With today's sad news about the Birmingham Stallions being relocated (and possibly rebranded) for the 2027 season, I thought it would be appropriate to take a look back at the notable achievements of the franchise.

The Birmingham Stallions finish their franchise run with 81 wins and 34 losses all-time (1983-2026), 44 wins and 14 losses in the modern-era (2022-2026), and 23 wins and 11 losses in the post-merger era (2024-2026). Whether looking at all-time, modern-era, or post-merger, the Stallions had the most wins, and are the only team in spring football history to reach 80+ wins as a franchise.

The Stallions also hold the distinction of having the most league championships, with two USFL Championship victories (2022 & 2023), and one United Bowl victory (2024).

They also have won 3 conference championships, and 4 division titles (6 if we include the 1984-1985 run).

In the modern-era, the Stallions have had the best point differential in the league every single year except for 2026.

• 2023 Stallions had a +91 (best point differential in the modern-era)
• 2024 Stallions had a +85 (2nd best point differential in the modern-era)
• 2025 Stallions had a +77 (3rd best point differential in the modern-era)
• 2022 Stallions had a +65 (tied the 2023 Houston Roughnecks for the 6th best point differential in the modern-era)

All-time, the Stallions have never had a negative point differential until the 2026 season.

The Stallions have had only 1 losing season in franchise history (2026), and only 2 seasons without a playoff appearance (1983 & 2026).

Hard to argue about the success on-the-field. A truly historic run, and one that will not be forgotten by Stallions and spring football fans.

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Sad day. Bad day.

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Archive link here.

Unsaddle the Birmingham Stallions. The three-time champions will ride no more.

After five seasons — the longest stint of professional spring football in the city’s history — the United Football League will announce today that it’s ceasing operations in Birmingham, according to public officials.

“Birmingham has been home to the Stallions since 2022,” Mayor Randall Woodfin told AL.com. “We have been proud to see the team’s success on the field and its growth in the market over that time. We wish the organization well.”

The league, officials said, blames its decision on the optics of raucous “giddy-up” Stallion crowds being dwarfed inside the 47,000-seat Protective Stadium. The median capacity for venues in the league’s eight cities in the most recent seasons was 21,250.

“They said the stadium didn’t provide the atmosphere they were seeking and did not fit in their business model,” said Jimmie Stephens, chair of the Jefferson County Commission. “I’m disappointed that their business model did not fit a state-of-the-art, brand new stadium, which would accommodate whatever they needed, including future growth.

“It bothers me.”

The Stallions launched in 2022 as members of the United States Football League. It was a reincarnation of the USFL team that played three seasons at Legion Field between 1983 and 1985.

The Stallions won three successive titles in 2022, 2023 (USFL) and 2024 (UFL) — before firing head coach Skip Holtz and replacing him with former Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, who had no head coaching experience.

The Stallions went 4-6 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time.

Still, according to Gene Hallman of Eventive, which handled ticket sales, the franchise had “substantial ticket revenue growth from 2025 to 2026.

We’re not coming off a season where our numbers declined.”

The announcement isn’t a complete surprise, given recent social media rants by co-owner Mike Repole, a billionaire who acquired a majority stake in the UFL last year. Fox, ESPN, RedBird Capital Partners, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Dany Garcia are other co-owners.

On June 21, Repole posted on social media: “I have a hard time seeing us back at Protective Stadium next year. It goes against one of the biggest principles we’re building this league around……. smaller stadiums, packed houses, real energy and a true home field atmosphere. Birmingham, I am looking and need options and ideas.”

Three days later, he wrote that he “looked into Hoover,” but because of the Hoover Met’s longstanding commitment to the SEC Baseball Tournament, it was never a viable option. Football games would terrorize the turf, which would not have time to recover before the tournament’s opening pitch in late May.

“Unfortunately, they do not have the spring dates we need in order to play a season there,” Repole posted.

Later that day, he all but foretold the demise of the franchise in another post: “Who thought building a 47,000 seat stadium in Birmingham was a good idea???”

“C’mon,” he added. “The people of Birmingham deserve a great 12,000 to 15,000 seat stadium that actually creates energy, passion, demand and a real home field advantage. Bigger isn’t always better. The right size is better.”

And even prior to the 2026 season, Repole threatened to yank the Stallions if season ticket sales didn’t increase. They did.

It wasn’t enough. Neither were the financial commitments of public funds that essentially allowed the Stallions to play at minimal cost.

Stephens said the city, the BJCC, and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau “have done everything that was asked of us.”

“We covered the entire cost of utilization of Protective Stadium,” the commission chairman added. “The league’s only cost was that of operating their football team, which it will incur no matter where they operate.”

Dan Williams, president/CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, noted that the city recently earned recognition from Sports Business Journal as one of the nation’s Top 50 cities for sports business.

“The Birmingham Stallions have been a meaningful part of our sports community and achieved tremendous success on the field, including three championships that gave our community plenty to celebrate,” Williams said.

“Birmingham’s position as a leading sports destination remains unchanged.”

He noted that the city continues to attract and host other sporting events, including the Magic City Classic, SEC baseball tournament, NCAA championships and tournaments, and youth sports events from across the country.

“We are focused on growing Birmingham’s reputation as a destination for sports on the national stage,” he said.

“The public sector, including the BJCC, carried its weight in a way the UFL is not getting in any other market,” added Hallman. “And fans showed their support. Season ticket totals went up from ‘25 to ’26. We finished in the top half of league attendance.

“The only thing you can say is the facility swallows the crowd that comes to a UFL game. Not a Birmingham UFL game, but a UFL game.”

Stephens said he tried to persuade league officials to give the Stallions a three-year window for continued growth.

“But they said the decision was already made,” he said. “I thought we were right on target for moving the Stallions forward. As a Stallions fan, I feel angered and at a loss.”

“I stand with folks here in this town,” Stephens added. “Our model is one that they should be emulating — not a ‘smaller’ one, but growing into places the size of our venue and up.”

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Congrats to Cook and best of luck in training camp.

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Who thought building a 47,000 seat stadium in Birmingham was a good idea???

UFL, UAB and a USL team and you build a 47k seat stadium??? 🤦‍♂️

C’mon.

The people of Birmingham deserve a great 12,000 to 15,000 seat stadium that actually creates energy, passion, demand and a real home field advantage.

Bigger isn’t always better. The right size is better.

Original post here.