LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The United Football League is bringing professional football to Lynn Family Stadium in 2026, with the launch of the Louisville Kings. The league aims to serve as a developmental bridge to the NFL while creating an affordable, fan-friendly game-day experience in markets that don’t have an NFL franchise.
It’s not something Louisville sports fans have seen in a while — or quite like this. Here’s what you need to know about the team, the league, and how it all works.
What is the UFL?
The United Football League is a professional spring football league made up of eight teams, designed as a developmental platform for players aiming to reach — or return to — the NFL. The league plays a 10-game regular season followed by a two-week postseason, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.
Backed by major partners including FOX Sports, ESPN, RedBird Capital, and co-owners Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, the UFL recently added entrepreneur and sports owner Mike Repole as its new business and branding lead. Repole joined the ownership group in 2025 and now oversees much of the league’s long-term growth strategy and market expansion.
Who are the Louisville Kings?
The Louisville Kings are one of three new franchises introduced for the 2026 UFL season, alongside the Columbus Aviators and Orlando Storm. The Kings will play their home games at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville and become the city’s first professional football team in decades.
Louisville was selected from a pool of more than 30 interested cities thanks to its passionate fan base, proven success with sporting events, and the presence of a modern, mid-sized stadium built for high-energy crowds. “You’ve got King Louis, the sport of kings, and now the Louisville Kings,” Repole said. “That’s not a coincidence — that’s fate.”
When does the season start?
The UFL’s 2026 season kicks off on Friday, March 27. Each team will play five home games and five road games over a 10-week regular season. There are no conferences — all eight teams compete in a single league table, and the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs in late May. The full schedule is expected to be announced later this year.
Where will the Kings play?
Home games will be held at Lynn Family Stadium, the soccer-specific venue in Butchertown that’s home to Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville. With over 15,000 seats and a close-up viewing experience, the stadium offers the kind of atmosphere the UFL is aiming for across the league. “There isn’t a bad seat here,” Repole said at the team’s introductory press conference. “The worst seat in this stadium is better than anything I had 10 years ago.”
Why is the team playing in a soccer stadium?
The UFL is intentionally placing teams in mid-sized, soccer-specific venues like Lynn Family Stadium to create a more intimate, high-energy fan experience. Rather than aiming for cavernous 70,000-seat NFL arenas, the league wants spring football to feel personal and packed — with better sightlines, easier access, and more community-driven energy. Louisville’s stadium, which seats just over 15,000, fits that model perfectly. The compact scale also allows the league to control costs, improve gameday presentation, and replicate the close-up energy that works so well in European football and minor-league baseball.
Where will the team train and practice?
Although the Kings will play in Louisville, the team will train and operate out of the league’s new central headquarters in Arlington, Texas. This is part of the UFL’s “hub model,” which allows all eight teams to share year-round training, rehab, and performance facilities in one location. The UFL’s headquarters — located at Ballpark Circle in Arlington — includes offices, weight rooms, medical and sports science centers, practice fields, and a full production studio for league content.
Players, coaches, and staff will live and work in Arlington throughout the season and fly to their home cities for games, often arriving early to participate in local events and media opportunities.
Why Arlington?
By centralizing team operations in Arlington, the UFL can streamline costs, improve access to shared training resources, and elevate the professional environment for its players. The league's headquarters also houses an innovation program called FAST — Football Advancement through Sports Technology — designed to test and launch new tools for player development, injury prevention, and fan engagement. In total, more than 600 players, coaches, and staff will train and prepare in Arlington each season. The league believes this model will help build long-term sustainability while maintaining strong community ties in each team’s home market.
Will players have ties to Louisville?
Yes. The UFL has introduced a territorial rights system that allows each team to prioritize players from within roughly 100 miles of its home city.
That means the Kings will have first opportunity to sign eligible players who played college football at Louisville, Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Indiana University Southeast, and other regional programs. The goal is to create more recognizable rosters for fans and provide a second chance for local players to chase pro football dreams.
“If there’s a kid from Louisville or Lexington who can play, he’s playing here,” Repole said. “That’s how you build real fan connection.”
Who will coach the Kings?
Head coaches for Louisville and the other new expansion teams have not yet been announced, but hires are expected soon. The league is targeting experienced coaches with backgrounds in player development, including former NFL assistants, college coordinators, and high-level football minds with leadership ability.
Eric Wood, the former U of L and Buffalo Bills center, will serve as the Kings’ team ambassador and mentor, helping bridge the football culture of Louisville with the goals of the UFL.
Will the Kings be involved in the local community?
Yes. While the players won’t live in Louisville full-time, they’ll spend several days in the city during game weeks, often arriving early for media appearances, youth outreach, and charity events. UFL officials emphasized that players and coaches will engage with local causes, attend community events, and help connect the team to its new fan base.
Wood said he expects the Kings to be a visible and meaningful part of the city. “This team will be successful on and off the field,” Wood said. “We’re going to make this something the community can rally around.”
Is this a minor league?
Not quite. The UFL is considered a developmental league, but it operates independently of the NFL. Still, it has quickly become a viable talent pipeline. In 2024, nearly 70 UFL players signed NFL practice squad or 53-man roster contracts. Some were undrafted rookies. Others were veterans returning from injury or looking to restart stalled careers. The UFL’s goal is to give those players meaningful snaps, live reps, and film — and then help them move on. “If you’re back here next year, we did something wrong,” Repole said. “We want this to be a launch pad.”
Will games be on TV?
Yes. The UFL has existing broadcast deals with FOX, ESPN, and ABC. Most games will be carried nationally or streamed digitally, with additional local TV and radio partnerships expected in each market. Game times and broadcast schedules will be released along with the 2026 schedule later this year.
What other teams are in the league?
The UFL will have eight teams for the 2026 season. In addition to the Louisville Kings, the league includes the Columbus Aviators, Orlando Storm, Houston Gamblers, Dallas Renegades, Birmingham Stallions, DC Defenders, and St. Louis Battlehawks. The league no longer uses two conferences — all teams compete in one table, with the top four advancing to the playoffs.
How can fans get tickets?
Ticket information for the Louisville Kings will be released later this fall. Fans can expect season ticket packages, single-game options, group experiences, and family-friendly pricing. Those interested in early access or priority information can visit the UFL website by clicking here or follow the Louisville Kings on social media to register for updates.
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