D.C. Defenders at Audi Field: Why This UFL Game Is Worth Your Saturday

Last Saturday, May 2, I attended Game 6 of the UFL's D.C. Defenders season against the Dallas Renegades.

And I can't believe I hadn't gone to a game sooner.

Disclaimer: Nels attended as a credentialed member of the media. He did not purchase a ticket.

Inside Audi Field on Game Day

I arrived at Audi Field about an hour and 15 minutes before the scheduled noon kickoff. After dropping my bag off at the press box, I descended down to the main concourse to take a lap and soak in the gameday experience of a fan.

While walking around, I was constantly reminded of the D.C. Defenders drumline, whose Go-Go beats reverberated from the main gate and bounced around the tight corridors. The inclusion of Washington D.C.'s iconic music was a nice touch, and I was delighted to see and hear the drumline perform multiple times throughout the game during breaks.

After acquiring some concessions, I continued my strut around the stadium. Along the journey, what stuck out to me the most was the smattering of attendees compared to the typical D.C. sports games I've attended countless times.

Fans flaunted a good mix of fashion: Half were families and friends who wore no Defenders gear, a quarter were rocking D.C. sports gear — I mainly noticed a good amount of Alex Ovechkin sweaters — and 10–15% sported D.C. Defenders merch, which ranged from player jerseys to basic merchandise.

Then came the diehards. There were rambunctious flocks of the Defenders' most loyal supporters, wearing lemon helmets or decked head-to-toe in Defenders-themed garb, scattered throughout the stadium. The most loud and proud, however, were naturally congregating near the entrance to "The Beer Snake Section."

The merch line, though, was steadily full and moving with fans who either already owned or wanted to own Defenders gear, and it appeared to be of good quality and condition from afar.

The Football: Spring Talent Worth Watching

After I returned to the press box, I enjoyed roughly three hours of play between the Defenders and Renegades, with in-game entertainment sprinkled throughout. And, despite the lopsided 24-6 D.C. victory, I was thoroughly engaged from the opening to the closing whistle.

Watching good-quality football in the spring of all seasons felt odd at first, but it was clear from the get-go that neither side of the ball was just going through the motions or mailing it in.

There's solid talent on both teams: Dallas and D.C. boast numerous players and coaches who made it to an NFL roster or staff at some point in their careers, and the majority of whom didn't have collegiate experience at the Power Four level.

Everyone on the field, whether they're donning a headset or a helmet, is fighting to keep playing the sport that has encompassed their entire life. Whether it's to make it or return to the NFL level or earn a living a step below, it's clear that the UFL has amassed a collection of solid talent — at least in these two organizations.

The D.C. Defenders Attendance Problem

And, similar to the players who have the deck stacked against them for NFL-level playing time, so too does the UFL for NFL-level engagement.

Starting with attendance, it was hard not to notice Audi Field half-full.

So far this season, the D.C. Defenders are averaging 9,042 fans per game. That mark is a stark decrease from 2025, which averaged 13,026. In 2024, the average attendance was 14,143.

Per Reddit's u/GuyOnTheMike, "the last two weeks have been the two lowest-drawing of the season, and D.C. drew their lowest figure in team history for the second game in a row." See below a nice visualization u/GuyOnTheMike assembled of attendance each week:

Why Spring Football Is a Tough Sell in D.C.

Spring football is a tough ticket to sell. When the UFL kicked off its 2026 campaign on the last weekend of March, the league was immediately met by the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the NBA and NHL regular season winding down with the push for the playoffs heating up, and MLB beginning just a few days prior.

Football fatigue can be taken into consideration as well: the NFL season runs from September to February, with college football nestled in between. So, when approximately half of the calendar year consists of gridiron action every weekend, the average football fan may just want to spend their time elsewhere as the weather gets warmer.

Besides the established draw of the four major sports, one must account for what the District offers every weekend. Simultaneously, last Saturday, thousands flocked to Adams Morgan Spring Porchfest for live music, and countless others to foreign embassies for Passport D.C.

And the average DMV sports fan who did step out is more likely to attend the Nationals game against the Milwaukee Brewers right across the street for Star Wars day, where the first 20,000 fans received a Grogu-themed bobblehead with the purchase of any ticket.

While one could've double-dipped — Defenders kickoff was scheduled for 12 p.m., and Nationals first pitch was 4:05 p.m. — odds are the casual fans and families will choose the Nationals and Star Wars over the Defenders.

Why You Should Still Go to a Defenders Game

Despite setbacks out of the Defenders' control, I'd still absolutely recommend attending a game. It's a fun way to spend a weekend in D.C., and the in-venue atmosphere is polished and doesn't feel amateur.

More importantly, it won't break the bank: currently, the get-in price for Saturday's affair against the Louisville Kings is around $20 a ticket. The Defenders also offer discounted ticket packages for healthcare workers, military members, teachers, and other groups.

Additionally, every home game features fun Defenders-themed giveaways, so you'll most likely come home with something tangible. This Saturday, the first 5,000 fans will receive a free Defenders hat.

The UFL, as it currently stands, has technically only existed for three seasons. So if you want to be a part of something fun from the ground up, now is the time to invest in the D.C. Defenders.

This review is unpaid. Neither the United Football League nor the D.C. Defenders influenced this article in any way, shape, or form.

Nels Williams is the lead play-by-play broadcaster and writes for NSMT. A Virginia Tech graduate, Nels has lived in Northern Virginia all his life, calling Fairfax and Arlington County home.

All game photos were captured by Jamie LeBlanc for The NSMT. Gallery can be found HERE.