Requiem for the Birmingham Stallions

It's the fate of spring football to inevitably end tragically. It's almost inappropriate that the Stallions do not go out as champions, but instead went out no longer on top, but a sad remnant, a failed dynasty, a decaying empire that could not withstand a new regime.

Birmingham ruled the United States Football League, won the first year of the UFL, won a division title the next year, and then floated away. A determined band, a dedicated core, was not enough to sustain them. The city simply never produced large enough numbers to appreciate the dynasty.

In fact, the numbers were never enough. Even when they were in the middle of the pack, it felt lackluster. Not enough came out to praise the conquering heroes of spring football.

The three-time title winners, the Kansas City Chiefs of modern spring football. We can say that perhaps it's unfair that Birmingham was on the chopping block. That other teams like Dallas have a pittance in its stands, yet its location as UFL headquarters shields the franchise from the executioner's axe.

But we must remember Birmingham, not as they went out, but as they once were. The galloping horses who owned the UFL, who owned the spring football prairie.

The UFL under Mike Repole has taken a new direction. A direction of smaller, intimate stadiums. Protective Stadium and her 47,000 seats do not fit that new viewpoint.

One can say perhaps marketing could have been better, and there's some truth to that. It could have been. It certainly lacked pizzazz for a sport that is a niche.

An audience of true football-dedicated diehards who love the game and vehemently know the names of folks like Alex McGough and J’Mar Smith without irony or hipster happiness. Unfortunately, those fans, like Birmingham's, are small in overall number. And perhaps we see that's why spring football rarely lasts.

Because how could it? It is the domain of those who see more than what and see beyond the NFL and college football's borders. Yet we could say that either way, spring football has had a strong stay in Birmingham. The Stallions have left their mark.

And maybe if it is just a brief couple of pages in the chapter of football's history, it's still a story that those won't remember. Of when Skip Holtz reigned supreme. Is it fair to say? It's hard to tell.

Fairness is not a goddess found much in spring football. She tends not to bestow her favors. Instead, she often is a vapor.

The Stallions won their first title when Case Cook found his leg broken in the 2022 United States Football League Championship game. Perhaps we can but say it comes around. But regardless of what happens with the Stallions, they did play.

They did win. And those are titles that can never be erased, even if their name passes into history.

My Two Cents on Brendan Sorsby - Not Sponsored by FanDuel

In case, you haven't heard, the NFL, like a weathervane followed popular opinion, announced today it would not hold a 2026 Supplemental Draft, effectively casting Brandon Sorsby adrift until the 2027 draft. The disgraced Texas Tech quarterback took another loss after the NCAA barred him from competition. 

UFL head honcho Mike Repole quickly filled the breach with another one of his must-see tweets:

Repole Stable

@RepoleStable

Welcome to the

@TheUFL

, Brendan Sorsby. The UFL is the league of opportunity. We created our Regional Player Initiative to keep great players closer to home, closer to their fans, and on the field. Let’s do this!!!!! Brendan Sorsby, welcome to the

@UFLRenegades

. Have your people call my people!!!!!

First off, Repole gonna Repole. The man enjoys his guerilla marketing more than the Viet Cong. No publicity is negative publicity and considering his successes, you can understand the strategic vision. What is worse than bad gossip? No gossip. The UFL exists but extra reminders, especially in the dead offseason, never hurt. Unlike the NFL, the UFL doesn't have an offseason that engages casuals. 

Secondly, the accompanying photo (posted below) screams AI. The off-brand XFL logo (rather sharp) and the misspelling of NoBull (apparently, AI spells like Scooby Doo) draws attention away from his offer. Spring football always battles perception. 

However, the graphic is irrelevant. Should Sorsby sign, he and the Renegades would be partners. Interesting, since Dallas has a capable quarterback in Austin Reed. Reed cooled off after his hot start but finished among the league leaders in several categories. 

The NFL could bar Sorsby for the year because the Shield doesn't need him and can afford to virtue signal. An extra good quarterback never hurts, of course, but his presence isn't that important. But the UFL? It could always use another bolt of talent at the most important position in football. 

2026 UFL QBs were a shifting lot. The United Bowl saw two starters combine for 40 yards at halftime. Luis Perez rapidly aged, Ta'amu went down with an ACL injury, and most of the others ranged from Rosie O'Donnell in a bikini to closing time acceptable. That is the lot of spring football. The best quarterbacks succeed and move on to backup roles in the CFL (Perkins), practice squad conversion to wide receiver (McGough), and NFL backup purgatory (PJ Walker). 

Will Sorsby accept Repole's offer? Likely not. He will fight for access to NFL riches. Would his signature on an UFL contract help the league? Indeed, it will, should he prove talented. Modern spring football needs another Kurt Warner. Kickers are nice and they put the foot in football. However, a star quarterback would signify its importance in development. 

UFL: United Bowl Review

 The 2026 United Bowl delivered packed stands, a record-long Beer Snake that slithered like Kaa around Audi Field, and a game that wasn't decided until the final minutes. Mike Repole and the league couldn't request much more from the fickle football gods. 

Thrice time was the charm for a close United Bowl. The inaugural edition in 2024 featured a dull 25-0 Stallions romp over the offensively-challenged Brahmas and the incredibly, risk-averse Chase Grabers. Last year's edition featured 92 points but the Defenders held solid control in a 58-34 firefight. 

The 3 p.m. ABC timeslot slide in perfectly before the night's NBA finals. The competing World Cup game was a C-Lister affair between Qatar and Switzerland. Hopefully, the report featured, at least, 1.5 million viewers. The game trended on X. Spring football continues its positive upward momentum. 

The city of Louisville clearly embraced its winner. The bridge lit up in a Halloween-green and social media buzzed about the win. Chris Redman, the hometown boy, delivered the goods after retooling the roster from a 0-3 start. With a couple of changes on the offensive lines and the cutting of Benny Snell, the Kings went from barely running better than a one-legged mule to dashing for long touchdowns. 

The only blemish stemmed from the horrendous quarterback play. Jason Bean and Chandler Rogers combined for 40 yards at halftime. 50 Cent had more yardage in his name than the two QBs. EJ Perry replaced the injured Bean (spoiler alert!) and threw for 50 yards. Rogers finished with an anemic 81 yards and two interceptions. A casual's stereotype for spring football is dismal quarterbacking. The 2026 United Bowl didn't shake that impression. But it did feature a Defender chugging a beer after a touchdown. That beats Dak Prescott any day. 

DC 20, Louisville 27

In a strange quirk, DC was technically the away team, but the raucous Audi Field crowd left no doubt that the stands were not a two-party affair. (A little capital humor for my readers). DC dominated early and should have led by more except running back Xazavian Valladay fumbled while heading for the end zone. Still, a Matt McCrane field goal provided a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. 

DC's butterfingers returned in the second quarter. Ty Scott fumbled and Eric Garror returned the sphere 12 yards for the opening touchdown. Valladay redeemed himself for his earlier fumble with a 51-yard touchdown. McCrane added two field goals in the final two minutes and DC led 16-7 at halftime. With Louisville's offense looking more tragic than a nerd's prom plans, DC fans were right to feel confident. 

Louisville tried the field goal game in the third quarter with future NFL kicker Tanner Brown knocking home two attempts. In between the scores, Bean suffered an injury. 

That opened the door for Louisville to make its move. The Kings undertook a drive and opened the fourth quarter with Ian Wheeler's 44-yard touchdown run. DC tried to strike back on the next drive and Perry delivered a long strike to Cornell Powell. Unfortunately, he was called for offensive pass interference. The drive ended with a Perry interception. Louisville was set up at DC's 25 and the Kings scored again for the 27-16 lead. 

DC, unlike at Bladensburg in 1814, refused to give up and McCrane kicked a 60-yard field goal for four points. Louisville's next drive went down as one of the most cautious attempts in recorded history and the Kings punted. Perry drove the Defenders down to the Louisville six-yard-line. Facing a 4th and 5, he had a wide-open receiver but the interior pressure forced an errant throw. The Kings took over with 1:52 remaining and drained the clock for the win. 

Three years and three different UFL champions. Parity, thy mine is spring football. 

UFL Playoffs Review

The first round of the UFL playoffs did not disappoint! Both games were one-score affairs (gotta love the three-point option) and the crowds were engaged and excited. Homefield advantage melted away under the Daytona sun and the Kaw is not the Law in St. Louis according to the Kings' degree. Both Coach Becht and his old franchise St. Louis continue their quest for that elusive first playoff win. 

The switch to Daytona was a last-minute change by Repole and the league and it worked beautifully. The team drew over 6k to the stadium - a number certainly higher than anything the original plan of hosting the game in Columbus would have collected. 

Unfortunately, the Storm faithful saw Becht continue his journey into the Jim Mora Sr. of the UFL. Another solid 8-2 regular season disappeared into playoff disappointment. 30-10 in the regular season washed away by 0-3 in the playoffs. 

St. Louis delivered a respectable crowd to the Dome that, once again, left in misery. The Battlehawks' attendance plunged 20% this season and the brief feedback online has many fans threatened to yield their season tickets. Now, much of that might be heat-of-the-moment exasperation but the league could have used a win for Birds. 

Louisville continued its Cinderella campaign. The Kings started 0-3 before trading Jason Bean - which in a marvelous twist will be their foe on Saturday in the United Bowl - and rolling to the 6-4 finish and now a playoff win. A team that once couldn't run the ball on a Pop Warner team has ripped off massive gains. Chandler Rogers is consistent and the defense swarms. 

DC 28, Orlando 22

The key to a playoff upset is a fast start. DC roared to a 14-6 lead on two short rushing touchdowns. Orlando answered with two field goals but eschewed a third three-point attempt in lieu of a 4th and goal try. The chance failed and momentum returned to the Defenders. Take the points in the first half. DC missed the opportunity to cash in before halftime when McCrane inexplicably shanked a 28-yard attempt. 

The Defenders added a field goal and were driving for more points when Bean went down with an arm injury. Backup Spencer Sanders entered the game and threw a tragic pick six on a screen pass. Orlando was alive, as Sanders' career died. The cruel camera caught him, squatting down before the bench in gross acknowledgment. 

Bean returned to the game and calmed the storm with a devastating touchdown drive, capped by a 33-yard pass. Orlando renewed its strategy of relying to seven points with three. McCrane answered with a 60-yard field goal (counting for four points in the UFL). Because in spring football, that is how kickers roll. Miss the put. Make the eagle. 

DC went into a softer-than-Neville Chamberlain prevent defense and Orlando scored with three minutes left. The three-point conversion failed but they had life down 28-22. Becht controversially passed up the 4th and 12 chance, trusting his gashed defense and three timeouts. The gambit failed. DC gained two first downs and drained the clock. The defending champions remain alive. 

Louisville 29, St. Louis 20

The Kings possibly ended the Spring King's reign with a road playoff win. The affair went back-and-forth before a Perez red zone interception ended the contest. Perez had more pass attempts (45) than Louisville had plays (42) but the Kings maximized their possessions and used big running plays to drive past the Battlehawks.

Louisville scored first on a 53-yard touchdown run by James Robinson. St. Louis responded with a field goal before Tanner Brown connected on a four-point 60-yard bomb. 

The second quarter was all St. Louis with the Battlehawks tallying two touchdowns for a 17-11 halftime lead. 

Rogers found Winstead for a 9-yard touchdown pass and Louisville regained the 18-17 advantage. St. Louis replied with a field goal for a 20-18 lead. The Battlehawks missed a prime opportunity to extend their lead when Perez missed a wide-open McBride. 

Louisville capitalized on the miss when Ian Wheeler darted 55 yards for a touchdown. St. Louis challenged for a block in the back but Dean Blandino disagreed. The Battlehawks drove down the field but their red zone reception disappeared when Louisville challenged for holding. The penalty was obvious. St. Louis' drive went backwards and their 4th and 26 attempt was batted down. 

The Kings moved the ball to St. Louis' 45 and faced a 4th and 6 decision. Brown told his coach he would make the field goal. Redman trusted his kicker and Brown booted a 63-yard missile for the 29-20 lead and a possible NFL contract.

The Battlehawks refused to cede and drove down the field looking for the tying score. Their last ditch effort perished when Chambers picked off Perez, who was seeking Butler, in the end zone. Louisville knelt down and the Kings punched their ticket for the United Bowl. 

Week 10 UFL Review

Well, the 2026 regular season is over. It flew by with alarming speed, as time always seems to accelerate as the years progress. Orlando clinched the #1 seed, St. Louis will host another playoff game as the #2 seed and look to break its playoff drought. DC limps into the playoffs while Louisville rides in hotter than the summer sun. 

The UFL recently announced that the Orlando-DC playoff game, originally scheduled for Columbus due to the English national team renting the soccer stadium, will be held in Daytona. With tickets at $10 and the nearby collegiate venue of Bethune-Cookman, a packed house should be expected. 

Dallas 20, St. Louis 16

The Renegades ended the season and its six-game losing streak with a 20-16 upset win over the Battlehawks on Friday Night Football. St. Louis' attendance rebounded to 24k but its offense remained anemic. Luis Perez's play has made him the Henry VI of spring quarterbacks. Austin Reed rebounded with three touchdown passes and Dallas' defense brutalized Perez with seven sacks. The Battlehawks stumble into the playoffs, going 1-2 over the last three weeks against Dallas and Houston. 

Both teams scored twice in the first half. Dallas recorded two touchdowns but missed an extra point while St. Louis kicked two field goals. 

The Battlehawks grabbed the lead in the third quarter on a Perez touchdown pass and forged ahead 16-13 on a fourth quarter field goal. Dallas drove for the game-winning touchdown, helped by silly St. Louis penalties, when Reed found Butler in the end zone.

Houston 26, Birmingham 13

The only thing more disappointing than the Stallions' attendance was the team itself. Birmingham's slim playoff chances disappeared in a lackluster effort. DTR's rejuvenation ran out of gas and the defense looked apathetic against Houston's running game. 

The Gamblers jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead on a field goal and two rushing touchdowns. Birmingham temporarily gained life on an epic interception touchdown return. Marcus Major suffocated that light on the next play with a 72-yard gallop through the Stallions' defense. 

Birmingham drove for a DTR touchdown pass but the two-point conversion was incomplete. Houston tacked on a field goal for some insurance. The Stallions' fate was sealed when Coach AJ McCarron punted with four minutes left and Birmingham missed the playoffs for the first time in the modern era. 

Orlando 29, DC 23

The Storm completed the back-to-back victories over DC with a game not as close as the score indicated. DC started Jason Bean and he provided the full experience of great plays and what-the-hell maneuvers. The two teams will meet for the third straight time in the playoffs. 

DC dominated early taking a 3-0 lead and looked poised for a 10-0 advantage when Bean eschewed two wide open options in the end zone to throw a pick six. A flurry of field goals had Orlando up 10-9 at halftime. 

The Storm extended its lead to 17-9 on a Rowland touchdown catch. DC tied the game with a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion. Special teams changed the game. Orlando downed a punt inside the five yard line and then blocked DC's punt for a safety. A 74-yard touchdown catch and a field goal gave the Storm a 29-17 lead. 

A little backdoor cover occurred in the final minute. Orlando, instead of kneeling, tried running for a first down. A fumble resulted. DC recovered and, despite two timeouts, allowed the seconds to drain away. Bean threw a touchdown pass as time expired to enrage the saps who bet the under. 

Louisville 42, Columbus 27

The Kings entered the game, knowing they were already playoff bound and crowned their accomplishment with a win over fellow newcomer Columbus. 

Louisville struck early with a pick six on the first play from scrimmage. Columbus forged ahead 10-7 before the Kings regained the lead on a touchdown run. The Aviators tied the game at 14-14 on a four-point field goal to end a dramatic first quarter. The teams then traded touchdown runs for the 21-21 deadlock before Louisville scored a touchdown for the 28-21 halftime lead. 

Columbus cut the deficit to 28-27, entering the final stanza. Louisville closed the game and regular season with two more touchdowns. 

Power Rankings

1. Orlando - The Storm stay in Florida for the playoff game. Can Becht overcome his playoff woes or is he doomed to become the Chuck Knox of the UFL? Orlando is the most balanced squad. 

2. Louisville - If Orlando is the most balanced then Louisville is the hottest team. They are 6-1 after their 0-3 start and the offense is humming since removing Jason Bean. Can the Kings win the crown?

3. St. Louis - The Battlehawks have the defense to win the United Bowl. The offense is still a question mark. The wide receiver corps is great. Frost and Perez are similar but the former offers more mobility. 

4. DC - The Defenders have everything but a quarterback and clock management. Still, they are in the playoffs. Anything can happen. 

5. Houston- The Gamblers displayed some life at the end of the season with wins over Birmingham and St. Louis. Maybe there is hope, after all. 

6. Birmingham - DTR's magic tricks wore out, the offense looked anemic, and the defense played with the passion of nursing home bingo. AJ McCarron might become the first player-coach in UFL history. 

7. Dallas - The Renegades regained some pride. Losing seven straight games was a bridge too far. 

8. Columbus - Morton might have something. Columbus has fans. Let's hope they are patient. 

Week 9 UFL Review

The penultimate weekend of the 2026 UFL season revealed several maxims. Orlando reinforced its argument for top team in the league, Columbus reiterated that they won't be beaten twice in a row, as the Stallions stumbled in a chance to nab a playoff spot, Louisville continued its late season push, and St. Louis won a sludge fest over Houston to clinch its playoff bid. 

Several questions remain: is Orlando truly the top team or merely the one with the best record? Can Louisville notch a playoff spot and reward the smaller but loyal fan base that packs Lynn Family Stadium? Do the Stallions have any magic left or is Skip Holtz's dynasty truly under the control of Birmingham's edition of Romulus Augustulus? Did DC actually clinch a playoff bid or did the UFL jump the gun? Did Houston run out of its 5,000 Jim Kelly bobbleheads???

DC 19, Orlando 27

The Storm have the amazingly, unique ability to dominate a game yet in the final minutes the opposing team looks up at the scoreboard and remains within one score. DC found themselves in one of those messy affairs. 

The Defenders, missing their MVP candidate, weathered an early Orlando touchdown to take a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. Then came the rain. Jack Plummer tossed two more touchdown passes and the Orlando led 21-10 at halftime. 

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter. Orlando's offense went quiet while Spencer Sanders directed DC to two field goals and suddenly the Defenders were only down 24-19. Alas, Sanders could not conjure any magic. An insurance three-pointer by Orlando effectively ended the game. 

The Storm continue to stack unimpressive wins but it equals homefield advantage for a playoff game. 

Birmingham 29, Columbus 36

The Stallions' clear playoff path hit a detour with the Aviators led by former Birmingham backup Jalen Morton mounting a comeback for the 36-29 victory. AJ McCarron proved he is not the jockey equivalent of Skip Holtz. The disjointed Stallions, on paper, had the easiest remaining path. Life is different on the back stretch. 

The game opened with a DTR interception. Lost in the winning streak was that DTR's play wasn't exactly elite and his bad habits came out to play. Columbus eschewed the the field goal attempt for a double pass try. Cook jumped the lateral and returned it for a touchdown. The Aviators blocked the extra point attempt and returned it for one point - the scoring system under UFL rules - for the ultra-rare 6-1 tally. 

Birmingham and Columbus then traded touchdowns. The Stallions added another score but once again Columbus answered with a touchdown and strangely went for two but failed. Birmingham hit a field goal before halftime for the 23-14 lead. 

Columbus cut the score to 23-21 before Carlson connected on two field goal for the Stallions. A Birmingham punt pinned Columbus deep before the Aviators flew through the Stallions' defense for the tying score and two-point conversion. Disaster struck on the next drive when DTR firing blindly threw a devastating pick-six. He and the Stallions could not answer on the final chance and Columbus likely sent the former champions to the glue factory. 

Dallas 23, Louisville 37

The Renegades dropped their sixth-straight game, as Louisville broke away with a 21-point fourth quarter. Austin Reed went from MVP favorite to 1933 NFL passer by completing only seven passes on 21 attempts. Jerry Jones can sleep at peace knowing his Cowboys are less dysfunctional. 

Affairs started well for Dallas, taking 7-0 and 10-3 leads. Louisville battled back and led 13-10 at halftime. The Kings converted on a 54-yard field goal in the third quarter for the 16-10 advantage. 

Dallas found some life and Reed connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass and swiftly the Renegades had the lead. It lasted 1:23. Louisville hit a 40-yard touchdown pass and the ensuring two-point conversion. Two more touchdowns resulted in a 37-17 advantage and Lynn Family Stadium rocked in celebration. Dallas saved face with a meaningless touchdown run but missed the extra point. Their season memorialized in one play. 

St. Louis 21, Houston 15

The Battlehawks avoided busting twice against the Gamblers with a narrow but unsatisfying victory. St. Louis clinched a playoff spot, so one cannot complain too much. Houston squandered multiple opportunities to build its lead and St. Louis punished them for not hitting 21. 

The Gamblers led 9-0 on a touchdown pass (missed XP) and field goal. St. Louis seized a 10-9 halftime lead when Luis Perez found Hakeem Butler on a 39-yard jump ball touchdown nine seconds before the quarter concluded. 

Houston showed some life after halftime by driving for the 15-10 lead. The rest of the game was St. Louis. The Battlehawks scored a touchdown and converted the two-point try. A final field goal added some icing on playoff cake. 

Power Rankings

1. Orlando - Is the Storm the best team in the league? Maybe. They aren't the hottest one - Louisville is - but they just keep winning. Belief is built from that. 

2. Louisville - The Kings are reigning since trading Jason Bean. After dispatching DC twice, they avoided the trap game against Dallas. Now if they win, they are in. The message is simple: win and you are in! 

3. St. Louis - The Battlehawks looked unimpressive against Houston. Perez had a decent game but will need to improve if the Dome wishes to hang a banner. 

4. DC - The Defenders have the weapons and a credible enough defense to make noise. The quarterback position might not be settled. Does Bean receive a chance or does Coach Harris remain committed to Sanders? Can Jalen Daniels pinch hit? 

5. Birmingham - The Stallions fell into Columbus' trap and now need to win and hope Louisville falls to the same Aviators team that shot them down. DTR is a double-edged sword and his interceptions cut down Birmingham's chances. 

6. Houston - The Gamblers left the Battlehawks off the hook. Houston has shown some life. The Jim Kelly bobbleheads looked cool. 

7. Columbus - The Aviators have a chance to play spoiler again. If you can't have a dream season, ruin someone else's. 

8. Dallas - The Renegades' sideline is more entertaining than their offense. Plenty of material for the new 4th and Goal show. 

Attendance Overview

Nothing inflames the r/UnitedFootballLeague subreddit like a good, old-fashioned attendance debate. Well, maybe expansion or relocation posts have an argument. Comments on plays can be counted on a hand. Post a photo of Protective Stadium and we are talking triple digits engagement. 

Obviously, attendance is important. Empty stands don't suggest to the unconvinced or casual viewer that the UFL is worth investment. People are social and tribal creatures. What fueled the Pokémon craze stemmed from a fear of not liking what everyone liked. Solid ratings are nice and important but they don't scream engagement like tangible bodies. The aspect of fandom drives sports. 

General takeaways: Well, concerts are still carrying the water. The home opener musicals brought in a bunch of fans who wanted to see their favorite acts for cheap and then promptly ditched. Strip away the home openers and the numbers are uglier than the options at last call. 

Birmingham: Three measly shirtless supporters away from averaging 9,000. Of course, the 18,000+ to see Gucci Mane perform during Birmingham's shutout loss to Orlando are more doing work than DTR to support the Stallions. Would a better performance have kept the numbers higher? Maybe. I am skeptical. Birmingham's attendance has been the red-hot topic for years. It goes to show that winning isn't the tonic many UFL fans claim. 

Columbus: The Aviators drew over 14,000 fans for their home opener. Since then, they have found a range of 8,000+. That works well enough. Their final two games are at home with a 2-6 squad. Can they maintain that average? 

Dallas: The Renegades finished their 2026 home slate with a contest at Fort Hood. The number fits in the range of what Dallas drew outside of the home opener. Will they survive for another year? The sweetheart deal with Arlington leans towards yes.

DC: Winning doesn't cure attendance woes. Write off Birmingham fans as the outlier, but the defending champions, despite the Beer Snake and Audi Field, have shredded fans. The home opener had 12,000+ witness DC demolished Houston in the UFL's biggest blowout. 4,000+ fewer showed up the next week. The core fan base in DC exists in the 7-8k spectrum. 

Houston: The Gamblers' attendance woes have become a punchline. Massive city, little interest. Some advocates have presented contradictory arguments. One claim is that changing from Roughnecks to Gamblers depressed interest. Another proposal said taking Wade Phillips away hurt. A final point pushed the theory the city doesn't even know the franchise exists which renders the first two null and void. The Roughnecks moniker did not boost 2025 attendance. 

The 2020 season - only five games - is gone. PJ Walker retired. The magic evaporated. The Texans are competent again with CJ Stroud providing hope. The 2020 Roughnecks provided a salve to the wounded hearts after the Chiefs rallied from 24-0 in that famous Divisional Game. The Texans are no longer that clumsy franchise stumbling from one bad decision to another. DC's initial energy drew from disliking Snyder's ownership of the RedCommandersTeam. The side chick isn't needed anymore. The wife put out again. 

Louisville: The Kings have been the sole bright spot for attendance, nearly selling out their home. 10k and higher for every non-home opener almost fills Lynn Family Stadium. Can they continue to draw after the novelty wears off? 

Orlando: The Storm hit 11k in their home opener and haven't been over 10k since. However, they are not far off and the team has generated some excitement with their playoff berth. Becht has a chance for redemption. The Orlando market might need his conversion. 

St. Louis: Ah, the Battlehawks. Proving that a millionaire losing 100k is more interesting than a homeless man dropping a dollar. Sure, the latter is more devastating but the former screams economic concerns. When St. Louis hit 18k for a Friday night game, alarm bells rang. Ignoring that total still outpaces every other 2026 UFL game, concern is warranted. If the fans stop coming to the BattleDome, what does it mean for league health? A poor showing in Houston is expected. Under 20k in St. Louis isn't. 

The Battlehawks are fine but the days of 30k are over. The team remains good and should host a playoff game. However, screaming F*** Kroenke has grown old. St. Louis fans proved that they can support a football team. That the NFL shouldn't have returned the Rams to Los Angeles.