BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Stallions fans are calling for people to “giddy up” to save the team. Last Friday, the newest owner of the UFL, Mike Repole, challenged Stallions fans to get 5,000 season ticket deposits in one week in order to keep the team in Birmingham.
“Got our deposits down, we do,” said Stallions fan Rebecca Bruner. “It’s something. It’s a big hoop to jump through.”
“It’s a bit of a mess so I’m going to do it. I’m not really happy about it, but I’ll help save the team,” said Rebecca’s son, Brian Bruner.
In his post on X last Friday, Repole said the Stallions are one of the league’s most historic franchises, but there’s been a massive drop in attendance.
“For the United Football League, that is not sustainable. We’ll do our part with better marketing and a stronger local focus, but the future of the Stallions comes down to you,” Repole said in his post. “If you want the team, kindly show up.”
Cue Repole’s season ticket deposit challenge. The deposit required for the season tickets is not the full cost of the package. It simply requests that fan be given the opportunity to buy the season ticket package when sales open.
As of Tuesday night, Repole says 1,600 deposits have been counted.
“I see and feel the passion,” Repole said in his post Tuesday night. “I can envision a packed Saturday night home opener in 2026.”
According to the UFL, the Stallions averaged close to 9,000 people at each home game last season.
“While that seems small, it was the same 9,000 faces that I saw at every game,” said Bo Roper, director of the Stallions’ fan club, The Horsemen. “This is a loyal fanbase that will show up and show out.”
Some Stallions fans say 5,000 season ticket requests could be doable, but they feel the one-week timeline was too tight.
“For this time of year, again the season doesn’t start until, it’s been starting in March the last few years. College football starts in a week, there’s a lot of other things going on, so I think it’s a little out-of-sight, out-of-mind for people,” said Luke Miller, the host of the State of the Stallions podcast. “But again, with the news that the team is potentially moving, it at least was on some people’s radar.”
There’s still a long way to go to reach Repole’s goal by the deadline, but Stallions fans are not giving up hope.
“I would hope some local businesses would step up. To me, it seems like some businesses stepping up and purchasing large blocks of tickets is the only way we’re going to get this,” Roper said. “But I would encourage our fans, if the team stays, give the Stallions a shot. You won’t regret it.”
Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams says there are a handful of teams the UFL is looking to relocate, but Birmingham is special. He says the city has been with this league since its inception, even hosting all eight teams and staff in the inaugural season during COVID.
“One thing that we have somewhat lacked as a community has been our fanbase, specially at our home games. They want to make sure that we have actual fans in the stadium in the seat,” said Williams. “We have been very successful when we look at viewership. Birmingham Stallions has been the most viewed out of any of the teams in any of the iterations of this current league, which is really supportive, showing that there is an interest, but maybe it’s an outside interest and they want to make sure that we here are committed.”
Williams says that’s what this five thousand season ticket deposit request from the UFL is about: commitment. He says the city, county, BJCC and visitors’ bureau have been committed to the Stallions from day one, but he says the Stallions want to see the community and businesses showing up for them.
“All four groups, which I call our economic development and tourism team, we’ve all opened them. They’re asking for someone besides us,” Williams said. “They say, we know that you guys will support us, but we’d like to see support from the community at large, and they view that as both the business community as well as individual families and fans.”
The deposit for a Stallions season ticket is $50. That money is non-refundable unless the team is moved from Birmingham.
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