SALT LAKE CITY, UT (September 23, 2026) – The United Football League today announced that Utah will join the UFL in 2028 when the league expands to 10 teams, bringing professional spring football to Salt Lake City as part of the league’s addition of four new markets over the next two seasons. Utah will join Oklahoma for 2028 while Rhode Island and Colorado will join the UFL for the 2027 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome the UFL to Utah and partner with the league as it brings its games to America First Field,” said Michelle Smith, president of Miller Sports + Entertainment. “We believe deeply in the power of sport to unite communities, create lasting memories and bring people together around a shared sense of pride. Together, we look forward to creating an incredible experience for fans throughout Utah.”
The Utah team will play its home games at America First Field in Sandy, home to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Set against the stunning Wasatch Mountains, the venue offers an unforgettable backdrop for fans and athletes alike. Oklahoma will play at the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium in Oklahoma City, Rhode Island will play at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, and Colorado will play at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
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, Miller Sports + Entertainment, Real Salt Lake, the Utah Royals and America First Field that has helped make this opportunity possible and looks forward to continuing those partnerships as UFL football takes root in Salt Lake City.
The addition of Utah gives the UFL an opportunity to build on an established sports and football tradition within a market that has demonstrated its ability to support professional teams and major sporting events. Utah’s football culture is reflected across the state, with the University of Utah and BYU competing in the Big 12 and Utah State competing in the Pac-12, while a 2026 statewide poll found that 56 percent of Utah voters identify as avid or casual college football fans. The state’s professional sports landscape has also continued to grow, with the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth joining Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals to create a diverse professional sports ecosystem across the Salt Lake region.
Salt Lake’s growing sports profile, combined with its Olympic legacy and upcoming role as host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, provides the UFL with an opportunity to establish a franchise in a market where sports and football are deeply embedded in the state’s identity.
The Utah team name, branding and launch plans will be announced at a later date.