New UFL passes on Canton, but Hall of Fame Village vies for championship game

CANTON − Spring football will not return to Canton this year.

The United Football League, the spring league created by the merger of the USFL and XFL, announced its eight teams this week. They include four teams from each former league, which are now UFL conferences.

The teams are: the Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and Houston Gamblers rebranded as the Roughnecks from the USFL; and the Arlington Renegades, D.C. Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks from the XFL.

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium has hosted the USFL championship game since the league returned in 2022. It also was home to Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals games last year.

Anne Graffice, executive vice president of global marketing and public affairs for the Hall of Fame Village, which oversees the stadium, said the Village had a good relationship with the USFL and she hopes the Canton field might still be a UFL venue.

"We have talked with them in very productive conversations about the potential for hosting playoffs or the championship or both," Graffice said. "The jury's still out there. We definitely remain hopeful that that could potentially happen."

The site of the championship game has not yet been announced, UFL spokesman Jeff Altstadter said in an email. USFL and XFL season ticket holders will receive a refund, he added.

Graffice said USFL events were a "revenue generator" and, as a result, the Village will seek to fill the now-open dates this year with other opportunities. She also said local leaders will continue to make the case for a Canton football team.

"Obviously, they're not doing anything with the expansion of teams this year, but in the future, we will continue to lobby for that," she said. "We think that just makes sense."

Canton was the birthplace of the NFL and home to the professional Canton Bulldogs team in the early 1900s. It's also home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge in September 2023 and received federal approval on Nov. 30.

The newly formed UFL training camp for players begins Feb. 24 in Arlington, Texas. The 10-game season will start March 30 with a match between 2023 USFL and XFL champions ― the Birmingham Stallions and Arlington Renegades.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn X: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: UFL passes on Canton, but Village vying for playoff or championship