Houston Roughnecks (via Facebook)
Two years ago, Houston welcomed a spring professional football team called the Gamblers, who play in a rebooted version of the United States Football League (USFL), which first operated in the 1980s. Then came the Roughnecks, and last spring he played in the improved version of the XFL.
Both leagues will not exist until 2024, as they have merged to create the United Football League (UFL). Houston will have a team again, and the former Gamblers coaching staff will be on board, along with the Roughnecks name and logo.
Even if these developments are as hard to understand for fans as the bounce of a rectangular ball, leaving them wondering what new team or league will emerge next, it's no surprise to the Roughnecks and their front office staff. Probably not.
“Do we understand that fans are a little skeptical? Of course they are,” said Katherine Schultz, Houston's vice president of team business and event operations. She said, “When I look at our combined ownership team, I know we are destined for success.”
The UFL, considered a step below the NFL in terms of competitiveness and talent level, will open for the first time this weekend under the partial leadership of XFL co-founder Danny Garcia and actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson. Open the season. Other key executives include Darryl Johnston, former USFL Director of Football Operations, former NFL commentator and Super Bowl winning fullback for the Dallas Cowboys.
The Roughnecks begin the 10-game regular season with a home game against the Memphis Showboats at Rice Stadium on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN, one of the league's broadcast partners along with ABC, FOX and FS1.
Along with winning, Schultz said the team's biggest goal is to become a well-known product and an attractive entertainment option for Houston-area sports fans. They already have a number of high-profile events lined up, including MLB's Houston Astros' opening weekend, the NBA's Houston Rockets' push for a playoff berth, and the PGA Tour event currently being held at Memorial Park.
Advertisements on social media and other digital platforms are a big driver heading into this weekend, Schultz said.
“Success seems to be about building a fan base, increasing fan awareness and building team affinity,” she said.
Schultz said part of the reason for keeping the Roughnecks name and logo is because last year's version had home games played at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium, while the Gamblers played all of their games outside of Texas. He said that. The Roughnecks say the XFL team averages about 12,000 fans per home game, and Schultz said nearly all season ticket holders have renewed for next UFL season.
Schultz said there will be no club level or suites in the new venue, and playing at Rice University will offer some different dynamics compared to UH's home stadium, which is undergoing renovations. While that may be difficult from a revenue standpoint, Schultz said Roughnecks has worked with Rice officials to create some premium seating options.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $110, and the Roughnecks are planning a themed fan fest event before each of their five home games, along with setting up a tailgating area in West Lot 5 on the Rice campus. Sunday's Fun Fest will have an Easter theme, and there will also be an egg hunt in the field for children.
First responders will be recognized as part of the games on April 21st, Teacher Appreciation Day will be on April 27th, and the May 12th event will honor women and girls in track and field in conjunction with Mother's Day. The game on the 26th of May will focus on thanking the military.
“The fan experience is paramount to what we do,” Schultz said. “For us, it’s really about building a fan-focused culture.”
Houston is the only UFL city with teams in both the XFL and USFL, and Schultz said Houston is an “important” market for the new league. And the new league is an amalgamation of the best of its predecessor, with the UFL utilizing the XFL's branding and marketing strategies along with the USFL's competitiveness and operating structure, she said.
If all goes according to plan, we can expect this to continue for some time.
“That we, as two beings, said, 'We believe this. Why are we against each other? We should be for each other and we should spend our time.' I think that speaks perfectly to how long we're going to be here. Combining talent and treasure into one truly great product and moving forward and dominating,” Schultz said. I did. “That’s what we expect.”
