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<\/p>\nEveryone has had their eyes on the Detroit Lions for the couple of seasons following their meteoric rise into one of the best teams in the National Football League (NFL). It’s no secret that football is a financial powerhouse, serving as one of the primary reasons many people still watch traditional television. But when football is off for the spring and summer, there is a\u00a0football drought.<\/p>\n
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That’s where the UFL comes in, with\u00a0the\u00a0Michigan Panthers\u00a0serving as another big cat-themed team to utilize Ford Field while the Lions are off. At least, they have been until news broke today that the UFL is pulling the Panthers out of Motor City in favor of a “bigger market”.<\/p>\n
Houston Roughnecks v Michigan Panthers<\/p>\n
Getty Images for UFLThe Panthers Are Leaving Detroit<\/p>\n
James Larsen of PFNewsroom, an avid UFL\/XFL journalist, reported the news late Tuesday night. It came as a shock to everyone in the league, including the coaches.<\/a>\u00a0Michigan is one of four teams being relocated<\/a> to a larger market, with the Panthers likely moving to Florida. Houston, Birmingham, and Memphis are also being relocated. These are reportedly cost-cutting measures “for the survival of the league”.<\/p>\n It’s unfortunate that the UFL is pulling the plug on the Panthers’ presence in Michigan. This season was the best season the team has had, with the Panthers making it to the Championship game (losing to the DC Defenders).<\/a>\u00a0A quick look at the Panthers’\u00a0merchandise store<\/a> shows\u00a0that every single item is\u00a0on sale,\u00a0giving credit to Larsen’s reporting.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Michigan Panthers WR Caught on Video Slapping Fan in St. Louis<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n The\u00a0Panthers were featured by sports outlets like ESPN multiple times and experienced growth this season, unlike the other three teams\u00a0being relocated. The players were skilled as well, with the current Detroit Lions kicker famously being signed from the Panthers in 2024. Already, players from the Panthers are getting attention from the NFL, with Panthers RB Toa Taua recently working out with both the Lions and the Browns.<\/a><\/p>\n Houston Roughnecks v Michigan Panthers<\/p>\n Getty Images for UFL<\/p>\n So, whether or not you followed the Panthers before this news broke, you can score yourself some cheap merch before the team heads south for the winter with all the retirees.<\/p>\n Old Michigan Sports Teams We Forgot Existed<\/p>\n Michigan’s had so many sports teams come and go over the years. Do you remember these?<\/p>\n