The long, agonizing wait is finally over. On September 23, the UFL announced the locations that will replace the shuttered Birmingham and Houston franchises, along with the league's second expansion market for 2028.
Colorado and Rhode Island are set for 2027, while Utah joins Oklahoma City as part of the 2028 expansion.
UFL pundits tabbed Rhode Island as a popular pick with its USL stadium and a chance for the league to establish a northeastern outpost. Colorado received some attention — mostly because of the once-existing Denver Gold — but its reveal can safely be considered a surprise.
AAF aficionados have long argued for Salt Lake City's return to spring football, blaming the Stallions' poor 2019 attendance partly on an early start and poor advertising. That's ironic considering how many in the UFL community still advocate for a February beginning. The UFL is treading old ground but Mike Repole can provide better fertilizer.
Every possible market comes with a risk. There is no surefire thing in spring football. Texas, for example, was seen a fruitful market but declining attendance has pruned the Lone Star State to only Dallas. However, these three markets offer suitable stadiums and hungry fan bases.
The biggest news from the announcement may be what wasn't announced. The Michigan Panthers will not, as of this moment, be returning until 2029 or later — barring an unexpected relocation. The proposed soccer stadium in Detroit hit a snag during construction. UFL fans have clung to the departed Panthers like a 25-year-old to his old high school crush.
Popular guesses such as Austin, Boise, Las Vegas and New Orleans proved to be what so many rumors are: wishful thinking, clickbait and fan-driven dreaming. Vegas, with its tantalizing tidbit of Jon Gruden as head coach, was too much of a wish list item to be true.
Colorado
Thoughts: Colorado Springs, home of the Air Force Academy, loves its sports. A picturesque city, nestled in the Rockies, opens a western wing for a league long consolidated in the Midwest and South. The stadium only seats 8,000 but can be expanded to over 10,000. Under Repole, the vision has shifted from too-large coliseums to cozy soccer stadiums. Colorado Springs fits the bill.
Possible Monikers: Trailblazers, Trappers, Silver, Springboards
Rhode Island
Thoughts: The tiniest state in the union was home to the last defunct NFL franchise, the Providence Steam Roller, to win a league title. This version will play at Pawtucket (please spare us the Family Guy jokes) in the USL stadium. The opening video focused on waves crashing into the shore (Breakers resurrection?). The UFL needed new regions and New England represents the next bold move of Repole's vision.
Possible Monikers: Breakers, Whalers, Steam Roller Continentals, Privateers, Greene*
Utah
Thoughts: In 2019, spring football failed in Utah with the Salt Lake City Stallions heading to the glue factory. Of course, the AAF, a recipient of overly indulgent nostalgia which has blinded its devotees to its seriously flawed foundation, failed everywhere except Orlando and San Diego. A late March start should avoid Utah's temperamental winter weather. Salt Lake City is familiar ground and certainly not as exciting as new territory, but the city has potential and if the metropolis is willing to play ball, the UFL can't ask for much more.
Possible Monikers: Stallions, Mountaineers, Pioneers, Battalion,
All told, Repole and the UFL arrived at three suitable locations. I might have hedged differently; personally I would have jousted for Pittsburgh or New Orleans, but the three cities offer potential for a league looking for another Louisville.
*Why not honor one of America's best and overlooked generals: Nathanael Greene? We aren't celebrating 250 years without him.
No comments:
Post a Comment