The second season of the United Football League hasn’t lived up to the hype surrounding the first season. However, sources are indicating that the league might seek expansion to draw more viewership and interest.
On May 6, 2025, the USFL Enterprises LLC (the parent company of the USFL division) filed trademark applications for four original USFL teams: the Oakland Invaders, the Philadelphia Stars, the New Jersey Generals, and the Tampa Bay Bandits.
Both the Stars and the Generals were a part of the original USFL football league. The Bandits would eventually become the Memphis Showboats.
Oakland’s Potential
That brings us to the Oakland Invaders, a team that only existed in the first incarnation of the USFL in the 1980s. The team played for two seasons before the whole league went under after a failed merger attempt with the NFL. Now, with the registered trademark, speculation is running wild with rumors that Tom Brady might be interested in buying a team.
Oakland hasn’t had a professional football team since the NFL’s Raiders left for Vegas in 2019. Other post-NFL markets like St. Louis have flourished for the UFL, and the league could be looking to capitalize on those markets. It also strategically makes sense to have a team or two out west, as there are currently no teams west of Texas.
California is littered with professional sport teams with 18 major league franchises spanning the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS. While Oakland currently has no professional sports teams, it does have a long history of hosting teams such as the Oakland Raiders (NFL), the Oakland Athletics (MLB), and the Golden State Warriors (NBA).
The UFL and Beyond
The UFL is owned by FOX Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The league has not sold any franchises to private individuals or groups.
However, moving teams to appropriate markets and allowing franchises may prove beneficial. The UFL is experiencing tremendous success in St. Louis. Oakland, San Diego, and other non-NFL markets could also support a professional football team.
Despite widespread legal football gambling, there is often less interest in football outside of its traditional season.