The much-anticipated return of the beloved Battlehawks to St. Louis has been confirmed. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced on ESPN that the XFL and the USFL have merged to form the UFL – the United Football League, featuring eight teams and set to kick off this spring on March 30. Anthony Becht will resume his role as coach for the Battlehawks, who previously played at The Dome at America’s Center as part of the XFL.
In a recent announcement on “College GameDay” on ESPN, Johnson, the actor, and former wrestler, and co-commissioner of the XFL alongside businesswoman and ex-wife Dany Garcia, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We were averaging 30,000 to 35,000 fans there every week — it was really cool.”
The Battlehawks will compete in the XFL Conference, alongside the Arlington Renegades, D.C. Defenders, and San Antonio Brahmas. The USFL Conference will include the Houston Roughnecks, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, and Michigan Panthers.
The UFL season is slated to comprise 10 games. The league’s inaugural match on March 30 will feature the reigning XFL champion Arlington Renegades against the previous year’s USFL champs, the Birmingham Stallions.
Dany Garcia praised St. Louis as one of the most successful markets for spring football, highlighting the passionate fan base and the dedicated Anthony Becht as contributing factors to its success.
The UFL training camp, practices, and team headquarters will be located in Arlington, Texas, similar to the previous XFL season. Players are expected to report on February 24.
The UFL will boast a lineup of notable coaches on its sidelines, including former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops for the Renegades, former 49ers coach Mike Nolan for the Panthers, and veteran NFL coach and coordinator Wade Phillips for the Brahmas.
Television coverage for UFL games will be provided by ESPN, ABC, Fox, and FS1.