Looking at the strongest host cities as the Athletes Unlimited Softball League prepares for its next chapter
Where’s Home: AUSL Edition
Now that we know the six teams that will compete in the second AUSL season, the biggest question that remains is where the league will place each home location. That has been the focus for most fans who have filled the comments for quite some time.
The inaugural season proved to be a major success in every stop on the barnstorming tour. I reached out to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League to learn more about the sellout numbers from this past summer. My thought is simple. If the league wants strong attendance, it makes sense to place teams where the fan turnout was already proven.
According to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, there were 24 total sellouts throughout the season, including Holly Springs, North Carolina which hosted the first weekend of the All Star Cup.
Sellout Locations in 2025:
Rosemont, Illinois
Seattle, Washington
Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Wichita, Kansas
Round Rock, Texas
Sulphur Springs, Louisiana
Holly Springs, North Carolina for the All Star Cup
With the Oklahoma City Spark now locking down the Oklahoma slot, and most expecting the Bandits to remain in Rosemont, that leaves four locations to figure out. How fans would choose to place them varies by personal preference, but sort of a regional balance across the country seems like the most logical direction.
Seattle stands out immediately. The city has strong support for women’s sports, and it would be a natural home for Cascade. The environment, interest, and market all make sense for a long term placement.
Round Rock, Texas makes even more sense. Attendance numbers were record setting during the Volts and Bandits series, and Texas continues to be one of the strongest softball states in the country. Dell Diamond was used as the venue, and although scheduling would need to work around the Round Rock Express if that stadium were to be used, the location fits the Volts perfectly, especially with Texas legend Cat Osterman leading that team as the GM.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama also deserves serious consideration. Support for the Talons was strong, and Montana Fouts certainly brought out Alabama fans, but both she and Sydney Romero made it clear after the championship game that the city cheered for the Talons as a whole. I would also assume that Fouts will be a protected player for the Talons, so Tuscaloosa feels like a natural fit for that team long term.
The final spot is where the real debate begins for me, similar to choosing that last college football playoff team. Wichita has been a reliable host for Athletes Unlimited for years and would be an easy choice. The challenge is avoiding too many teams clustered in one region if the goal is true nationwide reach.
Salt Lake City would also be a strong option. Fans packed the stadium, and the overall setup made for a great summer softball atmosphere. The drawback is that choosing either of those would leave the Atlantic Coast without a presence.
Holly Springs, North Carolina solves that issue. It gives the AUSL a presence closest to the Atlantic coast and fills an important geographical gap. The Raleigh area is growing fast, has a strong softball community, and handled the All Star Cup weekend at Ting Stadium without any issues to my knowledge. It would help create a true coast to coast footprint with a strong middle of the country presence. So, that would leave the Blaze heading to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Yes, I know that Seattle would be left out there alone in the northwest corner of the country, but it is honestly a flip of the coin for me. Should have added four new teams lol.
Everything above is simply my opinion, and fans across the sport will have their own preferences and perspectives. Selfishly, one location I would like to see is Chattanooga. Frost Stadium provides a true softball setting with one of the largest capacities for a softball stadium outside of Oklahoma’s Love’s Field that the AUSL has used. The only drawback is parking.
Frost is tucked inside Warner Park, surrounded by multiple softball fields that are used for travel events, the Chattanooga Zoo, and a public pool. When everything is happening at once, parking becomes tight and hectic.
Even with that challenge, Chattanooga offers a great atmosphere and plenty of softball charm. If the AUSL were to add more games to push the regular season to the beginning of August, one week in June and another at the end of July would guarantee sellouts. Those two stretches bring a flood of travel ball families to the area, creating a built-in crowd before the first pitch is even thrown.
No matter what the league decides, season two is set to bring even more energy as fans wait to see where each team will officially call home. Where would you like to see these teams call home?
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