Latest news with #springleague
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United Football League team coming to Ohio
The United Football League (UFL) is coming to an Ohio city, according to our media partners, WBNS-10 TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A spokesperson with the premier spring football league told our media partners that a team will be located in Columbus starting in the 2026 spring season. TRENDING STORIES: Homeowners burning weeds leads to Montgomery County house fire, firefighters say At least 2 hurt in local apartment fire; 8 units displaced Soulja Boy arrested on suspicion of weapons charge during a traffic stop The new team will play at the Historic Crew Stadium, which is located at One Black and Gold Boulevard. 'The UFL selecting Historic Crew Stadium to host a team's home games is a further testament to the first-class fan experience at our venue, as well as advances our commitment to bringing unique major events to Columbus that highlight our city and promote economic impact in the region. It's also the result of Columbus' continued growth and its long-standing passion for supporting sports,' the spokesperson told WBNS-10's Dom Tiberi. This move comes after entrepreneur Mike Repole joined the league's ownership group. 'Football has clearly established itself as America's most popular sport, with tremendous momentum and demand,' Repole said in a media release by UFL. 'There's no better time than now to build a strong, sustainable spring league that unites players, teams, and fans. I'm honored to join the United Football League's ownership group as we work to create something truly lasting and game-changing.' Repole told ESPN that the league is planning to relocate two home markets. One of the new locations will be Columbus. The UFL currently operates eight teams as a spring football league in the following cities: Arlington, Texas Birmingham, Alabama Detroit, Michigan Houston, Texas Memphis, Tennessee San Antonio, Texas St. Louis, Missouri Washington, D.C. There are currently 10 games during the regular season, which are divided between the USFL and XFL conferences, according to WBNS-10. Details on the new team are expected to be announced at a later date. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UFL adds Mike Repole as an owner — and he's eyeing 16 teams by 2035
The UFL is doubling down. Despite disappointing metrics in its second season after the USFL/XFL merger, it has attracted another major investor. And he has big plans. Mike Repole, who cofounded vitaminwater, smartwater, and BodyArmor before selling them to Coca-Cola for more than $12 billion, joins RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, ESPN, Dany Garcia, and Dwayne Johnson as owners of the league. 'Football has clearly established itself as America's most popular sport, with tremendous momentum and demand,' Repole said in the press release announcing the development. 'There's no better time than now to build a strong, sustainable spring league that unites players, teams, and fans. I'm honored to join the United Football League's ownership group as we work to create something truly lasting and game-changing.' The initial changes to the game reportedly include the relocation of half of the league, with Birmingham, Michigan, Houston, and Memphis franchises heading to new markets. In an interview with Kevin Seifert of Repole confirmed that at least two and as many as four teams will move for 2026. Repole also said that one of the new markets will be Columbus, with the UFL team playing at the MLS stadium built for the Columbus Crew. He wants venues that feel alive. Which makes smaller stadiums critical. "The vibe hasn't been to where it should be," Repole said. "You can hear a pin drop when someone runs 80 yards. That's not so good. Nobody wants to turn on the TV and see 10,000 fans in a 65,000-seat stadium. It's like watching a COVID game." As the facilities shrink, the teams could grow. Repole wants to double the size of the UFL, within the next decade. "We're going to be aggressive as far as being nimble and scrappy and gritty and making aggressive moves," Repole said. "If by 2035, if we can't have 16 teams, I'm going to consider it a personal failure. This is it. Other leagues didn't have the capital that this league has, didn't have the media giants that this league has, didn't have the entrepreneurs that this team has." He's right about that. The key will be to create an appetite for football when it's not football season. That's the fundamental challenge that all spring or summer leagues have faced. Which means that the best way to succeed as an alternative league would be to play games during NFL season, on the days when the NFL isn't playing games: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday.
