New Delhi, July 24 -- The United Football League (UFL) is set to undergo significant restructuring for its 2026 season. Reports indicate that four teams, Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, Houston Roughnecks, and Memphis Showboats, will likely relocate to new markets. Here's a deep dive into the reasons, destinations, and implications of the strategy.

The UFL, born from the 2023 merger of the USFL and XFL, faced challenges in its second season. Attendance and viewership decreased in 2025, averaging 645,000 viewers per game, a 20% drop from 2024. Markets like Memphis struggled with fewer than 4,000 fans per game, while Birmingham, despite its championship pedigree, averaged only 8,800 attendees. Michigan's high venue costs at Ford F...