Photo courtesy of the UFL
On Thursday March 14, the recently revamped United Football League (UFL) announced that the host site of the 2024 UFL Championship Game will be the home of the St. Louis Battlehawks, The Dome at America’s Center. The game will take place on Sunday, June 16 with kickoff scheduled for 5pm ET on Fox.
“Selecting the championship game location is more than just the stadium, but the community and the fanbase that surrounds it,” said UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon. “This is why we are proud to bring our Championship to St. Louis – a city that has loved and embraced spring football from the start.”
The new spring football league emerged from a merger between the United States Football League (USFL) and the XFL. The current league is comprised of eight teams who will take part in a 10-game schedule this season, culminating in two conference playoff games before the championship. The league is comprised of teams from each former league: the Arlington Renegades, Birmingham Stallions, D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Michigan Panthers, Memphis Showboats, San Antonio Brahmas, and St. Louis Battlehawks.
“After setting league attendance records for all five St. Louis Battlehawks home games during the 2023 season, we’re thrilled to welcome the UFL Championship game to the Gateway City in 2024,” said Kitty Ratcliffe, President of Explore St. Louis. “St. Louis is the ideal home for this title game, and The Dome at America’s Center stands ready to welcome UFL fans from around the nation for what promises to be a signature event for the region.”
In 2023 the Arlington Renegades won the XFL Championship with a 35-26 victory over the D.C. Defenders, while the Birmingham Stallions won 28-12 over the Pittsburgh Maulers for their second consecutive USFL Championship.
“Both the XFL and USFL had incredible Championship games last year with some of the most exciting play of the season – and I expect it to be even better this year,” said UFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Daryl Johnston. “I'm so excited for our players and coaches that will have the opportunity to compete for a Championship in a setting like The Dome. It will be an experience like none other for the teams lucky enough to play in the UFL Championship game.”
The Battlehawks proved to be one of the more successful teams last season, leading both leagues in fan attendance with a total of 175,121 fans for their five home games in 2023; this included a record-setting 38,310 that turned out for their home opener.
“St. Louisans are excited to welcome the UFL championship game and tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans to our city,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “Soon, UFL fans from across the country will learn: Kaw is the law.”
The Renegades, led by College Football Hall of Famer Bob Stoops, and the Stallions, led by Skip Holtz, are again expected to be contenders for the championship in the new league. The inaugural league will kickoff on Saturday, March 30 with a clash between the two reigning championship teams.
“To have our fans see us in that game would be awesome,” said Anthony Becht, Head Coach of the Battlehawks. “There's no doubt the Dome will be rocking. This also puts a little more added pressure on us to do what we need to do to be in that game, but everybody's end goal is to get into the Championship, so our focus remains the same.”
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