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After completing just two seasons, it appears that the UFL may well be on its last legs. The league, which was formed in 2024 after a merger between the XFL and USFL, is set to move four of its eight teams ahead of the 2026 season.
According to a report from Pro Football Newsroom, all four teams in the USFL Conference – Michigan, Houston, Birmingham, and Memphis – will seek new homes for the 2026 season after experiencing rising costs and falling attendance in 2025.
This news comes just one week after the league experienced widespread layoffs in an attempt to cut costs.
Per League Sources: Another “Black Friday” has hit the #UFL this week.
Dozens upon dozens of full-timers across marketing teams, PR, ticketing sales, etc. have all been let go.
The UFL is cleaning house – and right now, it looks to be mostly cost-cutting measures. https://t.co/Vm6R57988Z
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) July 18, 2025
UFL Teams Are Struggling To Make Money Even When Attendance Goes Up
The Michigan Panthers were the only one of the four teams to see a rise in attendance in 2025. The team’s attendance numbers went up 43.6 percent year-over-year. But even then, the team was unable to turn a profit.
“Even though Michigan just showcased a Championship appearance, the league is deciding to rip the Panthers away from the Detroit market,” James Larsen of PFN reports. “The main factor in this decision: Ford Field. They’re a difficult venue to work with, and with the UFL’s issues on their end, the rough waters weren’t smoothing out anytime soon. Ford Field cost the league a whopping $500,000 just to open the doors for gameday: a $2.5M investment per season.
“Eastern Michigan University would be the only other option available, but with the complaints about the grey turf, it was something that never came to fruition with leadership in the UFL.”
UFL Players Are Still Asking For Higher Salaries
While the league and its teams are losing money, players still believe they’re not being paid enough. Specifically, all 24 quarterbacks in the league held out prior to the 2025 UFL season.
“The proposal our Players Association received on Thursday was unacceptable and insulting,” the 24 players said in a letter to UFL President Russ Brandon and Executive Vice President Daryl Johnston. “We – all of the quarterbacks in the UFL – have collectively decided not to attend the UFL quarterback training camp this weekend in Arlington, Texas, in protest of that proposal and the message that is sent to us as players.”
The players reportedly received a “negligible” increase in the $55,000 base salary they received in 2024 and took issue with the lack of year-round healthcare coverage.
It appears that the league still intends to operate in 2026. Although it has not announced new markets for the four teams that are leaving their current homes. And even if they do play in 2026, something drastic is going to happen if the league is going to have a viable long-term future.