loading . . . UFL Week 8 Attendance: St. Louis Rebounds to 21,609 as Fort Hood Makes UFL History Week 8 of the 2026 UFL season produced the first professional football game ever played on an active U.S. military base. It also delivered a four-game total of 40,459 fans β an average of 10,115 per game. That is the first time the weekly average has exceeded 10,000 since Week 4.
St. Louis drew 21,609 at home, reversing a three-week decline at The Dome. Louisville held steady above 10,000 for a fourth straight home game. Birmingham and the Fort Hood game in Dallas rounded out the bottom of the week.
The season average ticked down slightly to 10,369 per game through 32 games.
Fort Hood Hosts Historic UFL Game β Attendance: 4,001
The Orlando Storm visited the Dallas Renegades on Friday night at Phantom Warrior Stadium on Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas. Orlando won 31-24 for their sixth straight victory, clinching a playoff spot.
The announced attendance was 4,001. Phantom Warrior Stadium has a capacity of about 5,000 to 5,500. Over 4,000 tickets were distributed before game day. Admission was free and limited to service members, veterans, and their families with base access.
This was the first professional football game ever played on an active military installation. The UFL and the Dallas Renegades organized the event as part of the league's "Hats Off to Heroes" initiative. Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said before the game that the UFL and Fort Hood "share lots in common, especially a passion for sports and competition."
On the field, Storm quarterback Jack Plummer completed 24 of 36 passes for 238 yards and rushed for two touchdowns. Running back Jashaun Corbin added a rushing touchdown as Orlando built a 24-17 fourth-quarter lead. Dallas quarterback Austin Reed went 12 of 23 for 134 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. A Dallas interception on fourth down in the final minutes sealed the loss. The Renegades dropped to 3-5 and were eliminated from playoff contention.
This was Dallas's fifth and final home game of the 2026 season. Their five home dates drew 8,870, 5,799, 5,133, 7,123, and 4,001 for a total of 30,926 and an average of 6,185.
Note: The Fort Hood game is included in the season attendance totals but was not a traditional ticketed event. Admission was free and restricted to military personnel and their families.
St. Louis Draws 21,609 β First Home Uptick of the Season
The Houston Gamblers visited the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday afternoon at The Dome at America's Center. Houston won 23-16 in one of the bigger upsets of the season.
The announced attendance was 21,609. That breaks a three-game home decline for St. Louis: 31,191 (Week 1), 20,209 (Week 3), 18,563 (Week 7), and now 21,609 (Week 8). It is the first time this season the Battlehawks' home attendance has increased from one game to the next.
The game aired on ABC at 3 p.m. ET, giving it one of the best broadcast windows of the week. The Battlehawks entered with a 5-2 record and were tied for first in the league.
Houston jumped ahead early. Quarterback Hunter Dekkers found receiver Jontre Kirklin for a first-quarter touchdown, and cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. returned an interception for a score. Battlehawks quarterback Luis Perez completed 26 of 47 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions. Running back Steven McBride had eight carries for 116 yards. St. Louis could not overcome the early deficit. The Battlehawks dropped to 5-3. Houston improved to 3-5.
Through four home games, St. Louis is averaging 22,893 per game β still the highest in the league by a wide margin.
Louisville Draws 10,025 for Fourth Home Game
The D.C. Defenders visited the Louisville Kings on Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium. Louisville won 33-30, beating D.C. for the second straight week.
The announced attendance was 10,025. Louisville's four home games have drawn 14,034, 11,082, 10,456, and 10,025. Lynn Family Stadium has a seated capacity of about 11,700 for UFL games.
The decline from the debut has been steady but the floor appears to be holding near 10,000. Louisville's four-game home average is 11,399 β fourth in the league.
On the field, the game went back and forth from the start. D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta'amu connected with receiver Ty Scott for a 41-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Louisville's Tyler Hudson ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. The two teams played to a 17-17 tie at halftime. Louisville pulled ahead in the second half on a goal-line rushing score from James Robinson and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Rogers to Isaiah Winstead. D.C. scored a touchdown in the closing seconds but failed a three-point conversion attempt and could not recover the alternative kickoff. Louisville took a knee to end the game.
Louisville improved to 4-4 and kept its playoff hopes alive. D.C. dropped to 5-3 β losing consecutive games to the Kings.
Birmingham Draws 4,824 in Fourth Home Game
The Columbus Aviators visited the Birmingham Stallions on Sunday at Protective Stadium. Birmingham won 14-3 in a game controlled by both defenses.
The announced attendance was 4,824. That is nearly identical to Birmingham's 4,705 in Week 7. The Stallions' four home games have drawn 18,340, 8,120, 4,705, and 4,824 for an average of 8,997.
The home opener is doing all the work in that number. Strip out Week 4's 18,340 and Birmingham's last three home games average 5,883. That puts the Stallions in the same range as Dallas and Houston at the bottom of the league.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 12 of 20 passes for 126 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Receiver Jordan Thomas caught three passes for 28 yards and the lone offensive touchdown. Linebacker Tae Crowder led the defense with 11 tackles and an interception. Columbus quarterback Jalan McClendon went 20 of 31 for 150 yards with two interceptions. The Aviators managed just a field goal. Columbus dropped to 2-6 and is on the verge of elimination. Birmingham improved to 4-4.
Week 8 Attendance at a Glance
Orlando Storm at Dallas Renegades
Friday
Phantom Warrior Stadium (Fort Hood)
4,001*
ORL 31, DAL 24
D.C. Defenders at Louisville Kings
Saturday
Lynn Family Stadium
10,025
LOU 33, DC 30
Houston Gamblers at St. Louis Battlehawks
Saturday
The Dome at America's Center
21,609
HOU 23, STL 16
Columbus Aviators at Birmingham Stallions
Sunday
Protective Stadium
4,824
BIR 14, CLB 3
Total / Average
40,459 / 10,115
*Fort Hood game was free admission for military personnel and families only.
Eight-Week Attendance Trend
Week 1
65,222
16,305
St. Louis (31,191)
Dallas (8,870)
Week 2
36,938
9,235
Columbus (14,810)
Dallas (5,799)
Week 3
48,591
12,148
St. Louis (20,209)
Dallas (5,133)
Week 4
39,889
9,972
Birmingham (18,340)
Houston (4,880)
Week 5
30,144
7,536
Orlando (9,735)
Houston (5,166)
Week 6
34,929
8,732
Louisville (10,456)
D.C. (7,019)
Week 7
35,627
8,907
St. Louis (18,563)
Houston (4,409)
Week 8
40,459
10,115
St. Louis (21,609)
Dallas (4,001*)
Season
331,799
10,369
*Free admission military event at Fort Hood.
Home Averages Through Eight Weeks
St. Louis
4
91,572
22,893
Louisville
4
45,597
11,399
Columbus
3
31,886
10,629
Orlando
4
38,554
9,639
Birmingham
4
35,989
8,997
D.C.
4
35,076
8,769
Dallas
5
30,926
6,185*
Houston
4
22,199
5,550
*Includes Fort Hood free admission game (4,001).
What the Numbers Show Through Eight Weeks
The season average sits at 10,369 through 32 games. That is inside Mike Repole's target of 10,000 to 15,000, but just barely. The UFL has two weeks remaining in the regular season. It will take strong home numbers from St. Louis and Louisville β the two markets that consistently draw above 10,000 β to keep the average above the floor.
St. Louis drew 21,609 β their best home figure since Week 3's 20,209. The uptick is worth noting after three straight home declines. The loss to Houston did not deter the crowd. The Battlehawks' four home games account for 91,572 fans β 28 percent of the league's total attendance this season.
Louisville has settled into a floor near 10,000. Their four home games have drawn 14,034, 11,082, 10,456, and 10,025. The decline from the debut has leveled off. At 11,399 per game, Louisville ranks second in the league in home attendance and has been the most consistent non-St. Louis market.
Birmingham's attendance has collapsed after the home opener. The last three home games average 5,883. The Stallions are winning β 4-4 and in the playoff race β but the stands are not reflecting it. Birmingham faces the same disconnect that Dallas showed earlier in the season: on-field performance has no correlation with ticket sales in certain markets.
Dallas has completed its home schedule. Five home dates averaged 6,185, including the Fort Hood game. At Toyota Stadium, the four traditional home games averaged 6,731. Either way, the Renegades finished with the second-lowest home average in the league.
Houston remains at the bottom with a 5,550 home average over four games. The Gamblers have one home game remaining.
Week 9 begins Friday, May 22, with D.C. at Orlando on FOX. https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-week-8-attendance-st-louis-rebounds-21609-fort-hood-makes-ufl-history?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=dlvrit
