024 |
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;
|+ ! colspan="4" style="{{Gridiron primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}} |UFL Attendance Records{{Cite web |title=UFL Attendance |url=https://uflboard.com/xfl-attendance/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=UFL News and Discussion |language=en-US}} |
colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Year
! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Week ! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Team ! colspan="1" * style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|Attendance |
---|
2024
|2 |St. Louis Battlehawks |40,317 |
2024
|10 |St. Louis Battlehawks |34,379 |
2024
|6 |St. Louis Battlehawks |32,969 |
2024
|8 |St. Louis Battlehawks |32,403 |
2024
|4 |St. Louis Battlehawks |31,757 |
2024
|Conference Finals |St. Louis Battlehawks |30,237 |
2024
|Championship |UFL Championship in St. Louis |27,396 |
2024
|5 |DC Defenders |16,058 |
2024
|2 |DC Defenders |15,052 |
2024
|6 |DC Defenders |14,303 |
League finances
The league was created as a "merger of equals", with the respective leagues' owners assuming 50% ownership of the newly formed UFL{{Cite web|title=Common Cents! UFL Born Out Of Financial Reckoning For Both USFL, XFL|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/united-football-league-created-cut-costs-xfl-usfl-financial-structure|website=SI.com |date=14 January 2024 |language=en-US}} and The Walt Disney Company also holding a minority stake. RedBird Capital Partners owner Gerry Cardinale called it "a tremendous opportunity to achieve something unique. A legitimate shot at becoming one of the top professional leagues in the country after the big four leagues".{{Cite web|title=Newly Formed UFL Draws Equally From USFL-XFL Merger|url=https://frontofficesports.com/newly-formed-ufl-draws-equally-from-usfl-xfl-merger/|website=Front Office Sports |date=2 January 2024 |language=en-US}} In the event that the league, in the future, begins accepting individual team owners, it stated in 2024 that it would follow the Major League Soccer business model of buyers buying into the league itself and not separating the teams into individual business entities. The league's ownership partners each provide "business services" to the league at no nominal charge to save costs.
In March, 2024, Under Armour announced they extended the multi-year agreement signed in 2023 with the XFL.{{Cite web|title=UFL and Under Armour Announce Partnership for 2024|url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/march/08/ufl-and-under-armour-announce-partnership-for-2024-season|website=UFL|date=March 8, 2024 }} Later that month, Michael Strahan's MSX brand was announced as the "Official Off-Field Apparel Partner".{{Cite web|title=MSX by Michael Strahan Named Official Off-field Apparel Partner of the UFL|url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/march/12/msx-by-michael-strahan-named-official-off-field-apparel-partner-of-the-united-football-league|website=UFL|date=March 13, 2024 }} Other UFL's sponsors include: Westgate Resorts, Progressive Insurance, PepsiCo (Gatorade), The Coca-Cola Company (Simply Spiked), CBD Kratom, and Molson Coors. Johnson and Garcia also use the league to promote their own brands, Teremana Tequila and ZOA Energy Drink.{{Cite web|title=Blue Chip Companies Commit To Innovating And Unleashing Football's Power With UFL Partnerships |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/march/26/blue-chip-companies-commit-to-innovating-and-unleashing-footballs-power-with-ufl-partnerships|website=UFL|date=March 26, 2024 }} On April 6, 2024 the league announced a partnership with the United States Army,{{Cite web|title=U.S. Army Becomes the Presenting Partner of the UFL|url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/april/06/the-united-states-army-and-united-football-league-announce-exclusive-partnership-u-s-army-becomes-the-presenting-partner-of-the-ufl|website=The UFL|date=April 6, 2024 }} who promised an estimated $11 million for jersey patch sponsorship and other promotional considerations.{{Cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |date=2024-04-12 |title=Spirit of St. Louis: UFL's Battlehawks Are Proof of League's Concept |url=https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/spirit-st-louis-battlehawks-ufl-standard-bearers-1234774972/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Sportico.com |language=en-US}} The Army chose not to renew its sponsorship for 2025, in part because Johnson failed to deliver the promised number of product placement spots in his personal social media platforms, but denied earlier reports of any dispute between the Army and the UFL, nor was there any attempt to claw back any money already spent (as the contract was structured such that the payment would be made after the season); the Army also refuted a false claim that the sponsorship had led to a decline in recruitment.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Margaret |date=2025-01-14 |title=Army, UFL Say $11 Million Marketing Saga With The Rock Resolved |url=https://frontofficesports.com/ufl-army-the-rock-millions-resolved/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Front Office Sports |language=en}} In April Upper Deck announced they'll release "2024 UFL Game Dated Moments Cards".{{Cite web|title=Upper Desk Announces 2024 UFL Game Dated Moments Cards|url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/upper-desk-announces-2024-ufl-game-dated-moments-cards/|website=UFL News Hub |date=April 7, 2024 }}
=Personnel=
- Dany Garcia: Chairwoman
- Russ Brandon: President/Chief Executive Officer
- Daryl Johnston: Executive Vice President of Football Operations
- Doug Whaley: Senior Vice President of Player Personnel
- Russ Giglio: Senior Director, Player Administration and Officiating Operations
- Jim Popp: Director of Player Administration
- Eric Shanks: Representative of Fox Corporation
Broadcasting
In the United States, the television rights for the UFL are held by Fox Sports and ESPN, which held the rights to the USFL and XFL, respectively.{{Cite web|last=Seifert|first=Kevin|title=Merged XFL-USFL to be rebranded as United Football League|url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39215302/merged-xfl-usfl-rebranded-united-football-league|website=ESPN |date=December 31, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Disney Strikes Deal to Put XFL on ESPN, FX, ABC |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/disney-xfl-rights-deal-espn-fx-1235269996/ |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517214901/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/disney-xfl-rights-deal-espn-fx-1235269996/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=XFL midseason TV report card: Ratings have dropped, but is a rebound ahead? |url=https://theathletic.com/4336479/2023/03/22/xfl-tv-ratings-midseason/ |website=The Athletic|language=en-US|author=Shea, Bill|date=March 22, 2023}} NBC Sports, which had shared broadcast rights to the USFL with Fox Sports in 2022 and 2023, will not carry UFL games due to an increase in schedule conflicts, stemming from the proposed start date being slightly earlier than 2022 and 2023.{{Cite web|title=NBC won't carry USFL, XFL games|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/12/04/nbc-xfl-usfl-no-games.aspx|website=Sports Business Journal |date=5 December 2023 |language=en-US}} There had been one year remaining on NBC's contract.{{Cite web |title=USFL adds NBC as rights holder for when games start in early '22 |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/12/15/Media/USFL.aspx|website=Sports Business Journal |language=en|author=Ourand, John|date=December 15, 2021}} ESPN will also air a weekly multi-platform post-game show.{{Cite web|title=ESPN To Expand UFL 2024 Coverage with Weekly Multi-Platform Show |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/espn-to-expand-ufl-2024-coverage-with-weekly-multi-platform-show|website=SI.com|date=March 14, 2024 }} Both ESPN and Fox will carry audio simulcasts of their coverage on their Sirius XM Radio feeds, ESPN Xtra and Fox Sports Radio, respectively.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=UFL Games to Air Nationwide on SiriusXM |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/march/20/ufl-games-to-air-nationwide-on-siriusxm |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en}}
Beginning in the 2025 season, the Fox broadcast network will include the UFL as a permanent part of its Friday night schedule.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2024-05-13 |title=Fox Fall 2024 Schedule: 'Lone Star' Succeeds '9-1-1', 'The Floor' Moves, 'Family Guy' Among 8 Scripted Series Held For Midseason |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/fox-fall-2024-schedule-9-1-1-lone-star-the-floor-family-guy-midseason-1235913421/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Report: Friday Night UFL Games On FOX in 2025|date=May 13, 2024 |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/report-friday-night-ufl-games-on-fox-in-2025/|archive-date=May 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513204557/https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/report-friday-night-ufl-games-on-fox-in-2025/|url-status=live}}
Champions
class="wikitable"
|+!colspan="6" * style="{{Gridiron primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}|UFL Champions !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Date !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Winning Team !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Score !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Losing Team !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Score !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Stadium !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Location !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|MVP !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Attendance !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Network !style="{{Gridiron alt primary style|Las Vegas Raiders}}"|Viewership |
June 16, 2024
|25 |0 |rowspan="2" |The Dome at America's Center |rowspan="2" |St. Louis, Missouri |27,396 |Fox |1.60 million |
June 14, 2025
| | | | | | |ABC | |
Notes
;Informational notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
{{United Football League}}
{{XFL (2020)}}
{{USFL (2022)}}
{{American football in the United States}}
{{Professional gridiron football leagues in North America}}
{{Fox Sports}}
{{ESPN}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:UFL}}
Category:United Football League (2024)
Category:American football leagues in the United States
Category:2023 establishments in Texas
Category:Sports leagues established in 2023
Category:Minor and developmental leagues in professional sports