Exceeding Expectations: The UFL Is A Success

The United Football League continues to exceed expectations in its debut season.

Midway through, the UFL is averaging 946,000 viewers on Fox. The league is up 30 percent vs. USFL games on Fox last season. Of course, the USFL merged with the XFL to form the UFL.

Here's how the UFL compares to other notable spring sporting events:

What's particularly impressive about the UFL is that, because of the timing of the merger, it could not debut in February following the Super Bowl, as most spring football leagues prefer.

Instead, the UFL spent its first five weeks competing head-to-head with tentpole events like March Madness, the Masters, WrestleMania, MLB opening weekend, and the NBA and NHL playoffs.

The UFL should show growth next season by better capitalizing on America's post-Super Bowl football withdrawal, while also facing lesser competition. 

WASHINGTON, DC - Members of the DC Defenders walk off the field at half against the Houston Roughnecks at Audi Field on April 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/UFL/Getty Images)

Spring football has long been better in theory than in reality. 

Three different interactions of the XFL failed. And there's a belief among the industry that if spring football could turn a profit, the NFL would have organized a minor league system long ago.

So, we don't fault anyone skeptical about the UFL's prospects. But, thus far, the league has found an audience. The product is watchable. ESPN and Fox treat the games like they matter. The ratings are solid.

At the midpoint of the season, the UFL is a success. 

Full disclosure: OutKick parent company Fox owns part of the UFL.