A Columbus-based franchise will join the United Football League starting with the 2026 season. The team will be called the Columbus Aviators, and is joining the professional league along with the Louisville Kings and Orlando Storm
The three new teams replace the Michigan Panthers, Memphis Showboats, and San Antonio Brahmas, which were shut down following the 2025 season, meaning the UFL will remain an eight-team league.
“Columbus checked every single box,” said Mike Repole, the owner of the UFL and co-founder of Glaceau and BodyArmor. “It’s a great market. … They love football.”
Along with the team name and logo − a red letter A with a blue wing wrapped around it − the league announced on Oct. 7 that the Aviators will play home games at Historic Crew Stadium, the former home to the MLS’ Crew. The Aviators will be the No. 1 tenant of the stadium, according to Repole, which was an “ideal” reason to select Columbus.
Historic Crew Stadium has a seating capacity of 27,000.
“I look forward to the days of watching 20,000 people at Columbus Aviators games,” Repole said. “I feel pretty confident that (we can see that number) with the local community work we plan on doing and really staying focused and having full-time employees in the local market.”
Repole said another reason the UFL decided to have a team in Columbus is its proximity to Ohio State and other college football programs in the Ohio area. The owner hopes to recruit former Ohio State football players and coaches to join the Aviators.
To help attract former Buckeyes as well as alumni from other Ohio schools, the UFL is initiating a regional player rights rule, which will give teams priority to sign players from schools within a certain radius.
The USFL, which merged with the XFL to form the UFL, had a similar goal and used a territorial draft to protect players who went to college in a specific team’s state. Repole hopes the new rule will allow each team’s fan base to root for familiar college football stars and local legends.
“It’s almost like everyone is a free agent in our league, very similar to what’s happening in college football,” Repole said. “… Having (the fans) familiar with players who are the stars at Ohio State but didn’t make the NFL or are still trying … that’s going to be a big part of our strategy going forward.”
While specific details for the new UFL rule are not finalized, Repole hopes to have a more concrete strategy in December or January. The UFL also has yet to announce a coach for the new franchise.
“Hiring someone who has local ties … it’s definitely a plus, and a focus.” Repole said.
The name for the new franchise comes from the state’s ties to aviation, including the Wright Brothers, originally from Dayton.
“It’s very unique and it’s pretty catchy, Repole said. ” … I think it’s a pretty great name and has some Ohio significance.”
He said with a laugh that NetJets, a jet charter company with headquarters in Columbus, would be an ideal sponsor.
The UFL is also announcing changes to its regular-season format. The season will continue to run from late March to mid-June, but there are no more conferences, whereas before there were two. The league’s top four teams will make the playoffs. Prior to 2026, the top two teams from each conference reached the postseason.
Along with the announcement of the new franchises, two UFL teams rebranded with new names and corresponding stadium moves: the Houston Roughnecks will be the Houston Gamblers and will play at Shell Energy Stadium (home of MLS team Houston Dynamo), and the Arlington Renegades will be the Dallas Renegades and play at Toyota Stadium (home of MLS team FC Dallas).
Repole hopes that the changes will allow the UFL to become an unofficial pipeline of players and coaches to the NFL.
The UFL was formed in 2024 with the XFL-USFL merger. In 2025, the league saw a 5% dip in in-person attendance and 25% drop in TV audience, according to the Sports Business Journal.
Expansion for the league is not done, Repole said. He hopes to add two new teams every two years. For now, however, the league’s work is focused getting ready for the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: UFL announces the Columbus Aviators, new team to play at Historic Crew Stadium
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
