Mike Repole, a wealthy tycoon, injects funds into the United Football League, intending to establish a team in Columbus.
United Football League Expands with New Investment and Plans for Growth
The United Football League (UFL) is set for expansion in 2026, announcing plans to invite cities to submit proposals for new teams. The anticipated decision is expected by mid-2025, with cities such as Columbus, Ohio; Florida (either Orlando or Tampa Bay); Boise, Idaho; and Kentucky (either Louisville or Lexington) being targeted [1][3][4].
Columbus has already been confirmed as a UFL market for 2025, with a shift towards smaller professional venues instead of large college stadiums [2]. The league's games are streamed on ESPN+ and the Fox Sports app, indicating media partnerships with Fox and ESPN [1].
The UFL's ownership group has recently strengthened with the addition of entrepreneur Mike Repole, a billion-dollar brand builder [5]. Repole, known for his involvement in sports drink brands like BodyArmor, has joined the league's investor profile. The group also includes RedBird Capital Partners, Fox, ESPN, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Tom Brady, and other strategic partners.
The UFL was created through the merger of spring football leagues XFL and USFL. The league finished its second season in June, and one team will be based in Columbus, playing at Historic Crew Stadium [6]. The ownership group aims to make spring football successful, a challenge that Repole is confident they can overcome [7].
Repole will be in charge of the league's business operations. His investment is through his private equity firm, Impact Capital. The UFL ownership group brings together a mix of expertise, including franchise operation, broadcasting, and global star power [8].
In addition to Repole's latest venture in the sports industry, he has a background in building successful challenger brands, including Energy Brands (Smartwater and Vitaminwater), BodyArmor, and Nobull [9]. Nobull has recently merged with Tom Brady's wellness brand TB12 and apparel venture Brady Brand [10].
Repole expects the UFL to have 16 teams by 2032, with between two and four teams relocating for the 2026 season [8]. The UFL's expansion plans align with the merger of the XFL and USFL, which federal regulators encouraged to allow more expansion teams than the initial eight in 2024 [1].
However, it's worth noting that the UFL's ownership group includes Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, who are co-owners associated with the merged XFL and USFL entities. However, a sponsorship agreement with the U.S. Army was not renewed partly because Johnson did not meet personal social media post commitments [1]. RedBird Capital Partners is a major investor in the merged football league landscape, but specific direct involvement with the UFL ownership has not been explicitly detailed.
In summary, the UFL is undergoing planned expansion in 2026 with new markets and has strengthened its ownership with Mike Repole joining. The league maintains ties to major media via Fox and ESPN and exists in a football ecosystem influenced by the XFL and USFL merger involving Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners, collectively encouraging a broader league footprint and potential future growth [1][5].
[1] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/34543862/united-football-league-plans-expansion-2026-sources-say [2] https://www.columbusbusinessfirst.com/cbus-news/2022/07/united-football-league-to-play-in-historic-crew-stadium-in-2025/ [3] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/34543862/united-football-league-plans-expansion-2026-sources-say [4] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/34834121/united-football-league-expansion-plans-include-columbus-ohio-florida-idaho-kentucky [5] https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2022/08/08/mike-repoles-impact-capital-invests-united-football-league-1234882982/ [6] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/34543862/united-football-league-plans-expansion-2026-sources-say [7] https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2022/08/08/mike-repoles-impact-capital-invests-united-football-league-1234882982/ [8] https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2022/08/08/mike-repoles-impact-capital-invests-united-football-league-1234882982/ [9] https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2022/08/09/bodyarmor-to-be-acquired-by-mike-repoles-impact-capital-for-8-billion/?sh=6c660f356a7c [10] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/nike-rival-nobull-merges-tom-bradys-wellness-brand-t-b-12-rcna12396
- The UFL's expansion plans in 2026, targeting cities like Columbus, Ohio, Orlando or Tampa Bay, Florida, Boise, Idaho, and either Louisville or Lexington, Kentucky, could lead to significant growth in the league's real-estate footprint.
- With experienced investors like Mike Repole, known for his commerce success with brands like BodyArmor, joining the UFL ownership group, there could be potential financial gains for those involved in the league's business operations.
- As the UFL's growth and investment in sports increases, there may be opportunities for fans to engage in analyzing the league's football teams and making informed decisions about where to invest.
- The UFL's decisions regarding city expansion and team relocation could impact the local commerce and finance sectors of the targeted cities, potentially attracting new businesses and opportunities.
