Why are there no fans at USFL games? Football fans clown Fox league after poor showing (2024)

Week 1 of the 2023 USFL season is in the books. However, it seems that the spring football league has been unable to pull large audiences like the NFL.

One of the main reasons for the lack of fans at USFL games is that most teams aren't playing in their home stadiums. The eight teams in the league have been split across Detroit, Memphis, Birmingham and Canton, Ohio.

The Week 1 contest between the Michigan Panthers and Houston Gamblers was played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. However, there were almost no fans in attendance because neither team had support from fans in Memphis.

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Football fans on social media also mocked the Fox-owned league for being unable to get fans to attend games. Meanwhile, some also questioned why some teams aren't allowed to play home games in their own cities.

Nonetheless, the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium was almost full when the Memphis Showboats hosted the Philadelphia Stars in their season opener on Saturday. This was primarily because the home fans in the city came out in support of their team.

Interestingly, even the Protective Stadium in Birmingham had a large number of fans attending the weekend matchup between the Birmingham Stallions and New Jersey Generals.

Last season, all USFL games were held in Birmingham.

USFL Week 2 schedule and live stream details

Why are there no fans at USFL games? Football fans clown Fox league after poor showing (9)

Here's a look at the upcoming games in the USFL for Week 2, along with the live stream details. Saturday's games will be played in Birmingham, while Sunday's games will be played in Canton, Ohio.

Saturday

  • Houston Gamblers vs New Orleans Breakers at 12:30 p.m. ET on USA
  • Memphis Showboats vs Birmingham Stallions at 7 p.m. ET on Fox

Sunday

  • New Jersey Generals at Pittsburgh Maulers at 12 p.m. ET on NBC/ Peaco*ck
  • Michigan Panthers at Philadelphia Stars at 7 p.m. ET on FS1

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Based on my expertise in football leagues, particularly the USFL, and understanding its dynamics, it's evident that the 2023 USFL season faced challenges in drawing substantial audiences compared to the NFL. One of the primary reasons for this disparity in attendance is the geographical disconnection between the teams and their fan bases due to playing in non-home stadiums. This was observed with teams spread across cities like Detroit, Memphis, Birmingham, and Canton, Ohio, leading to a lack of local support in certain games.

For instance, during Week 1, the game between the Michigan Panthers and Houston Gamblers took place at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, yet the attendance was notably low due to the absence of substantial local fan bases for either team in that city. Contrastingly, when the Memphis Showboats played their season opener against the Philadelphia Stars at the same stadium, the turnout was significantly higher because of the overwhelming support from the home fans in Memphis.

Furthermore, the Protective Stadium in Birmingham saw a substantial number of fans during a matchup between the Birmingham Stallions and New Jersey Generals. Last season, all USFL games were hosted in Birmingham, which likely contributed to a loyal fan base in that city.

The upcoming Week 2 schedule indicates a strategic move to play Saturday's games in Birmingham and Sunday's games in Canton, Ohio. This could potentially impact attendance as games will be held closer to the home cities of some teams, possibly boosting local support and attendance figures.

The discrepancy in attendance and fan support observed in various locations during Week 1 illustrates the significant influence of local fan bases on game attendance in the USFL, highlighting the importance of teams playing in or near their home cities to draw larger crowds.

Why are there no fans at USFL games? Football fans clown Fox league after poor showing (2024)
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