The United Football League is closing the playbook on the San Antonio Brahmas. In a terse statement, the league announced that the team would not be returning to the Alamodome for the 2026 season.
“After a thorough analysis of all markets and venues, the United Football League has made the difficult decision to depart from San Antonio,” wrote the league. “Unfortunately, due to stadium constraints, the available venues do not align with our new vision of focusing on smaller, more intimate settings that elevate the fan experience.”
A shakeup at the league was not entirely unexpected. Sports drink tycoon Mike Ripole, the cofounder of Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, took over business operations in late July amid a significant ratings and in-person audience slump. Although the Brahmas had one of the more active local fanbases, the team’s supporters could not fill the 64,000-seat Alamodome.
“When you have 14,000 fans in an arena that fits 60,000, it looks empty,” said Ripole, in a statement to several outlets. “When you have 14,000 in a place that sits 15,000, it’s standing room only. Changing the optics is very important.”
Still, the franchise’s shutter, along with the Memphis and Michigan teams, came as a shock to local observers. As rumors of a league shakeup circulated in July, the city of San Antonio confirmed the Brahmas had agreed to a 2026 season, according to San Antonio Express-News reporting.
Many of the local fans saw the announcement as a fumble.
“Never would I think a team would leave a city because the stadiums were too big,” wrote one local fan on Instagram. “Wow.”
“San Antonio actually showed up for the Brahmas in ways a lot of other markets never did,” wrote another. “The Alamodome might not be the ‘intimate’ venue the league says it wants, but fans brought energy, and numbers, and passion that most spring leagues could only dream of.”
It’s unclear what the pull-out will mean for the coaches, staff, and players. The league promised to provide more details in early October.
