The St. Louis Battlehawks, a professional football team formed in 2020, have made a significant mark in the realm of American football as part of the XFL. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the Battlehawks have captured the hearts of local fans, playing their home games at The Dome at America Center. As of this writing, they’ve drawn a whopping average of 32,531 raucous fans their last 12 games. Their average attendance is 40%-70% higher than the next highest team in their league. That extraordinary turnout has cemented the Battlehawks as an emblem of hope and perseverance for the…. This prideful atmosphere brings back fond memories of when the city used to house the NFL’s Rams.
The Battlehawks’ success can’t only be measured by attendance. Since arriving in town, the team have developed a positive rapport with the local community. They build excitement with their fans by having walk-through practices and serve their youth by including high school football clinics. This local and community-centric approach resonates with fans and players alike. It engenders a unique camaraderie, creating a deep-seated coding of club loyalty and football.
Manny Wilkins, a quarterback for the Battlehawks, emphasized the team’s energetic atmosphere, stating, “You really feel like this is an NFL environment. The fans. The walkout. The intros. Everything, like, it just really feels like such an NFL environment, and the city of St. Louis has been so loving and welcoming and, ‘Oh, we have football back here.’”
The Battlehawks play in a 20,000-seat facility. This sea of humanity provides a charged atmosphere that makes the game-day experience absolutely electric. 2020-2022, Audi Field has had an average of 14,000 fans a game. That enthusiasm from this rabid local fan base has morphed into an essential aspect of the franchise’s identity.
The executive team’s leadership knows very well that keeping this pipeline open to the community is paramount. Their work comes in the wake of 2016’s Rams-to-Los Angeles shocker. This departure left a huge gap in St. Louis. Many fans expressed their loyalty to football through various means, including T-shirts and handmade signs referencing Rams owner Stan Kroenke.
“It’s about being connected into the community culture within every one of our markets,” said Brandon, a key figure in the team’s strategy. This philosophy has made it possible for the Battlehawks to distinguish themselves within St. Louis and beyond.
Anthony Becht, a former player and current commentator, noted the significance of the Battlehawks’ presence in a market that has experienced loss. “And it could definitely happen. What I will point out though is that this is a very segmented market where something was stolen from them. And the fans still come out simply for that reason.” His comments illustrate how the Battlehawks have grown beyond just being a football team. However, beyond their on-field performance, they have served as a beacon of hope for fans who yearn for a clean and fair return to professional football.
Russ Brandon was on board with this idea, citing the rabid sports tradition in St. Louis. “It starts with how rabid the fan base is for sports in totality in St. Louis,” he remarked. This warmth has led to a passionate fanbase for the Battlehawks. Beyond that, it’s an inspiring and hopeful example for other markets to follow.
Wilkins continued on how this stacked world holds players accountable, acting as fuel for those ambitious enough to keep going. And man, I just think for dudes in this league that are feeling sorry for themselves or not feeling like they’re good enough or they haven’t seen the opportunity or didn’t get their chance or whatever, what a real flavor to inspire somebody to grind their ass off to go make it to the next level. We feel blessed to be all the way down in St. Louis.
The Battlehawks have taken on their role of being a positive figure in the community by investing in community outreach programs. Their mascot joining them on elementary school visits and local happy hours deepen a community connection that appeals to fans of all ages. These initiatives help build goodwill, but more importantly, they help to solidify football as a key part of St. Louis’s cultural identity.
Judging by their consistently high attendance figures, the team’s dedication to community engagement has been the right approach. Thousands of fans tailgate ahead of each game, producing an atmosphere so electric that it often compares to that of long-standing NFL rivalries. As noted by Becht, “You would love to see a lot of the markets duplicate it.” The Battlehawks took a truly unfortunate state of affairs and created a spectacular opportunity. Each of them united fans and created memories that will last as long as they stand.
As the team continues to build on its successes, its leadership remains focused on growth. Both for the franchise and its supporters. Their goal is clear: to cultivate an enduring bond with the community that extends beyond the football field.
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