Memphis Showboats to kick off 2023 USFL season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on April 15
The new Memphis Showboats have been chosen to usher in the second season of the reconstituted USFL.
On April 15, the Showboats will host the Philadelphia Stars at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in the first game of the eight-team league's season. FOX will broadcast the Showboats-Stars matchup. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. The Stars lost in last season's championship game.
The new USFL played its inaugural season in 2022. Every regular season game was played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Following the season, the USFL made several significant changes. One of them was rebranding the Tampa Bay Bandits (4-6 last season), which became the Showboats.
The league also expanded from one hub city to four: Memphis, Birmingham, Detroit and Canton, Ohio. The Showboats will play 10 regular season games under coach Todd Haley. The Houston Gamblers also will play their home games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Both teams are members of the South Division.
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The rest of the Showboats' home schedule includes games against the Pittsburgh Maulers (11:30 p.m., May 20), the Gamblers (1 p.m., May 28), the New Orleans Breakers (2 p.m., June 10), and the defending champion Birmingham Stallions (3 p.m., June 17).
The Showboats will play four games away from Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium: at Birmingham (6 p.m., April 22), at the Michigan Panthers in Detroit (6:30 p.m., May 6), versus the Breakers at Birmingham (2 p.m., May 14) and against the New Jersey Generals at Canton, Ohio (noon, June 4).
"The biggest thing is just being in Memphis and getting to have actual home games," Haley said in a team release. "I went down there for the unveiling of the new uniforms and the team. And (FedEX Founder) Fred Smith being there was really neat. Everyone is really excited.
"Everything being in Birmingham last year, you got excited when you played the Birmingham Stallions because you knew there would be a lot of fans there. But they were rooting for the other team (laughs). So, to be in Memphis and the Liberty Bowl, with the excitement that I’m feeling from everybody, I’m just excited to be able to play a bunch of games in the Liberty Bowl with fans supporting us."
The Gamblers' home schedule includes games against the Panthers (11 a.m., April 16), the Showboats (6 p.m., April 29), the Generals (3 p.m., May 21), the Stallions (1 p.m., June 11) and the Breakers (3 p.m., June 18).
Full television broadcast details will be released at a later date. Ticket prices for games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium have not yet been released, but fans who put down a $25 deposit per season ticket are given priority access to choose seat locations.
The USFL's first run began in 1983, and lasted three seasons before folding in 1986. The original Showboats were introduced in 1984 as part of the league's expansion from 12 teams to 18. Led by Hall of Fame defensive lineman Reggie White, the Showboats made the USFL playoffs in 1985.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Showboats schedule 2023: See the full USFL slate of games
