What is the United Football League? Everything to know about new team coming to Louisville
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The United Football League announced Oct. 7 that Louisville will be home to a new team starting in Spring 2026.
The Louisville Kings will play at Lynn Family Stadium and a head coach will be announced "in the near future," league officials said. The team joins two other new markets for the UFL in Columbus, Ohio, and Orlando, Florida.
The three teams are replacing the Memphis Showboats, the Michigan Panthers and the San Antonio Brahmas in the eight-team league. Here's what we know about the UFL and the Louisville Kings.
What is the United Football League?
The UFL is a spring football league that was created in 2024. The league formed after the United States Football League and XFL merged from two, separate eight-team leagues into one eight-team league.
The UFL serves several purposes, including providing opportunities for players on the fringes of NFL rosters a chance to prove themselves on the field, according to USA TODAY. It works to develop those players and coaches and prepare them for potential NFL opportunities, which many have received in recent seasons.
The UFL also provides a reprieve for football fans by providing them with competitive games in the midst of the NFL's lengthy offseason.
Like its predecessors, the UFL operates with a 10-week regular season and a two-week postseason.
What year did the UFL start?
The United Football League was created in 2024 when the United States Football League and XFL merged from two separate leagues to one.
Is the UFL owned by the NFL?
No. The UFL is a joint venture between Fox Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, USA TODAY reports.
Fox Sports, which originally invested in the USFL, owns 50% of the league; the other 50% is shared by the other three partners, according to Fox Sports' website.
How many teams are in the UFL?
There are eight teams in the United Football League. See the full list below.
What teams play in the United Football League?
- Birmingham Stallions (Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama)
- Columbus Aviators (Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio)
- Dallas Renegades (Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas)
- DC Defenders (Audi Field in Washington, D.C.)
- Houston Gamblers (Shell Energy Stadium in Houston)
- Louisville Kings (Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville)
- Orlando Storm (Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida)
- St. Louis Battlehawks (The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis)
What UFL teams are being replaced?
The Memphis Showboats, the Michigan Panthers and the San Antonio Brahmas are being replaced in the United Football League.
How does the UFL differ from the NFL?
Here's a look at some of the differences between the UFL and NFL:
- The play clock is 35 seconds — not 40 seconds.
- Until the final two minutes of each half, the game clock doesn't stop for incomplete passes or ball carriers running out of bounds.
- Kicking extra points is a no-go. Instead, teams can elect to go for one, two or three points after a touchdown. To do so, they must reach the end zone again from the 2-yard line, the 5-yard line or the 10-yard line, respectively.
- Teams are permitted to throw two forward passes on one play, but the first pass must be completed behind the line of scrimmage.
- There are no onside kicks. To maintain possession after a touchdown, teams must convert a fourth-and-12 from their own 28-yard line.
- Overtime is a best-of-three series of alternating attempts to score from the 5-yard line — no field goals allowed.
Who is the head coach for the Louisville Kings?
A head coach for the Louisville Kings will be announced "in the near future," UFL officials said.
Where will the Louisville Kings play in 2026?
The Louisville Kings will play at Lynn Family Stadium in Butchertown. The stadium is home to Louisville's professional men's and women's soccer teams, Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.
Contributing: Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY. Reach Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: United Football League announces new KY team. More on league, Louisville Kings
