UFL Attendance Avgs

[XFL Crusader]

Spring football attendance with certain exceptions will reside in the 7k-15k range until potential fans realize the league isn't a Spirit Halloween store operation. Folks in many cities have been burned too many times. 

[4th&long]

Final Attendance averages by conference
USFL:
Birmingham- 10,192
Michigan- 8,134
Houston- 7,056
Memphis- 6,893

XFL:
STL- 34,365
SA- 11,888
Arlington- 9,887
DC- 14,143

Only 1 USFL team averaged over 10k this year which was probably the smallest market in the UFL this year. They were also carried by the home opener and AJs return, other than that attendance was lackluster. Although they did have other issues such as weather affecting games. Hopefully Michigan gains some traction next year with earlier ticket sales and having a solid year. Houston and Memphis were just nonexistent this year, much like Vegas last year. Houston probably sees an uptick if they move back to TDECU.

On the flip side only 1 XFL team averaged under 10k in Arlington. As mentioned earlier, that is interesting considering the large market and it's the hub of the league. I'd say DC and STL did how most would expect. SA will hopefully see an increase next season with some league stability and on the field success. I think that 15k target for them is a really good number for them.

Overall a mixed bag for the season. I think with a year under their belt and marketing/ticket sales earlier in the year will help next years numbers.

Houston is an XFL branded team.  That branding didn't seem to help,  as well as the move to Rice stadium. 

In general the teams that originated in XFL 2020 AND played decent or better did well.   StL and DC

The tix pricing in USFL was family friendly and there was a significant increase in 2024.

They need to have a diff strategy in each market. 

1) For example Birm/Memphis - have weater delay issues and I'm sure that delays pre-purchases and buying in general.  Can the league provide a full "credit" for weather delays over an hour to be used on a future game or future concessions/merch?   They need something that eliminates the risk to fans to encourage pre-sales.

2) Birmingham only has Chai rbacks in the center third of the field both sides... why not open both sides of the stadium for seating?  Those are the most comfortable seats, next is bench back which are the other sideline seats.  The rest are straight bench.
The league/stadium needs to see what's most desirable and make them available instead of all one side wrap into corners and endzones.

3) Houston Go back to TDECU.

4) smaller cities and Metro Areas with lower per capita income will need to be priced more accordingly especially as consumers get squeezed.  Prices in DC and Dallas won't work in Memphis or Birm

[4th&long]

Birm Conf championship attendance (10,287) fell right in line with reg season avg (10,255).

1) The pricing in Birmingham is way up over 2023... way up. 

2) For the UFL Birm Conf championship had the one endzone at $10 most sold in a matter of 2 days , the other $52 wasn't - who are they kidding.   Sure.  No all tix s/n/b $10 but endzones? 
Also disposal income is not the same as 2020/2019.  I'll bet they made money there though as its cheaper rent and the priceier seats sold.

3) Birm city is a 1.2mm metro area about 1/5 DC, 40% SA, 13% AR, the city has 1/2 the per capita income of DC.  Its ceiling will be lower. But they are pretty consistent.

4) The stadium is only 3 sections on either side with chairs, others have bench backs and others no backs.    They need to make changes to the avail seats and adjust and target their audience differently.    Try making those middle seats on both sides avail like Michigan, nix the Corners and make the enzones the $10-15 seats.

https://www.theufl.com/teams/birmingham ... up-tickets

5) Weather - this is the big one.  Does it make buying season tix more difficult?  It would for me.  I think they need some kind of weather delay refund at the very least so that season tix have a better chance of selling.   And they need to discount season tix vs reg season - when u buy 5 up front that makes sense.

Bottomline: Birm did pretty well, likely in line with lower end expectations.  They avgeraged 10250+ a game in the smallest metro market.  SA, which is a better market, 2.5 times as big with better economic demos only got 15% more attendance. Birm did well. And I wanted USFL in SA 2022 as I think its strong potential market.  While SA has a much higher ceiling than Birm both can and will do better with smart adjustments for 2025.
   

 

[FootballFan]

Birm Conf championship attendance (10,287) fell right in line with reg season avg (10,255).1) The pricing in Birmingham is way up over 2023... way up. 

2) For the UFL Birm Conf championship had the one endzone at $10 most sold in a matter of 2 days , the other $52 wasn't - who are they kidding.   Sure.  No all tix s/n/b $10 but endzones? 
Also disposal income is not the same as 2020/2019.  I'll bet they made money there though as its cheaper rent and the priceier seats sold.

3) Birm city is a 1.2mm metro area about 1/5 DC, 40% SA, 13% AR, the city has 1/2 the per capita income of DC.  Its ceiling will be lower. But they are pretty consistent.

4) The stadium is only 3 sections on either side with chairs, others have bench backs and others no backs.    They need to make changes to the avail seats and adjust and target their audience differently.    Try making those middle seats on both sides avail like Michigan, nix the Corners and make the enzones the $10-15 seats.

https://www.theufl.com/teams/birmingham ... up-tickets

5) Weather - this is the big one.  Does it make buying season tix more difficult?  It would for me.  I think they need some kind of weather delay refund at the very least so that season tix have a better chance of selling.   And they need to discount season tix vs reg season - when u buy 5 up front that makes sense.

Bottomline: Birm did pretty well, likely in line with lower end expectations.  They avgeraged 10250+ a game in the smallest metro market.  SA, which is a better market, 2.5 times as big with better economic demos only got 15% more attendance. Birm did well. And I wanted USFL in SA 2022 as I think its strong potential market.  While SA has a much higher ceiling than Birm both can and will do better with smart adjustments for 2025.
   


 

6) Notable Players - This is an issue that doesn't get brought up enough in spring football discussions. If you want people to come to a game, you have to give them a reason to come. It is no coincidence that the most attended game was the Battlehawks game. Alabama fans love AJ McCarron, but he's playing for Saint Louis, where fans will show up no matter what. If AJ wants to play for the Stallions they need move him assuming he's not headed for the NFL.

[4th&long]

Birm Conf championship attendance (10,287) fell right in line with reg season avg (10,255).1) The pricing in Birmingham is way up over 2023... way up. 

2) For the UFL Birm Conf championship had the one endzone at $10 most sold in a matter of 2 days , the other $52 wasn't - who are they kidding.   Sure.  No all tix s/n/b $10 but endzones? 
Also disposal income is not the same as 2020/2019.  I'll bet they made money there though as its cheaper rent and the priceier seats sold.

3) Birm city is a 1.2mm metro area about 1/5 DC, 40% SA, 13% AR, the city has 1/2 the per capita income of DC.  Its ceiling will be lower. But they are pretty consistent.

4) The stadium is only 3 sections on either side with chairs, others have bench backs and others no backs.    They need to make changes to the avail seats and adjust and target their audience differently.    Try making those middle seats on both sides avail like Michigan, nix the Corners and make the enzones the $10-15 seats.

https://www.theufl.com/teams/birmingham ... up-tickets

5) Weather - this is the big one.  Does it make buying season tix more difficult?  It would for me.  I think they need some kind of weather delay refund at the very least so that season tix have a better chance of selling.   And they need to discount season tix vs reg season - when u buy 5 up front that makes sense.

Bottomline: Birm did pretty well, likely in line with lower end expectations.  They avgeraged 10250+ a game in the smallest metro market.  SA, which is a better market, 2.5 times as big with better economic demos only got 15% more attendance. Birm did well. And I wanted USFL in SA 2022 as I think its strong potential market.  While SA has a much higher ceiling than Birm both can and will do better with smart adjustments for 2025.
   




 

6) Notable Players - This is an issue that doesn't get brought up enough in spring football discussions. If you want people to come to a game, you have to give them a reason to come. It is no coincidence that the most attended game was the Battlehawks game. Alabama fans love AJ McCarron, but he's playing for Saint Louis, where fans will show up no matter what. If AJ wants to play for the Stallions they need move him assuming he's not headed for the NFL.

This is a very good point.  Stallions also lost Fan Favorites Scarborough and Scooby Wright as well.  When I was writing the IP I was going to say, if AJ back in StL in 2025 then fair or not BH needs to play in Birm (1 of 5 games).  AJ, if he plays will want to be on StL.

But this leads to a broader point you may be alluding to - that teams should get players from Schools closer to home (Bama/Auburn for Birm and Mich/Mich St for Michigan).  The USFL/XFL/UFL has resisted that but they may need to rethink it.

[MGB01]

I know, to hell with legitimacy right?


Oh btw, Scooby Wright, west coast guy (might also look at Bama recruits over the last five years)

[4th&long]

Yes but Sharkdog was a Birmingham Stallions fan favorite, in fact he was for the national media covering the USFL as well. 

[MGB01]

Um, my point.

They don't need to do the whole gimmick regionalization thing (the Bolts had 15 Bama/Auburn players and one UAB, you were saying?). They need the same people who have been whining for years about Birmingham being "screwed over" to put it on the table and step up.

Or else, they (being the league) need to realize for the last time Birmingham is just not there and move on.

[laxtreme56]

I'm in agreement having some kind of regionalization wouldn't hurt. The Nashville Kats 1.0 routinely played to 15k in part due to local legends, Andy Kelly and Corey Flemming on the squad. Look, guys like Perez are a great story and I'm truly a fan. However, being the best D2 QB isn't going to get more than a few family members and close friends excited to see in person. Taking a look at Google trends, Nebraska is constantly in the top 5. Could it be because of Adrian Martinez?? Magic 8 ball says most likely. 
​​​

[MGB01]

I'm in agreement having some kind of regionalization wouldn't hurt. The Nashville Kats 1.0 routinely played to 15k in part due to local legends, Andy Kelly and Corey Flemming on the squad. Look, guys like Perez are a great story and I'm truly a fan. However, being the best D2 QB isn't going to get more than a few family members and close friends excited to see in person. Taking a look at Google trends, Nebraska is constantly in the top 5. Could it be because of Adrian Martinez?? Magic 8 ball says most likely. 
​​​

OK, you gonna put a team in Omaha or Lincoln then? Doubtful.

Let's say Frank Harris decided to come out of retirement and play for the Brahmas next year, maybe a good short-term boost but if Chase Garbers went through it trying to make it through the season can't imagine it'd be any better for a guy who began with two injury redshirts and called it a career because of it.

Besides they already have Corey Mayfield, I don't know whether loading up with Harris, Sincere McCormick, and Joshua Cephus (all three hypothetically) is the be-all end-all.