United Football League Will Expand to Three New Cities

The UFL will add franchises in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Utah beginning in 2027.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration featuring a football player in motion, evoking the high energy of professional football expansion. — The United Football League announced it will add three new franchises in Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Sandy, Utah, beginning in 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer professional sports teams play in smaller, intimate stadiums instead of large arenas?

The United Football League announced it will add new teams in Pawtucket, Colorado Springs, and Sandy. The expansion includes replacing defunct clubs from Birmingham and Houston to grow the league's presence in smaller venues.

Why it matters

The league is shifting its strategy toward smaller, intimate stadium environments to foster sellout crowds and high-energy atmospheres. This move aims to stabilize franchise longevity by aligning venue capacity with local market demand.

The new clubs will utilize stadiums with capacities of 20,000 at America First Field, 10,500 at Centreville Bank Stadium, and 8,000 at Weidner Field. These selections were chosen from a pool of approximately 10 venue proposals.

The players

United Football League

The United Football League is a professional football organization that hosts teams across various U.S. markets.

The details

The league secured multiyear rental agreements for all three soccer-specific stadiums to anchor the new teams. The Pawtucket and Colorado Springs franchises are scheduled to begin play in 2027, while the Utah team will debut in 2028.

The Rhode Island and Colorado teams begin play in 2027.
The Utah team begins play in 2028.

Season Trajectory

The league is moving away from larger, underutilized stadiums in favor of compact venues to ensure better fan engagement and economic sustainability. This restructuring follows the folding of the Birmingham and Houston clubs, signaling a recalibration of the UFL's footprint.

Fans in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Utah will gain access to live professional football starting in 2027 and 2028. The shift toward smaller stadiums suggests a more intimate viewing experience but may impact ticket availability due to the lower total seating capacities.

The takeaway

The UFL is prioritizing smaller venue sizes to cultivate a more intense and reliable game-day atmosphere for supporters. Future growth will depend on the league's ability to maintain high attendance averages within these limited seating capacities.