Spring football leagues like the AAF, XFL, USFL and now UFL have faced challenges with low attendance, resulting in empty lower-level seats at games. The UFL made its debut with mediocre attendance numbers, as expected. The first game between the Birmingham Stallions and Arlington Renegade drew 14,153 fans while the second game with the Michigan Panthers hosting the St. Louis Battlehawks had 9,444 attendees at Ford Field. Playing in smaller stadiums with limited capacity could help avoid images of empty seats which can turn off viewers.
The NFL enforced a blackout rule for many years to ensure televised games had the appearance of being a major event with full stadiums. Having empty stadiums could make it less appealing for fans watching at home. However, this has been a challenge for spring football leagues in recent years, from the AAF to now the UFL. While some cities like St. Louis have embraced their teams, most have struggled with low attendance and empty lower-level seats at games.
The UFL faces challenges in generating strong ratings over weekends as games air on Fox and ESPN while competing events like NCAA basketball tournament and baseball games are taking place. Starting quietly and building momentum is possible but a strong start is preferable to succeed financially in the long term as a new league that decided not to use established names like “XFL” or “USFL.”
