Is Pro Spring Football Coming to Utah? Yes, in 2028

Pro spring football is coming to Utah. On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the United Football League (UFL) announced that a Utah franchise will join the league and begin play in the 2028 spring season, expanding the league to 10 teams. Home games will be played at America First Field in Sandy, the stadium that already hosts Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC. The team's name has not yet been announced.

What Was Announced on September 23

The UFL's announcement on Wednesday confirmed the league's next phase of growth. Utah and Oklahoma City are set to begin play in 2028, while Rhode Island and Colorado Springs join in 2027, with the league relocating its Houston and Birmingham franchises to those markets. The additions bring the UFL to 10 teams, matching a goal league co-owner Mike Repole had set for the league by 2028.

For Utah fans, the biggest detail is where the team will play. The league said home games will be held at America First Field in Sandy, a venue local readers already know well as the home of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and Utah Royals FC of the National Women's Soccer League.

What Is the UFL, and When Does It Play?

The United Football League formed from the merger of the XFL and the USFL and began play in March 2024. As a spring league, its season runs roughly from March through June, placing it opposite the NFL calendar rather than competing with it. That timing is exactly what makes the UFL appealing to markets like Utah: it gives football fans a live game-day option in months when the Wasatch Front sports calendar traditionally quiets down.

How Utah Fits Into the League's Expansion

The 2028 arrivals continue a deliberate growth plan. Rhode Island and Colorado Springs begin play first, in 2027, through the relocation of the Houston and Birmingham franchises. Utah and Oklahoma City then follow in 2028, completing the 10-team league that Repole had targeted.

Utah's addition had been rumored for months, and the Sandy venue was widely viewed as the natural landing spot. America First Field is already a proven game-day facility with professional soccer tenants, a strong local following, and transportation access, so the stadium needed no new construction to host spring football.

What the Local Partner Says

Miller Sports + Entertainment, the local partner behind America First Field, welcomed the announcement. Michelle Smith, president of Miller Sports + Entertainment, was quoted in coverage of the announcement saying: "We are thrilled to welcome the UFL to Utah and partner with the league as it brings its games to America First Field. Together, we look forward to creating an incredible experience for fans throughout Utah." Smith also noted that Miller Sports "believes deeply in the power of sport to unite communities, create lasting memories and bring people together."

What Is Still Unconfirmed

Several details remain open, and none of them should be treated as settled. The team's name has not been announced, and the league has said the Utah team's name, branding, and launch plans will be revealed at a later date. Possible name ideas are circulating among fans, but those are speculation, not facts. Ticket timing is also unconfirmed: no on-sale dates, pricing, or season-ticket details have been announced, so any dates you see online should be treated as rumor until the league confirms them.

The coaching staff, roster, and schedule are similarly unknown at this stage. A 2028 first kick means the team, its staff, and its front office will likely take shape over the next couple of years, and the UFL is expected to share those details as they become official.

What This Means for Sandy and the Wasatch Front

For Sandy, the announcement adds another professional tenant to a venue that is already busy many months of the year. Spring football gives the stadium a reason to light up in months when it might otherwise sit quiet, and it gives Wasatch Front sports fans a family-friendly game-day option during the spring months.

How the team affects the neighborhood around the stadium, from parking to local business, will depend on the schedule and crowd sizes, and those details simply are not known yet. For now, the headline is straightforward: a professional spring football team is officially on its way to Utah, and it will call Sandy home beginning in 2028.

Sources

• Fox 13: "Pro football is coming to Utah. UFL announces Utah franchise will begin play in 2028"
• United Football League: Utah franchise landing page
• UFL official release: "UFL Enters Next Phase of Growth"