ST. LOUIS—One week after a United Football League executive told Spectrum News a decision on which city would host the league’s championship game was hopefully a few weeks away, officials on Sunday announced here that the Dome at America’s Center would be the venue for the second straight season on June 14.

UFL Co-Owner Dany Garcia and UFL President Russ Brandon revealed the news at halftime of the St. Louis Battlehawks game against the D.C. Defenders, a game DC won by a score of 27-15.

“It’s a championship city. We’re thrilled to be returning,” Brandon said. “The passion, commitment, support in St. Louis has been incredible. It truly has set the standard for the UFL.”

Garcia pointed to the city’s embrace of the title game last season, despite the disappointment that the Battlehawks were not in it after losing to San Antonio in the playoffs the week before.

“Football in St. Louis is magical,” she said.

St. Louis has led spring football in attendance dating back to 2020. More than 32,000 fans came to the team’s home opener last week and on Sunday, 30,014 showed up at the Dome, despite a competing St. Louis Cardinals game at the same time and an evening MLS match at Energizer Park Sunday night. 

The crowd Sunday saw the original Battlehawk quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu return to vanquish his former team. 

“It felt amazing. I love the ‘Lou’. I love the environment, the way they're loud. Just being back in here, just feels amazing,” he said as the Defenders ended week three as the only undefeated team left in the league. Ta’amu said coaches fed into the homecoming, telling him ‘This is your home, so defend it like it is.” 

Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht welcomed Sunday’s announcement but preached the importance of winning each week as opposed to getting lost in the bigger picture. 

“How it plays out and how we get there is only dictated on what we do in this moment and we let one go today,” he said. “These fans are great and of course there's a benefit for this league and everybody if we can get there but ultimately we're not quite at that point yet, so…excited about it, thrilled. Our goal is to get there but we have to get better after what the performance was today, and we will,” Becht said.