On Sunday, Feb. 1, the St. Louis Battlehawks, in partnership with the United Football League, hosted their first fan rally of the season at Westport Social. The venue was noticeably smaller than in previous years, reflecting the league’s more conservative operational approach this season.
Despite the scaled-down setting, the St. Louis faithful filled the venue from 1–4 p.m., packing it shoulder to shoulder. Fans clad in blue repeatedly erupted into chants of “KA-KAW!”
Upon arrival, a line stretched from the venue nearly to the edge of the sidewalk. Waiting outside provided fans the chance to meet Excaliburd, the unofficial mascot of the Battlehawks, who has been a staple of the fan experience since 2020. Excaliburd continued to energize supporters as they waited to enter. Once inside, many discovered the initial line was for team merchandise and promotional items. Attendees had the opportunity to spin a wheel for free gear, including t-shirts, glasses, and rally towels. Schedules were also distributed, along with 48-hour early access to single-season tickets that had not yet been released to the general public.
Inside the main portion of the venue, fans mingled and showcased unique Battlehawks gear, much of it custom-made or purchased from local St. Louis creators on platforms such as Etsy. A major draw of the event was the opportunity to meet players, with linebacker Travis Feeney attracting significant attention. Feeney, a defensive standout for St. Louis over the past several seasons, has consistently secured his place on the roster with his aggressive and reliable play.
Throughout the event, the crowd’s enthusiasm was unmistakable, with attendees frequently brushing shoulders in the tightly packed space. The rally was widely viewed as a memorable kickoff to the season. The only notable absence was head coach Ricky Proehl, who was unable to attend due to weather-related travel issues from his home in North Carolina. However, organizers arranged a live Zoom appearance, allowing Proehl to address fans virtually and soften the disappointment of his absence.
The rally served as a celebratory launch into a season the team has described as “championship or bust.” With the Super Bowl now concluded and attention shifting fully to spring football, the Battlehawks are preparing for their season opener on March 28 against the DC Defenders in a conference championship rematch. St. Louis will host the game at The Dome at America’s Center.
The Defenders are returning with championship quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, while St. Louis has yet to officially name a starting quarterback. The team will move forward without Manny Wilkins and Max Duggan. Wilkins suffered a season-ending ACL injury last year, and Duggan is currently playing in the Canadian Football League.
This season brings additional uncertainty due to new league formatting involving teams, stadiums, and roster construction. General managers were centralized under league oversight, allowing teams in-depth evaluations of rosters ahead of drafts and reducing the likelihood of unexpected moves. Another ongoing challenge for UFL teams is the impact of NFL futures deals, which have drawn talent away before spring training begins.
As the Battlehawks prepare for kickoff, anticipation remains high. A week-by-week outlook of the season may provide a clearer picture of how St. Louis could fare in what promises to be a pivotal year for the franchise.
Week 1: DC Defenders (Home)
This matchup could not have been more perfectly timed than to be the home opener and for a vengeance game. The Defenders ended the Battlehawks season last year and won the championship in the Dome, so this means that this game will be a straight war. With two mostly new rosters, D.C. retaining its interim head coach as the official head coach, and St. Louis’s brand-new head coach, this game is going to be an instant classic in the spring football scene.
Week 2: Dallas Renegades (Away)
The Dallas Renegades are officially like their NFL big brother and are going to be stationed in Arlington, but go by Dallas. They are trying to run it back with the “Spring King” Luis Perez and improve their 5-5 record last season. There is still a lot to be desired out of this team, especially with the reputation of other Dallas teams and their lackluster performances. Either way, this will be at their home, so we will see how the Battlehawks fare in an away stadium.
Week 3: Birmingham Stallions (Home)
The Birmingham Stallions come to the BattleDome in week 3 and bring the return of former STL QB1 A.J. McCarron. Only this time, he is the head coach of the Stallions instead of a player. This will be his first go-around in the coaching scene entirely, as he was a player two years ago and primarily waited for a playing opportunity last year. This isn’t going to be as bitter a reunion now that Coach Becht is gone, but the story will be how the people of St. Louis react to his return.
Week 4: D.C. Defenders (Away)
The Battlehawks go at it again against the reigning champs, but in their home stadium. This will be the first time the Battlehawks will play their bitter rival outside of the Gateway City, and it is sure to be intense. This will also be the first chance for the Battlehawks to encounter the infamous “Beer Snake,” so be on the lookout for that in the stands.
Week 5: Orlando Storm (Away)
Halfway through the season, and we get a grudge match. St. Louis vs. Orlando will be the first time that we see Coach B with the St. Louis team. He left STL to coach Orlando, so the animosity is only second to Becht and McCarron, but that doesn’t concern us. This will be a match-up of former position coach vs. former head coach, and while it might sound tiring, this game is also a high-stakes one.
Week 6: Louisville Kings (Away)
Now, while this is a new team, and that can be very exciting, this match-up offers very little sustenance to the large-scale outlook of the season. The biggest note for this matchup is that it is the end of a three-game road trip for the Battlehawks, where three of the last four games of the season will take place within the BattleDome and could have playoff implications.
Week 7: Columbus Aviators (Home)
In recent seasons, the Aviators have been trying to make a rivalry with the Battlehawks already. The Aviators have been active on their socials, trying to recreate the D.C./STL rivalry, so this is the first and only chance of the season to shut them down and continue.
Week 8: Houston Gamblers (Home)
Now, this might be a new name for this Houston franchise, but make no mistake, keep this is the same old Roughnecks that we have seen in leagues past. They obviously went through the same rebuild as many others. However, with a coach who has predominantly boasted college experience, it is hard to say how he could translate that to the professional level, even if it’s only a spring league.
Week 9: Houston Gamblers (Away)
Yes, it is odd that we play the same opponent back-to-back, but at least it is in Houston this time, so both teams can get a “home field advantage.” While it may not seem like much, it is week 9 with playoffs around the corner, and this could make or break STL or Houston, depending on how far this game goes.
Week 10: Dallas Renegades (Home)
This is it. The last game of the regular season, and while it might be against what was once a lackluster team, they are still champions within this league. While playoff seeding could already be decided by this point, it would be reckless to assume this isn’t of the same importance as the rest of theses late season games. However, this game could swing either way, but we have to see once we are this late.
Single-game and season tickets are on sale now at the UFL website. The season opener is Saturday, March 28 , at 11 a.m. Central time at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, MO.
