To date, 2024 has made one thing perfectly clear: where America’s most passionate spring football fans call home. And judging by this season’s attendance numbers, two markets have emerged as strong points of fan support: St. Louis and Washington D.C.

The Gateway to Football Heaven

If St. Louis had anything to prove, it has been that the NFL lost more in losing the Rams than the city of St. Louis lost not having them. The Dome at America’s Center consistently leads the UFL in attendance with numbers the NFL should take a hard look at:

Week 2: 40,317 fans vs Arlington
Week 4: 31,757 fans vs Memphis
Week 6: 32,969 fans vs Houston
Week 8: 32,403 fans vs D.C.

• Week 10: 34,379 fans (vs San Antonio)
• Conference Finals: 30,237 fans (vs San Antonio)

Sitting with an average home attendance of 33,677, St. Louis cemented its status as the league’s marquee market. A zealous fanbase never once dipped below 30,000 fans for any home match.

The Capital’s Solid Performance

The capacity in Washington D.C.’s Audi Field may be lower, but the market has shown great vigor, as it appears to continually draw between 12,000 to 16,000 fans:

Week 2: 15,052 fans – vs Houston
Week 5: 16,058 fans – vs St. Louis
Week 10: 13,080 fans – vs Arlington

Markets Still Finding Their Footing

Conversely, some markets are still trying to find their footing in terms of building an audience for their team:

• Memphis struggled to find its footing with a best of 8,791 and a worst of 5,609 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
• Fans for Michigan in Ford Field usually range from 7,000-9,000
• Houston’s Rice Stadium attendance has fluctuated between 6,000-9,000 fans

What Makes the Difference?

The success of St. Louis and Washington D.C. can be found upon the following factors:

1. Football History: St. Louis’s passionate response likely reflects both their NFL history and success with the XFL’s BattleHawks
2. Facility Fit: Both cities play in excellent-venue-atmosphere venues – St. Louis in an indoor NFL-caliber facility, D.C. in a modern soccer-specific stadium
3. Market Size: Both are major metropolitan areas with strong sports cultures
4. Community Engagement: Both teams have made significant efforts in reaching out to their communities.

Looking Ahead

The future of the UFL will only be boosted by its success in both St. Louis and Washington D.C., which will serve as an example for other markets. The ardent support from both these cities demonstrates that spring football can be a success-the right combination of market selection, facility choice, and community engagement all coming together in concert.

The St. Louis crowd of 27,396 for the championship game caps a season that proved there’s a viable market for spring football – particularly in the right combination of passionate fans and appropriate facilities.