Following a 2025 UFL season that exhibited some signs of growth for the league, the front office has decided to relocate four franchises to new markets starting in the spring of 2026.
The four teams encompass the entirety of the league’s USFL division, consisting of the Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, Houston Roughnecks, and Memphis Showboats.
The new host cities are rumored to be:
- Boise, Idaho
- Columbus, Ohio
- A City In Florida – Potentially Orlando Or Tampa
- A City In Kentucky – Potentially Louisville Or Lexington
Is This Business Savvy Or Desperation?
Whether you’re a fan of the UFL or not, it does make sense for a secondary professional football league to exist in the spring. Some players do slip through the cracks or are not at their athletic peak by the time their final year of collegiate eligibility arrives.
While the decision does reflect a desire to change their fortunes immediately, it also reveals the league’s willingness to abandon growing markets. Birmingham, for instance, served as the headquarters for the USFL and hosted the Stallions, who won three consecutive championships.
If indeed the Florida city turns out to be Tampa or Orlando, it will be a return to a market that has already proved to be timid for the XFL. The Orlando Guardians played in Central Florida for one season in 2023, but were not a part of the reformulated UFL in 2024 when the league debuted.
The Tampa Bay Vipers were part of the initial 2020 XFL season but relocated to Las Vegas afterwards.
Should The NFL Step In?
The short answer is yes. The National Football League should think of the UFL the way the NBA thinks of the WNBA: Whether the league is profitable or not, its existence is good for business.
Here are a few reasons why the NFL should consider adopting the UFL as an official partner league:
- Player Development: The UFL serves as an incubator for emerging players who were cut by the NFL, offering essential game experience and a pathway back to the NFL.
- Testing Ground for Rules: It enables safe, real-world experimentation with new rules, innovations, and officiating procedures before they are considered for possible adoption by the NFL.
- Technological Advancements: UFL’s 4K ball-spotting technology, helmet cams, and “All-Access” media features demonstrate innovations for the NFL to evaluate and potentially adopt.
- Officiating Transparency: The UFL’s public, step-by-step officiating reviews showcase a model of transparency the NFL can learn from.
- Market Testing: New cities and regions can be tested for future NFL expansion based on UFL fan turnout and market engagement.
- Injury Rehabilitation Opportunities: NFL hopefuls and former players can showcase recovery in the UFL, aiding comeback efforts without high risk.
- Product Beta Testing: Technologies such as improved data analytics, equipment innovations, or broadcast techniques can be piloted in the UFL.
- Talent Retention in Football: Players who might otherwise quit after being cut by the NFL remain in professional football, keeping the overall talent pool robust.
- Insurance Against Labor Disputes: The UFL provides a fallback reservoir of active, game-ready players in the event of NFL strikes or work stoppages.
How Will These Moves Impact UFL Betting?
UFL betting will likely experience significant volatility and adjustment following the league’s relocation of four teams in 2026, primarily because bettors and sportsbooks must reassess team performance projections, fan interest, and home-field dynamics in entirely new cities.
The presumed benefit of playing at home could change dramatically. Previous teams with strong local followings or successful track records, such as Birmingham, will lose whatever home-field edge they had and may struggle to develop a fan base in their new markets.
There is potential for markets with fresh teams to initially attract heightened betting interest due to novelty and local excitement, especially in regions new to spring football. Conversely, uncertainty and diminished loyalty may also depress wagering while bettors wait for clearer performance trends to establish.
Oddsmakers will likely be more conservative when offering preseason futures for 2026, and may postpone releasing some props or build in extra margins to hedge against the unpredictability of transitional teams.
Sources: NBC Sports | WBMA
