UFL PLANS OKLAHOMA CITY EXPANSION IN 2028
The United Football League has announced plans to expand to Oklahoma City for the 2028 spring season, marking the latest step in the league’s long-term growth strategy.
The as-yet unnamed franchise will become the UFL’s newest team and will play its home games at the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, currently under development in downtown Oklahoma City and scheduled to open in early 2028. With an initial capacity of just over 10,000 and scope for future expansion, the venue is set to become a central piece of the league’s plans in one of the country’s most football-rich states.
“Oklahoma lives and breathes football, so bringing the UFL to Oklahoma City was an easy decision,” UFL co-owner Mike Repole said, admitting that the decision had been a straightforward one. “This is a state that shows up, cares deeply and truly understands the game. From college powerhouses to Friday night lights, football runs deep here.”
That final point is hard to dispute. Few states carry a stronger football identity than Oklahoma, from the long-established college traditions of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to a high-school scene that remains one of the sport’s most deeply embedded in local culture. League president and chief executive Russ Brandon, meanwhile, described the city as one of the most obvious untapped markets in spring football.
“Oklahoma City has long been one of the most glaring vacancies on the professional football map,” Brandon noted. “The combination of a new stadium, deep-rooted football culture, and a city that has proven its ability to support major league sports makes this an easy decision.”
The move comes as the UFL continues its third season with eight teams, including the defending champion Birmingham Stallions, DC Defenders and St. Louis Battlehawks. After three teams and locations were replaced for the 2026 campaign, expansion is widely viewed as the next major step if the merged league can continue to build on early stability and fan engagement.
Oklahoma City’s new franchise will also arrive alongside a wider downtown redevelopment project. Designed by Populous, the stadium is expected to anchor a major mixed-use district linking the city centre with the Oklahoma River, and will also be capable of hosting professional soccer, concerts, rodeo and other large-scale events. That multi-use flexibility likely made the market even more attractive to the league.
“Oklahoma City welcomes the UFL to our championship city!” mayor David Holt said, referencing OKC’s recent NBA success. “We love sports and we love football, so we think this should be a great fit.”
Branding details, including the team name, colours and identity, will be revealed at a later date, with the UFL stating that the local community will be involved in the selection process.
For a league still focused on proving the long-term viability of spring football, meanwhile, Oklahoma City offers a compelling blend of culture, infrastructure and opportunity — and, in 2028, the UFL will look to turn that into its next success story.