United Football League co-owner Mike Repole recently shared a list of potential expansion markets for the UFL, sparking plenty of discussion about where the league could go next. While 2028 appears to be the earliest realistic expansion target, some of these cities may not come into play until later.
The league has already announced its first expansion franchise for 2028: Oklahoma City. The team will play at the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, a venue expected to seat around 10,000 fans. While that capacity is on the smaller side, it aligns with the UFL’s apparent preference for modern, soccer-style venues rather than oversized football stadiums.
I believe Oklahoma City was an excellent choice. The city has a history with spring football dating back to the original USFL in the 1980s, and the announcement generated significant buzz across social media. For a league trying to establish momentum, it was a strong first step.
The biggest lesson from the UFL’s recent relocations is that attendance alone no longer determines expansion. Louisville, Columbus and Orlando were chosen largely because of stadium economics. While attendance league-wide fell in 2026, television ratings increased across FOX, ESPN and ABC. Any future expansion city must therefore satisfy three criteria: a right-sized stadium, television value, and long-term financial sustainability.
Now the attention turns to who should receive the second expansion team.
According to Repole and comments made on The Pat McAfee Show, the following markets have been discussed:
- New England
- Austin, Texas
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Queens, New York
- Greenville or Charleston, South Carolina
- Utah
- Boise, Idaho
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Omaha, Nebraska
Below is my ranking of these markets from least likely to most appealing for a second UFL expansion franchise. This is not a shot at any city on the list; every market has strengths and weaknesses. This is simply my opinion based on stadium situations, television potential, travel logistics, and long-term viability.
#9 Greenville/Charleston, South Carolina
Potential Stadiums: Patriots Point, GE Vernova Park, Paladin Stadium
I’ve grouped both South Carolina options together because they face many of the same challenges.
Unfortunately, the stadium situations aren’t ideal. Patriots Point and GE Vernova Park both seat fewer than 7,000 fans, while Paladin Stadium would require navigating a partnership with Furman University.
Are these untapped professional sports markets? Absolutely. South Carolina has passionate football fans, and both areas have strong sports cultures. However, compared to the other cities on this list, both television markets are relatively small.
The UFL has repeatedly shown that television viewership is just as important, if not more important, than attendance. When you’re dealing with a smaller media market and the possibility of drawing only 6,000 to 7,000 fans per game, the risk becomes difficult to justify. Even for someone willing to take chances like Mike Repole, this feels like a step too far.
#8 Boise, Idaho
Potential Stadium: Albertsons Stadium
I completely understand the appeal of Boise. The city has a passionate football culture and has long been viewed as a market hungry for professional football.
The problem comes down to two major issues.
First, Albertsons Stadium seats more than 36,000 fans. Based on comments from league leadership, the UFL appears to prefer modern venues in the 10,000-to-25,000-seat range. A crowd of 10,000 to 12,000 fans inside a 36,000-seat stadium doesn’t create a great television product.
Second, Boise is one of the smallest television markets among the cities being considered. The UFL’s television partners are a major part of the league’s business model, and market size matters.
Boise fans would likely support a team, but the combination of a large stadium and a small television market makes this a difficult sell.
#7 Omaha, Nebraska
Potential Stadium: New Union Omaha Stadium (Expected Opening: 2028)
There is no question that Omaha supports football.
The challenge is the stadium. Union Omaha’s new stadium is currently expected to seat around 7,000 fans, and in my opinion, that’s simply too small for a league trying to expand its fan base and establish a stronger national presence.
If the stadium were expanded into the 10,000-to-12,000-seat range, Omaha would immediately move into my top five.
Despite being a smaller television market, Omaha has repeatedly demonstrated support for alternative football leagues. During the original United Football League’s run, the Omaha Nighthawks averaged approximately 15,600 fans per game from 2010 to 2012, including an incredible inaugural season that averaged more than 22,000 fans per game. Those numbers are comparable to what the St. Louis Battlehawks draw today.
The rivalry potential would also be outstanding. St. Louis, Louisville, and Omaha could quickly develop into natural regional rivals.
If Omaha can either expand the new stadium or identify another venue in the 10,000-to-20,000-seat range, this market becomes much more intriguing. As things currently stand, however, the stadium situation keeps it from ranking higher.
#6 Austin, Texas
Potential Stadium: Q2 Stadium
Personally, I would rather see Austin become the destination of a relocation than an expansion franchise.
If the UFL ever decides to move a current team, Austin would be one of the first cities I would consider. It could even help rekindle some of the support that existed in San Antonio during the AAF and XFL eras. While Austin and San Antonio are distinct markets, they are only about an hour and a half apart and share many football fans.
The challenge with expansion is geography. If Austin joined the league alongside Houston, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, the UFL would suddenly have four teams concentrated in the Southwest and three located in Texas alone. That may not be the best use of an expansion opportunity.
Austin is also a crowded sports market. The Texas Longhorns dominate local attention, while the Cowboys, Texans, and existing UFL teams already compete for football fans’ interest.
That said, Q2 Stadium is exactly the type of venue the UFL appears to prefer. Opened in 2021, it seats approximately 20,700 fans and provides a modern, intimate atmosphere that translates well on television.
Austin is a strong market. I just believe it makes more sense as a relocation destination than as an expansion city.
#5 Utah
Potential Stadium: America First Field
America First Field checks many of the boxes the UFL appears to value.
The stadium seats approximately 20,000 fans, has a modern design, and has developed a strong reputation since opening in 2008. From a facility standpoint, this is one of the best options on the list.
The concern is whether the market would fully embrace another spring football team. The most recent example is the AAF’s Salt Lake Stallions, who played during the league’s lone 2019 season. While the Stallions played in the much larger Rice-Eccles Stadium, they averaged roughly 9,000 fans across four home games.
Attendance alone doesn’t tell the whole story, but it is worth considering.
Television viewership estimates for Stallions games generally ranged between 200,000 and 400,000 viewers per national telecast. It’s fair to wonder whether those numbers would have been higher if the league had today’s UFL television package featuring ABC, ESPN, FOX, and FS1. We’ll never know for certain.
Utah remains an attractive market, but the mixed results of the Stallions era prevent me from placing it any higher.
#4 New England
Potential Stadiums: Gillette Stadium (unlikely), Proposed Everett Soccer Stadium
There is no questioning New England’s football culture.
This region has lived and breathed football for decades, and the success of the Patriots created one of the most passionate fan bases in the country.
The issue is the stadium situation.
Gillette Stadium is likely too large for what the UFL wants. League leadership has repeatedly emphasized the importance of creating a strong atmosphere and avoiding oversized venues where attendance can appear sparse on television. Drawing 10,000 to 15,000 fans in an NFL stadium simply isn’t an appealing visual.
The proposed soccer-specific stadium project in Everett would completely change the conversation. If approved and built, it would immediately become one of the most attractive expansion venues available.
The television market alone makes New England a serious contender. The challenge is finding the right home for a team. If the Everett project moves forward, this ranking could easily be too low.
#3 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Potential Stadiums: Isotopes Park, Proposed New Mexico United Stadium
This is my ultimate dark-horse candidate.
Albuquerque sits in an interesting position geographically. It would fit naturally with teams in Texas, Oklahoma City, and potentially other western markets while bringing professional football to a city that has very little direct competition from major professional sports.
The city already supports New Mexico United extremely well, and a UFL franchise could quickly become one of the area’s premier sports properties.
The biggest obstacle is infrastructure. The proposed New Mexico United stadium would be ideal for the UFL, with plans ranging from approximately 8,000 to 15,000 seats depending on configuration. However, the project has faced delays and uncertainty regarding location and development.
Meanwhile, Isotopes Park presents logistical challenges due to scheduling conflicts with both baseball and soccer.
Despite those concerns, I believe Albuquerque would surprise people. This market feels hungry for professional sports, and I think fans would embrace a UFL franchise in a way that exceeds expectations.
That potential is why I rank it this high.
#2 Raleigh, North Carolina
Potential Stadiums: WakeMed Soccer Park, Proposed Downtown South Stadium
This one simply makes sense.
WakeMed Soccer Park already provides a viable venue with a capacity of roughly 10,000 fans. While that number is on the lower end of what the UFL would likely prefer, Oklahoma City’s upcoming stadium demonstrates that the league is willing to consider smaller venues if the market is attractive enough.
The Raleigh area continues to grow rapidly and has become one of the most desirable expansion markets in the country for numerous sports leagues.
The region has strong football roots, a growing population, and relatively limited competition compared to many major markets. Outside of the NHL’s Hurricanes, the NWSL, and minor league sports, there is room for another professional team to establish itself.
The proposed Downtown South stadium project would make the market even more appealing if it eventually moves forward.
Raleigh offers strong demographics, solid facilities, and significant long-term growth potential. That’s why it comes in at number two.
#1 Queens, New York
Potential Stadium: Etihad Park (Opening 2027)
When I started this ranking, I never expected Queens to finish at number one. But the more I considered the UFL’s priorities, the more obvious the choice became.
The league has made it clear that television viewership matters. If that’s the case, there is no bigger opportunity than New York City.
Etihad Park, scheduled to open in 2027, appears to be almost tailor-made for what the UFL wants. The stadium will seat approximately 25,000 fans, provide a modern soccer-specific atmosphere, and sit directly within New York City.
Location matters. Many people point to the XFL’s New York Guardians as evidence that spring football struggles in New York. However, the Guardians played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, not in New York City itself. Despite that disadvantage, they still averaged nearly 15,000 fans during their brief existence, albeit in two home games.
Etihad Park would be located in Willets Point, Queens, directly across from Citi Field and connected to some of the best public transportation infrastructure in the country. Accessibility would be a major advantage.
This is also Mike Repole’s hometown. If the UFL places a franchise in Queens, it is difficult to imagine anyone being more invested in making that team succeed than Repole himself.
The combination of market size, stadium quality, transportation access, and branding potential makes Queens my top expansion choice for 2028. If the UFL wants to maximize visibility and television value, I believe this is the strongest option on the board.
BONUS CITY: Detroit, Michigan
Potential Stadium: AlumniFi Field
This one genuinely makes me sad. Detroit was the only UFL market that saw attendance growth during the 2025 season, and the Panthers closed out the year with more than 16,000 fans at their final home game. Despite that momentum, the league ultimately chose to leave the market.
I understand why the decision was made. Ford Field is an outstanding venue, but it was simply too large and too expensive for what the UFL was trying to accomplish. Operating costs were significantly higher than those associated with soccer-specific stadiums or smaller venues, and attendance figures often looked modest inside a stadium designed for more than 60,000 fans.
From a business perspective, the move made sense. From a fan perspective, it was heartbreaking.
What makes Detroit’s omission from recent expansion discussions even more surprising is that Mike Repole publicly expressed interest in bringing Michigan back after the league’s restructuring. Yet in the latest reports and rumored expansion lists, Detroit has been noticeably absent.
That surprises me because AlumniFi Field feels like exactly the type of venue the UFL has been searching for. With a capacity of roughly 15,000 seats, it would create a much better atmosphere than Ford Field while dramatically reducing operating costs. The size is ideal for a spring football league trying to balance attendance, presentation, and profitability.
The rivalry potential is also tremendous. A Michigan team would instantly reconnect with nearby markets such as Louisville, St. Louis, and Columbus. The possibility of a Michigan-versus-Ohio rivalry alone would be worth exploring. Football fans in both states already understand the significance of that matchup, and the UFL could easily build storylines around it.
There is also the Panthers’ history to consider. The original Michigan Panthers were one of the flagship franchises of the 1980s USFL, and the modern Panthers reached the UFL Championship Game just last season. The brand has credibility, history, and name recognition that many expansion teams would need years to develop.
I understand that the league appears to be moving away from some of the traditional USFL identities. However, the Panthers remain one of the strongest brands available, and Detroit remains one of the strongest football markets available.
To me, bringing Michigan back at the right venue feels like a no-brainer.
Maybe the league has different plans. Maybe they’re waiting for the right opportunity. But if AlumniFi Field becomes a realistic option in the future, I hope Detroit gets another chance. The Panthers and their fans deserve one.
