PAWTUCKET, RI (September 23, 2026) – The United Football League today announced that Rhode Island will join the UFL for the 2027 season, bringing professional spring football to Pawtucket as part of the league’s addition of four new markets over the next two seasons. The Rhode Island team will play its home games at Centreville Bank Stadium, with its inaugural home game set for Friday, April 2, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX UFL Friday. The team name, colors, logos, and brand identity for Rhode Island will be unveiled at a public event taking place at Centreville Bank Stadium on October 18.
“We are incredibly excited to bring professional football to Centreville Bank Stadium and to Rhode Island in 2027,” said Paul Byrne, General Manager of Centreville Bank Stadium. “There is tremendous energy around sports in the Ocean State, and we’re proud to continue establishing Centreville Bank Stadium as a premier destination for major sporting and entertainment events. Bringing professional football to Pawtucket is another exciting milestone for our venue and for Rhode Island, and our team can’t wait to welcome fans from across the state and deliver an unforgettable game-day experience.”
Rhode Island is one of two new markets joining the UFL for the 2027 season, alongside Colorado, while Utah and Oklahoma will join the league in 2028 as the UFL expands to 10 teams. Colorado will play at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Utah at America First Field in Sandy, and Oklahoma at the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Under the leadership and vision of new co-owner Mike Repole, the UFL marked a significant step forward in 2026 after an ambitious plan to reimagine spring football. The result was a season defined by momentum, building on the league’s foundation with new markets, venues, fan experiences and innovations on the field. The league introduced the 4-point 60-plus-yard field goal and placed a further emphasis on transparent officiating, while delivering exciting football with the most plays, points & touchdowns per game, along with the lowest margin of victory and lowest number of punts in league history.
That momentum extended beyond the field with increased viewership, including numerous games eclipsing one million viewers, and increases in overall ticket sales, culminating with a sold-out United Bowl as the Louisville Kings captured the championship in their inaugural season. The season also reinforced the UFL’s value in the football ecosystem to develop top talent and provide a pathway to the NFL, with 118 former UFL players in NFL Training Camps, ultimately leading to 46 UFL players on current NFL active rosters or practice squads. In all, it was a springboard season that set the stage for the UFL to bring professional spring football to four new markets and expand to a 10-team league for 2028.
“2026 was an incredible year for the UFL, and seeing the response from our fans, players, and partners has made what comes next even more exciting,” said UFL Co-Owner Mike Repole. “There is a real energy around this league right now, and we’re thrilled to bring that energy to four new markets. We said in July that our next step was finding the right markets, venues, and fan bases where we can work with local leaders to build the strongest franchises for today and for the future, and we believe Colorado, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and Utah represent those qualities. We’re thankful to the local leaders and partners who believed in this vision and have helped us get here. We can’t wait to see these markets come to life and the best part is that this is just the beginning.”
The UFL is grateful for the close collaboration with local civic leaders, Rhode Island FC, and Centreville Bank Stadium that has helped make this opportunity possible. The public-private investment behind Centreville Bank Stadium has created a world-class sports facility capable of attracting major professional sporting events, including the UFL. The UFL looks forward to continuing these partnerships as professional spring football takes root in Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island team will play at Centreville Bank Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Pawtucket on the banks of the Seekonk River. Opened in 2025, the stadium quickly established itself as a destination for major sporting, entertainment and community events and was named the Best New or Renovated Venue of 2025 by SportsTravel Magazine.
The venue is the home of Rhode Island FC and has become an increasingly important home for college football, hosting the University of Rhode Island’s 2026 home schedule and the upcoming Brown-Harvard matchup on September 25. The stadium has also hosted rugby and lacrosse, demonstrating its flexibility to accommodate a wide range of major events.
Rhode Island provides the UFL with an opportunity to build a franchise in a tight-knit sports market with a deep history of sport. Pawtucket was home to the Pawtucket Red Sox for 50 years, while Rhode Island FC has further demonstrated the state’s appetite for professional sports and a strong connection between teams and their communities. The location also provides the UFL an opportunity to connect with fans throughout Rhode Island and across the broader New England region.
The Rhode Island team name, colors, logo and brand identity will be unveiled during a public event at Centreville Bank Stadium on October 18 with season ticket deposits available for fans at the event.