While not reaching attendance levels of 2024, the St. Louis Battlehawks continue to be the shining star of the United Football League.
If you’ve attended a game at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, two things standout. Fans are having fun and there is a bevy of tailgaters and the merriment pregame.
The Battlehawks led the UFL with 29,867 fans per game, while the DC Defenders finished a distant second with just over 13,000 fans per game.
St. Louis and D.C. face off in the XFL Division championship game at 5 p.m. Sunday in St. Louis.
St. Louis enters the title game on a six-game winning streak and with a UFL-best 8-2 record. The streak includes a road win last week against the Defenders, in which both coaches rested several starters.
If the Battlehawks top the Defenders, who beat them in the Dome earlier this season, they won’t leave St. Louis for the title game.
The Michigan Panthers will play the host Birmingham Stallions at 2 p.m. Sunday in the USFL Division title game.
The division title winners will meet in the UFL Championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday June 14 in St. Louis.
It was announced at midseason that St. Louis would host the title game, in part because 27,000 people showed up for last year’s title game even though the Battlehawks lost the previous week.
Four respective teams from the XFL and USFL merged into the current UFL, which played its first season last year.
“We’re incredibly grateful to be in this position, and we’re excited for [the XFL title] game in St. Louis,” head coach Anthony Becht said.
Not only are coaches, players, and fans happy – so are area sports bars.
I was picking up a carry out order last week in west St. Louis County and overheard managers planning to add staff for the Sunday XFL title game.
I inquired and was told “we have to prepare for Battlehawks’ games. We get a crowd.”
I doubt those words are being shared in the seven other UFL home cities. While St. Louis has soared in popularity, Memphis drew just over 1,400 fans per game.
In addition, TV ratings have not blossomed during the UFL’s second season. The question of league sustainability is still in the air, and the Memphis franchise is rumored to be in search of a new location.
But that should not take away from the Battlehawks’ accomplishments and the fact that they have found a true home in St. Louis.
Heading into Sunday’s game, it should be noted that St Louis and DC tied for the most All-UFL selections this season with seven apiece.
Making the team from the Battlehawks are running back Jacob Saylors, UFL sacks leader Pita Taumoepenu, and kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who missed just one field goal in 2025.
Joining them are guard Steven Gonzalez, center Mike Panasiuk, linebacker Willie Harvey, and long snapper Alexander Matheson.
DC landed four defensive players on the team, tackle Joe Wallace, edge rusher Derick Roberson, linebacker Anthony Hines and cornerback Deandre Baker.
Joining them is wide receiver Chris Rowland, who is also the team’s return specialist, and offensive tackle Yasir Durant.
The Reid Roundup
I wondered last week if St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker could avoid demotion to Triple A Memphis. He responded with the best 10 games of the season. He hit .305 with 10 hits, a home run and nine RBIs…Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans is now embroiled in a lawsuit that alleges some sordid activity with a former girlfriend. He denies all charges and is countersuing. I’m still all in on bringing the Pelicans to St. Louis. Let the new owners decide what to do with him…Jason Kidd, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, and Houston head coach Ime Udoka are the favorites to land the New York Knicks job. The dysfunctional franchise fired Tom Thibodeau after he guided New York to four playoff appearances in five years and won four series…The Indiana Pacers are big-time underdogs against Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals. The Shaq and Kobe L.A. Lakers against Philadelphia in 2001 was the last time the odds were this long.