Yesterday the Pittsburgh Maulers revealed a new look heading into the 2023 season. The update saw the team switch from the nostalgia purple scheme, to the more traditional Pittsburgh colors of black and yellow.
Shortly after, news started circulating that the USFL was planning to host an event at Hall of Fame Villiage the following day. This was in addition to the event planned in Detroit for Thursday.
As expected, the event kicked off at 10:30am ET with a who’s who of presenters. It didn’t take long to get to the big news, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will officially serve as a northern hub for the 2023 season. The hub will serve as home for the Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals.
New season, new host city 🔥🏟
The 2023 USFL regular season will have another location for games this season: 📍 Canton, Ohio pic.twitter.com/YM2f7nqMn1
— USFL (@USFL) January 25, 2023
Canton will serve as a solid hub location, due to it’s closeness to the Greater Pittsburgh area. More info and details to come once the official press conference is complete.
During the press conference we had a chance to hear from Curt Menefee (USFL Lead Commentator), Daryl Johnston (USFL EVP of Football Operations), Ray Horton (Pittsburgh Maulers Head Coach), Michael Crawford (HOFRECO President & CEO) and Eric Shanks (Fox Sports CEO).
Join The REF and Ducky for LIVE reactions to the big news on YouTube.
What are your thoughts on Canton, OH serving as a USFL hub for season 2? Let us know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
Read the full press release from the USFL below:
CANTON OHIO HOSTS USFL FOR 2023 REGULAR SEASON
Pittsburgh Maulers & New Jersey Generals to kick off first game April 23
at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Fans can pre-register for affordable tickets in Canton via Ticketmaster
or by visiting theUSFL.com
Hall of Fame Village to again host North Division Playoff Game in late June and USFL Championship Game in early July
CANTON, Ohio (Jan. 25, 2023) – At a press conference here today, USFL and Hall of Fame Village leaders announced that Canton will be the host site for two teams during the upcoming regular season, as well as the North Division Playoff Game in late June and USFL Championship Game in early July. The announcement comes six months after the Hall of Fame Village hosted USFL postseason games during the professional spring football league’s first season.
The USFL is excited that the Pittsburgh Maulers and the New Jersey Generals will practice and play games in Canton during the 2023 regular season,” said Daryl Johnston, USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “The outstanding regional support we received during our first postseason from football fans in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including the great city of Pittsburgh, coupled with our successful partnership with the Hall of Fame Village, led to this moment.”
The Maulers and Generals will face off in Canton’s first regular season game on Sunday, April 23. The North Division Playoff Game and USFL Championship Game will also return to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with dates and times to be announced later. Fans can pre-register for USFL Canton game tickets via Ticketmaster to make a deposit for $25 and lock in priority access, or visit theUSFL.com for more information.
After the incredible response from football fans during last year’s USFL postseason, we’re thrilled to expand our partnership by hosting regular season games in 2023,” said Michael Crawford, Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company Chief Executive Officer. “The USFL is a fan-first league, so we’re creating a fun and affordable entertainment destination here in Canton where football fans can cheer on the Pittsburgh Maulers, New Jersey Generals, and other USFL teams while experiencing a wide variety of programming and activities throughout the Hall of Fame Village before and after games.”
New Pittsburgh Maulers Head Coach Ray Horton, who was hired by the USFL earlier this month, sees this move to Canton in 2023 as an opportunity to build a regional fan base.
Because I’ve been a defensive coach for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, I know how passionate football fans are in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio,” said Horton. “As the USFL works to eventually move the Maulers into Pittsburgh, playing the 2023 regular season games in Canton presents an incredible opportunity for fans throughout the region to check us out and see first-hand the high-quality professional football being played in the USFL. My staff and I are working tirelessly to build a championship-caliber team, so we’re excited about having fans visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame stadium to have a fun time and hopefully become lifelong Maulers fans.”
While USFL officials said they remain committed to incrementally placing all teams into their namesake markets, expanding play in Canton with two iconic franchises continues building a regional fanbase, keeps the brand in the national consciousness, and strengthens the league’s partnership with the Hall of Fame Village in preparation to bring postseason games back to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The USFL is the first major professional spring football league in nearly 40 years to complete a successful inaugural season and return for Season 2. During the USFL’s 10-week regular season in 2022, all eight teams were hosted by the City of Birmingham, Ala. Last June during the playoffs in Canton, the league announced it would expand into more markets for the 2023 season. In addition to Canton hosting the Maulers and Generals, the USFL previously announced that the Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers will be hosted in Birmingham, and the Memphis Showboats and Houston Gamblers will be hosted in Memphis, Tenn.
In 2023, the USFL is proud to bring high-quality and competitive professional football to Canton, Birmingham, and Memphis,” said Johnston. “We couldn’t be more excited for the kick off of USFL Season 2 in April.”
About the United States Football League (USFL):
Fun, fast, and physical, the USFL is a fan-first, player-friendly, stand-alone major professional spring football league. Run by experienced football leaders, the USFL’s first season finished July 3, 2022, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame stadium in Canton, Ohio, with the Birmingham Stallions winning the championship by defeating the Philadelphia Stars, 33-30. FOX Sports and NBC Sports are official media partners, presenting all 43 regular- and postseason games for the 8-team league. Former NFL Dallas Cowboys player and current FOX NFL analyst Daryl Johnston is USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. Former NFL Vice President of Officiating and current FOX NFL analyst Mike Pereira is USFL Head of Officiating. “United By Football” for fans of America’s favorite sport, USFL Season 2 kicks off April 15, 2023. Visit theUSFL.com and follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
