BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The United States Football League will play its 2022 season in Birmingham, the league announced on Tuesday. All USFL games will be played in Protective Stadium and Legion Field.
"I consider it an honor to welcome the USFL to the 'Magic City'. This is an amazing opportunity to promote our city on a national stage, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with this league. The USFL is not only bringing professional football to Birmingham but is committed to being a strong community partner," said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin in a statement.
There will be eight teams in the new USFL, split into two divisions. The North Division will include the New Jersey Generals, Michigan Panthers, Pittsburgh Maulers and Philadelphia Stars. The South will include the Birmingham Stallions, New Orleans Breakers, Tampa Bay Bandits and Houston Gamblers.
The league will kick off on Saturday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. CT, when the Stallions play the Generals. The game will be broadcast on both Fox and NBC, the first time two broadcast networks have scheduled to air the same sports competition at the same time since Super Bowl I was aired on both NBC and CBS.
The league originally ran from 1983-85 before folding prior to the 1986 season.
"The first game played in any new league is itself historical, and having the USFL’s inaugural game simulcast by NBC and FOX makes it even more so," said FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks. "It’s rare when two competitors can come together and see how cooperation can lead to long-term benefit."