As the UFL leaves Birmingham, should Huntsville make a play for the Stallions?

Another pro football team has now come and gone from Birmingham, as the United Football League announced last week that the Stallions (originally part of the United Stated Football League, relaunched in 2021) would be leaving Birmingham.

UFL officials said the sole reason for the decision to leave Birmingham was stadium size. The Stallions played at Protective Stadium, a 47,000-seat venue that, even at well-attended games, appeared empty, which league officials said affected the league’s brand.

In essence, Birmingham does not have a stadium the right size, according to league officials. But perhaps Huntsville does.

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Stadium issues are why the Stallions are leaving Birmingham

The reason for pulling the Stallions out of Birmingham obviously had nothing to do with the team’s performance. In the five years of the team’s existence, the Stallions won three championships.

The issue was really not even attendance in general. It was that attendance was not big enough for the Stallions’ home stadium.

“With Birmingham, this decision was 100% due to the wrong sized venue. I appreciate the passion of the fans and respect the history of the Birmingham Stallions.

It was clearly my decision that with the wrong sized venue spring football could not succeed in Birmingham. Even on opening day, when 16,000 Stallions fans showed up, the energy, passion, and game atmosphere was not felt due to the size of the venue.”

_{UFL Co-Owner Mike Repole}

A history of pro football heartbreak in Birmingham

Birmingham has had trouble keeping pro sports teams, despite having success on the field. In fact, the city has been home to nine different franchises over the last 52 years:

1. Birmingham Americans (World Football League) — 1974-1975
2. Birmingham Vulcans (World Football League) — 1975
3. Birmingham Stallions (United States Football League) — 1982-1985
4. Birmingham Fire (World League of American Football) — 1991-1992
5. Birmingham Barracudas (Canadian Football League) — 1995
6. Alabama Steeldogs (AF2 — Arena Football League’s developmental league) — 2000-2007
7. Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL) — 2001
8. Birmingham Iron (Alliance of American Football) — 2018-2019
9. Birmingham Stallions (United States Football League 2022-2023, United Football League 2024-2026) — 2022-2026

But is Birmingham the problem? Scott Adamson, veteran sports writer and author of the book, The Home Team: My Bromance with Off-Brand Football, said most pro football leagues outside the NFL are likely to be short-lived, regardless of the city.

“I think maybe in 2026 we should just accept the fact that if a professional tackle football league flies under a banner that doesn’t feature the NFL logo, it’s only temporary.

It’s great that the modern iteration of spring football has lasted five years, but will it be here five years from now? I seriously doubt it. Perhaps I’ve gotten cynical in my old age, but minor league pro football seems like a losing proposition in the long term.”

_{Scott Adamson, author of The Home Team: My Bromance with Off-Brand Football}

So, what about Huntsville?

The current UFL teams play in stadiums ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 capacity (with Birmingham + St. Louis being the exceptions, at 47,000 and 67,000 capacities, respectively).

So while Joe Davis Stadium, with its 6,000-seat capacity, would likely be too small, Milton Frank Stadium seats around 12,000, which might be just enough for the UFL.

And even if Joe Davis “seems” too small, the recent upgrades to the venue might entice some interest if Huntsville decided to flirt with the UFL.

Back in the early 2000s, the Tennessee Valley Vipers arena football team were consistently among the leaders in attendance while playing indoors at Propst Arena. So who’s to say that a UFL team could not draw here in Huntsville?

Of course, several factors must be considered before a move like this could be made. Namely, spring sports schedules for local stadiums would need to be considered. For instance, Joe Davis Stadium is the home venue for the Huntsville City FC, who play in the spring and summer. And Milton Frank Stadium hosts a variety of high school sporting events in the spring.

We asked our LinkedIn followers if they would support the Stallions moving to the Rocket City, and 52% of those who have answered our poll thus far said they would (you can respond to the poll HERE, if you would like to weigh in).

While the probability of luring the Stallions to the Rocket City is a long shot, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. And, a sports fan can dream, right?

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