Pro football returns to Columbus for Aviators home debut
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The Columbus Aviators made their debut in front of nearly 15,000 fans. Photos: Andrew King/Axios
Columbus has a professional football team again.
Why it matters: In a town enthusiastic about the sport, Friday marked the first outdoor pro football game in Columbus in 34 years.
Catch up quick: The United Football League — a merger of the defunct XFL and United States Football League — started play in 2024 and last October announced Columbus as one of three 2026 expansion teams.
- They were nicknamed the Aviators, inspired by Ohio's flight history, and would play games at Historic Crew Stadium.
The big picture: The UFL is trying to grow, positioning itself as an option for offseason football viewers, a development league for the NFL and an amenity for underserved markets like Columbus.
- The league's unique rules are put front and center, including 4-point field goals over 60 yards and banning the Tush Push.
Driving the news: Columbus responded — nearly 15,000 attended the inaugural home game.
- There were lines to get in, tailgaters in the parking lot and more ticket demand than expected.
- Axios Columbus was in attendance to fill you in.
The vibe: The crowd was into it. The largest cheers of the night were for:
- Great plays from the Aviators.
- An enthusiastic pregame "Let's take flight, baby!" from tackle Ryan Nelson.
- Cardale Jones' guest appearance.
🎤 Plus: The halftime show featured 2000s pop star Gavin DeGraw.
Between the lines: The players were into it, too.
- On display were big plays, big hits, a healthy dose of competition and some decent football.
Yes, but: The home team lost the home opener 44-26 to fall to 0-2.
💭 Andrew's thought bubble: The first game comes with extra juice, but Aviators games appear to be a fun time akin to the old days of MLS or AAA baseball.
- It's not quite the wholesome experience of a Clippers game, but more of an overt spectacle than a Crew game from 2007.
- Some may find a three-hour game that starts at 8pm a bit of a slog.
Pro football, semi-pro concessions
The entertainment was fun — but on the concourses, the Aviators need as much work as their 0-2 record.
The menu: Offerings are sparse. There are some high school games with more options.
- Food is limited to nachos, pretzels, hot dogs, candy and pizza at a few of the stands — and it's all expensive.
- There are a few more alcoholic options, with a couple "signature cocktails" and a variety of beer and seltzers — everything is at least $10.
What I tried: I tried "The Takeoff," a vodka cocktail made with Glacier Freeze Gatorade.
- The good news: It tasted just like blue Gatorade.
- The bad news: It tasted only like blue Gatorade — I could be convinced it wasn't alcoholic.
Plus: I got hungry and had a hot dog ($7) and a pretzel ($10). Nothing special.
Pro tip: Lines were crazy and the food wasn't great. Maybe get dinner before or tailgate.
