The United Football League is continuing its expansion, announcing four new markets that will grow the spring football league to 10 teams by the 2028 season.
Rhode Island and Colorado will join the UFL beginning in 2027, while Utah and Oklahoma will begin play in 2028.
The expansion will bring professional spring football to Colorado Springs, Pawtucket, Sandy, Utah, and Oklahoma City as the UFL continues to broaden its national footprint.
Rhode Island and Colorado Join UFL in 2027
Colorado Springs will welcome UFL football in 2027, with the new franchise playing its home games at Weidner Field.
The Colorado team’s inaugural home game is scheduled for Sunday, April 11 at 3 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on ABC. At 6,035 feet above sea level, Weidner Field will become the highest-elevation home venue for a professional football team when the UFL begins play there.
Rhode Island will also debut during the 2027 UFL season, playing at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket.
Rhode Island’s first home game is scheduled for Friday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET and will air nationally on FOX as part of FOX UFL Friday.
Team names, colors, logos and brand identities for the two franchises are scheduled to be revealed during public events in October. Rhode Island’s unveiling will take place October 18 at Centreville Bank Stadium, followed by Colorado’s unveiling October 25 at Weidner Field.
Utah and Oklahoma Arrive in 2028
The UFL’s next expansion phase will take place in 2028, when Utah and Oklahoma join the league and increase its membership to 10 teams.
Utah will play at America First Field in Sandy, the home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and the NWSL’s Utah Royals FC.
The Utah franchise gives the UFL another presence in the western United States and a market with an established football and professional sports following.
Oklahoma will begin play in Oklahoma City at the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, which is under construction in downtown Oklahoma City and scheduled to open in early 2028.
The new venue is expected to serve as the centerpiece of a growing sports and entertainment district while hosting professional football, soccer, concerts, rodeo and other events.
Names, logos and branding for the Utah and Oklahoma franchises will be announced at a later date.
UFL Builds on 2026 Momentum
The expansion follows a 2026 season in which the UFL introduced new markets, venues and on-field innovations.
The league reported increased viewership and ticket sales during the season, with numerous games surpassing one million viewers. The season concluded with a sold-out United Bowl, where the first-year Louisville Kings defeated the DC Defenders to capture the championship.
The UFL also continued to serve as a pathway to the NFL. According to the league, 118 former UFL players participated in NFL training camps following the 2026 season, with 46 eventually landing on NFL active rosters or practice squads.
The league will feature eight teams in 2027 — the Columbus Aviators, Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Louisville Kings, Orlando Storm, St. Louis Battlehawks and the new Colorado and Rhode Island franchises.
With Oklahoma and Utah arriving the following year, the UFL will expand to 10 teams for the 2028 season.
Source: UFL
