Birmingham Stallions wide receiver Deon Cain catches the football during a United Football League game against the Michigan Panthers on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit.(Photo by Rey Del Rio/UFL/Getty Images)
After opening the 2024 United Football League season with two road wins, the Birmingham Stallions will kick off their home schedule against the Memphis Showboats at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday at Protective Stadium.
Stallions coach Skip Holtz hopes the game will mean as much for area football fans as it does to him.
St. Louis set the standard for spring-football support on Saturday as 40,317 saw former Alabama All-American AJ McCarron rally the Battlehawks to a 27-24 victory over the Arlington Renegades in the Dome at America’s Center. But the UFL’s three other Week 2 games in Memphis, Detroit and Washington did not meet St. Louis’ attendance figure combined.
Holtz thinks Birmingham can become the model for spring-football success in the new league after the Stallions won the past two USFL championships. The United Football League is in its first season after the USFL and XFL merged.
“My dream and goal is to watch when Birmingham has 40,000 people because (St. Louis is) now setting the standard in the way that community is supporting that spring-football league,” Holtz said. “And I think when you look at it, the product is better, the players are better, I think the results are better. I think every game, when you look at them, they’re 27-24 or they’re 20-13, they’re 20-19, they’re 18-13, they’re all close football games. I think it’s a great product, it’s a great league and I think continually you’re going to see the support continue to grow in every market, not just in St. Louis, but I think you’re going to see every market continue to grow.
“And I think as big as football is in the state of Alabama and as much as they support football, I think Alabama has an opportunity to be the showcase program for spring football, not only with what we’ve been able to do on the football field with two championships, but the support that we have in that state, I don’t think there’s any reason we can’t be the premier spring-football program in the country, not only on the field, but off the field as well. I’m very appreciative for the fan support that we have, but I think the more that show up, the more fun it’s going to be, the more entertaining it’s going to be, and I think it’s going to be great.”
The home opener provides Birmingham with an opportunity to celebrate its second USFL championship, captured with a 28-12 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers on July 1 in Canton, Ohio.
From 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at Ghost Train Brewing, the Stallions will hold a pre-game party and championship-ring celebration. Holtz and some of the Birmingham players will be on hand for autographs, photographs and giveaways, and Holtz will present the players and coaches from the 2023 team with their championship rings.
On Saturday, gates at Protective Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m. for Champions Night. Stanley Stable Fan Fest in the north end-zone plaza will feature interactive games and other children’s activities, parents can sign up kids in Section 106 for the pre-game high-five tunnel and quarterback Alex McGough will be back to help unveil the 2023 championship banner.
Now with the Green Bay Packers, McGough threw four touchdown passes in last season’s championship game.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available online, and Stallions have $10 seats in Sections 110 and 142.
When the USFL revived in 2022, Birmingham served as the home for all eight teams, and every regular-season game was played in the Magic City. Last season, the USFL spread its teams to four sites, with Birmingham keeping the Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers.
This season, the UFL has followed the XFL model. All teams train in the Arlington, Texas, area, but each plays a true home-and-away schedule representing its namesake city or state.
“What we’re most excited about this week is having the opportunity to come home,” Holtz said. “Like Dorothy said, there’s no place like home. Not only have I missed playing in Birmingham and having the opportunity to play in Protective Stadium, but I have missed the opportunity to live in Birmingham as we have had the opportunity for the last two years. I’ve really kind of taken to the city, to the hospitality, to the restaurants, to some of the different places. It’s just been a great experience for me and for our football team for the last two years, so it’s been frustrating to be away. But we’re really excited about having the opportunity to come home this weekend.
“It’s going to be a great venue. Ought to be a great opportunity. It’s going to be a beautiful day, and certainly, I’m excited to see the turnout with this weekend being such a big weekend. Not only are we coming back to Birmingham, but having the ring ceremony on Friday night, where I know our players are really excited about that opportunity. They worked really hard a year ago for that championship, and now to be able to see them be rewarded for some of the fruits of their labor, to see that ring, it’s going to be a special night for a lot of players on our team.
“But also it’s going to be neat because we’re going to have the opportunity to bring that second championship banner to Protective Stadium, which I know is going to have the opportunity to drop before the game on Saturday. I know Alex McGough is coming in and will be involved in all that. Like I said, it’s got a chance to be a really big weekend. It’s going to be an event more than just a football game, and really looking forward to having the opportunity to come back and be a part of all that.”
Holtz said fans will see better football on Saturday night than the USFL fielded. When the spring-football leagues merged, four teams from each circuit survived while eight teams disbanded.
“When I look at the talent level of the offensive and defensive lines, and I think that is probably the biggest difference in where this league has been,” Holtz said. “There’s a lot of depth. I’m looking at some of our linebackers that were starters for other teams. Some of these defensive linemen that have been brought in – I think we have 30 players on our roster that have NFL experience, so I think that this league is becoming more and more of a viable option. I think players are starting to turn down futures (contract) opportunities in the NFL to bet on themselves to go showcase their talents and abilities.
“I think it’s a real testament to the job that everybody has done in building this new UFL. And so, I think the product is much better than it’s been. On the O-lines, the D-lines, the talent level across the board, I think, is better. I would love to see a couple more teams added, but I think as this thing continues to grow, I think it’s got a chance to really be big.”
Birmingham started its season by beating the Renegades 27-14 on March 30, then topped the Michigan Panthers 20-13 on Sunday.
Memphis downed the Houston Roughnecks 18-12 on March 31, then lost to San Antonio 20-19 on Saturday when the Brahmas scored two touchdowns in the final 48 seconds.
FOX will televise the Showboats-Stallions game.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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