• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 30, 2025

UFL Had Strong Debut, Developed NFL Talent. Now It Wants to Expand

The spring football league has made it through its debut post-merger season and now has even bigger aspirations in mind. 

Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) reacts after kicking the game winning field goal late during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Now having reorganized itself, the United Football League is looking at expansion.

The spring football league is planning to bring in additional franchises, building on the eight current ones. The move follows a prior merger of the United States Football League and XFL that led to a debut UFL season in 2024, and more recently, the arrival of several new front-office executives in marketing, content, and communications.

There is not a specific timetable governing the process or a targeted number of franchises to add. But UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said there will be fewer than eight additional teams, at least at the outset, and something related to expansion may be in place for the 2026 season.

“We are open for business and are very open-minded,” Brandon tells Front Office Sports. “We are taking a very holistic look at the market and everything that needs to be done to stand up a new team.”

The UFL’s debut season earlier this year saw a series of solid results, including viewership that outstripped its predecessors. Like any non-NFL pro league over the past 50 years, establishing a lasting strength in the marketplace is an uphill challenge. But Brandon said the UFL is already meeting that test.

“This is Year 2 coming up for the UFL, but Year 4, consecutively, of spring football, counting our legacy leagues,” Brandon says. “I think we’ve proven our staying power. If you look at all of our engagement, we’re clearly here for the long haul.” 

New Markets, New Brands?

As the UFL looks to expand, big pockets of the country are still open to potentially exploit, given the league’s existing base in Texas and the U.S. Southeast, including California, the Northeast, key Midwest hubs such as Chicago and Minneapolis, and the Pacific Northwest. 

The new teams could also see the arrival of entirely fresh team brands as the eight current UFL teams represent an even split between prior franchise identities from the USFL and XFL. 

The UFL, meanwhile, continues to benefit from its existing working relationship with the NFL as an incubator for that league, which involves testing a variety of innovations related to game rules and technology. Dozens of former UFL players, like Lions kicker Jake Bates, have also signed to NFL rosters

The 2025 UFL season will start on March 28 and conclude on June 14. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Wimbledon Opens With Record $73M in Prize Money and New Rivalries

Record-setting money and heightened competitive dynamics mark the oldest tennis major.

With LeBron Staying, Eyes Turn to Deep Pool of Impact Role Players

The 40-year-old opts into another season with the Lakers.
Stephen Ross
exclusive

Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Nears Deal to Buy Nearly Half of Miami..

Ross is set to own a minority stake in the tennis tournament.
From vintage to unique collaborations, various Nike and Jordan shoes are displayed on a wall at Saved Soles inside West Ridge Mall.

Nike Stumbles Less Than Expected, Giving Wall Street Hope

The sports apparel and footwear giant beats Wall Street expectations.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
June 25, 2025

Bold Trades Shake Up NBA Draft After Predictable Start

A flurry of trades and falling draft positions lead the post-Flagg activity.
Apr 5, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) react in the second quarter in the semifinals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
June 26, 2025

With Caitlin Clark’s Status Unclear, Fever-Wings Get-In Tix Down 40%

It should be the first professional face-off between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Oct 20, 2023; Doral, Florida, USA; James Piot plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral.
June 25, 2025

From LIV to PGA Tour: James Piot Shows Path Back From Rival..

A former LIV Golf player is competing at this week’s Detroit event.
Soccer
June 25, 2025

Club World Cup Headed for Major Test in Knockout Round

The knockout round will test FIFA’s hypothesis for the new tournament.
Jun 22, 2025; Cromwell, Connecticut, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the first tee during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament.
June 24, 2025

PGA Tour’s $20M Signature Events Finish 2025 Season Up in TV Ratings

The Travelers Championship was the last of eight elevated events this year.
Jun 23, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Al Ahly's Mohamed Hany reacts after the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
June 24, 2025

Heat Wave Across the U.S. Impacting Major Sports

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said it’s been almost impossible to train.