The UFL is “still committed” to the Memphis Showboats despite the team drawing the lowest attendance numbers last season, according to Jonah Dylan of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. UFL EVP/Football Operations Daryl Johnston said the league has “great people on the ground” and it is “just a question of a little bit more publicity and knowledge of the Showboats being here, and that’s something that we face in all the markets.” Johnston added spring is a “challenging platform.” Dylan noted last year’s merger between the XFL and USFL was not finalized until late in the offseason, which gave UFL leaders “less time than they would’ve liked to plan for the 2024 season” with all teams based in Arlington, Texas, and only in their home markets for games. UFL leaders are “hopeful that more planning in the offseason will lead to more fan interest during the season” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/11).
A DIFFERENT SITUATION: In Memphis, Omer Yusuf noted the Showboats averaged about 6,900 fans at its five home games last season, while the St. Louis Battlehawks averaged over 34,000 fans a game last season. Johnston said that it is “not as simple as replicating St. Louis’ model in the league’s other markets.” The NFL’s Rams played in St. Louis from 1995 until 2015 before moving to L.A. Johnston said it is “not as easy just to look at St. Louis and say, ‘OK, we could go to any former NFL city and have that type of turnout.’” He added, “We don’t believe in that theory. There’s a lot of cultivating relationships [and] having the right partners in those markets” (MEMPHIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/11).
