The St. Louis Battlehawks set the record for attendance at a modern spring football league game with 40,317 people in attendance at The Dome at America’s Center, as seen here at the opening of the game. (ESPN/ABC)
On Saturday April 6, 2024, during their week two games, the UFL had two different attendance scenarios at the opposite ends of the spectrum.
First, in Memphis, what looked like a few thousand fans was announced as 8,791 in attendance. Later, in St. Louis, the Battlehawks set an attendance record with 40,317 in attendance at The Dome at America’s Center
Early in the day, Daryl Johnston, the executive vice president of football operations for the United Football League, had some very direct remarks about the low attendance numbers in Memphis.
“They’re low,” he said. “We can all take a look over there (motioning toward the sparse crowd). It’s not what we want it to be. We had a schedule that came out late. We had TV slots that were not preferred TV slots every weekend. We had to do the best we could with a really, really late structure created in the process. And we’ll be better next year. We’re already working on 2025 right now.”
Johnston is correct. It is true that the league got off to a slow start when it came to scheduling and ticket sales.
Later in the day, a huge crowd of 40,317 attended The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, setting a record for attendance at a modern spring football league game,
In fact, the Battlehawks broke their own record, as the previous mark of 38,310 was set on March 12, 2023, when the Battlehawks hosted the Renegades in last season’s home opener.
There is more good news for the league, as Sunday’s upcoming game at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., is rumored to have above average ticket sales, meaning the UFL may have something else to crow about to end their week two games.
7 thoughts on “When it comes to attendance, the UFL has a day of mixed results”
We went to our first Battlehawks game yesterday and had a blast. My hubby, who has special needs, was pleasantly surprised with the accessibility options at the Dome. We will be back! Hoping for a couple more night games next year. I wish I could add a picture of him with this note. He was experiencing pure joy.
Cities w large metro that don’t have football or are big enough for NFL and UFL and probably would go for UFL franchise. alt lake, san antonio, san diego/anaheim, hartford, raleigh, greenville, orlando, birmingham, memphis, st louis, brooklyn/long island, west chester/albany, portland, san jose/oakland, louisville, sacramento, milwaukee/chicago, grand rapids, oklahoma city/tulsa, norfolk/richmond, san juan, providence, des moines, Omaha
I think UFL competes with MLS and even USL soccer probably more than NFL which means several of those cities are not without competition including San Diego (MLS), San Antonio (USL), Portland (MLS & currently share a stadium with them), SJ/Oak (MLS & USL), Sacramento (USL), Milwaukee/Chicago (NFL, MLS, USL)….. I’m sure some of those other cities have USL teams but I don’t hear about them often to recall off the top of my head.
I only heard about UFL a couple of weeks ago. I somehow stumbled across it, have been a fan ever since.
It is so sad to see the empty stands. I think it would be a good idea to start giving free tickets to schools, churches and other organizations just to get the word out and to get people in the stands, will give more energy to game and look better on TV. Plus those people will bring friends and support the concessions.
But the fact that the Season was almost over before I ever heard of them and then only by accident, proves they are not doing enough to get the word out.
I hope the League is sucessful, I no longer watch NFL and I would love to have some Pro football to support. I miss it.
We went to our first Battlehawks game yesterday and had a blast. My hubby, who has special needs, was pleasantly surprised with the accessibility options at the Dome. We will be back! Hoping for a couple more night games next year. I wish I could add a picture of him with this note. He was experiencing pure joy.
St. Louis is an AWESOME football city.
Go Battlehawks!
When is Arizona getting a team?
Tired of the Cardinals losing all the time?
Cities w large metro that don’t have football or are big enough for NFL and UFL and probably would go for UFL franchise. alt lake, san antonio, san diego/anaheim, hartford, raleigh, greenville, orlando, birmingham, memphis, st louis, brooklyn/long island, west chester/albany, portland, san jose/oakland, louisville, sacramento, milwaukee/chicago, grand rapids, oklahoma city/tulsa, norfolk/richmond, san juan, providence, des moines, Omaha
I think UFL competes with MLS and even USL soccer probably more than NFL which means several of those cities are not without competition including San Diego (MLS), San Antonio (USL), Portland (MLS & currently share a stadium with them), SJ/Oak (MLS & USL), Sacramento (USL), Milwaukee/Chicago (NFL, MLS, USL)….. I’m sure some of those other cities have USL teams but I don’t hear about them often to recall off the top of my head.
I only heard about UFL a couple of weeks ago. I somehow stumbled across it, have been a fan ever since.
It is so sad to see the empty stands. I think it would be a good idea to start giving free tickets to schools, churches and other organizations just to get the word out and to get people in the stands, will give more energy to game and look better on TV. Plus those people will bring friends and support the concessions.
But the fact that the Season was almost over before I ever heard of them and then only by accident, proves they are not doing enough to get the word out.
I hope the League is sucessful, I no longer watch NFL and I would love to have some Pro football to support. I miss it.