stallions players and coaches EXCITED to play at ‘home’ in birmingham
Photo: Getty
Defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions ready to be back in Birmingham. 2023 USFL MVP Alex McGough will be in attendance at the home opener on April 13 at Protective Stadium.
APRIL 12, 2024 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
By Charles Vaughan
Separated from their last home game by 293 days and a championship, the Birmingham Stallions make their long-awaited return to Protective Stadium on Saturday.
“I think what we're most excited about this week is having the opportunity to come home,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said Tuesday afternoon. “There’s no place like home.”
The Stallions are off to a hot start, sitting 2-0 after defeating the Arlington Renegades and Michigan Panthers in consecutive weeks, but they’re the only UFL team yet to host a game. This weekend’s matchup against the Memphis Showboats will provide a welcome respite to a grind of travel the Stallions emerged from unscathed.
“Anytime you can get a win in professional sports it's a huge deal, but even having the opportunity to play the first two games on the road and to win them both was an excellent job by this football team,” Holtz said.
The team is eager to play in front of a friendly crowd, but Holtz emphasized that the Stallions’ first home game is significant for a reason greater than football -- returning to the city that has embraced them since 2022.
“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 the last two years,” said Holtz. “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.”
Saturday will mark the team’s first home game following last winter’s merger between the USFL and the XFL. Through two weeks, the new league is attracting average crowds of nearly 18,000 -- the St. Louis Battlehawks drew over 40,000 fans alone last weekend. In Holtz’s eyes, Saturday’s game is an opportunity for Alabama to showcase its passion for spring football. He challenged Stallions fans to show the UFL what Birmingham is about.
“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,” said Holtz. “I don't think there's any reason that 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 excited to see the results, not just on the field, but in the environment and in the atmosphere and the circus that we can build around the stadium,” he added.
The champions’ homecoming will be marked by a ring ceremony on Friday and a banner unveiling on Saturday. In attendance will be former Stallions quarterback Alex McGough, who was named last season’s USFL MVP after recording 2,104 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a league-leading 108.3 quarterback rating.
“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 and be rewarded for some of the fruits of their labor to see that ring,” said Holtz. “It's going to be a special night for a lot of players on our team. But it’s also going to be neat because we're going to have the opportunity to bring that second championship banner to Protective Stadium.”
“I think it's going to be an event more than just a football game,” he added.