STWF Sports| LOUISVILLE, Ky.| September 16, 2026 — The Louisville Kings will begin their United Football League title defense in the national spotlight.
The UFL announced Wednesday that Louisville will host the league’s 2027 season opener on FOX UFL Friday, with kickoff scheduled for March 26 at 8 p.m. ET at Lynn Family Stadium.
The announcement came during the Kings’ United Bowl Championship Celebration, giving fans another reason to celebrate after Louisville capped its inaugural season with a league title.
Led by head coach Chris Redman, the Kings overcame a difficult start in 2026 to become one of the UFL’s biggest success stories. Louisville opened its first season with three consecutive losses before turning things around dramatically, winning six of its final seven regular-season games.
Challenges and Triumphs of the Louisville Kings
The Kings closed the year on a four-game winning streak and finished the regular season with a 6-4 record, building momentum at the right time.
That momentum carried into the postseason.
Louisville defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks on the road in the playoffs before advancing to the United Bowl championship game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field.
In the title game, the Kings rallied to earn a 27-20 victory, securing the championship in their first season of competition.
Several Louisville players also earned individual honors during the championship campaign. Defensive end Cam Gill was named Defensive Player of the Year, kicker Tanner Brown earned Special Teams Player of the Year, and running back Ian Wheeler was selected as United Bowl MVP.
The Kings’ success also translated into opportunities at the NFL level.
According to the league, 18 players from Louisville’s 2026 roster received NFL training camp opportunities. Three players later landed on NFL practice squads: defensive back Deantre Prince with the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Lucky Jackson with the Detroit Lions and cornerback Bryce Hall with the Houston Texans.
As Louisville prepares for Year 2, the organization is also beginning its push to bring fans back to Lynn Family Stadium.
Season ticket memberships for the 2027 campaign are scheduled to go on sale Thursday, Sept. 17 at noon ET. Packages begin at $75 and include all five regular-season home games.
The UFL said season ticket members will receive several benefits, including the same seat for each home game, a season ticket member gift, a 20 percent merchandise discount and four complimentary tickets to a selected 2027 home game, subject to availability. Members will also receive invitations to exclusive events and priority access to postseason tickets.
Ticketmaster will once again serve as the league’s official ticketing partner.
The season-opening assignment represents another major moment for a franchise that quickly established itself in Louisville. After beginning 2026 with three losses, the Kings finished the year as champions and now enter 2027 with added expectations.
Opening the league schedule in prime time on FOX gives Louisville a national platform to begin its title defense and provides the Kings an opportunity to showcase the atmosphere at Lynn Family Stadium.
For a team that spent much of its inaugural season battling back from adversity, the 2027 opener will mark the start of a new challenge: defending the championship that turned Louisville’s first UFL season into a memorable one.
