The United Football League announced on Friday that the Houston Roughnecks will play at Rice Stadium for the 2024 season. Houston’s current stadium, TDECU Stadium, is undergoing renovations.
Rice Stadium is located on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas. The last time Rice Stadium hosted professional football was in 2021 when The Spring League’s South Division (Jousters, Generals, Blues, and Sea Lions) played there along with hosting the Mega Bowl which saw the Linemen beat the Jousters 26-23.
Rice Stadium broke ground in February 1950 and opened on September 30, 1950. It is home to the Rice Owls of the American Athletic Conference.
Rice Stadium has hosted numerous professional football games over the years including the Houston Oilers from 1965 to 1967 and was the home of Super Bowl VIII in 1974 where the Miami Dolphins beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-7.
In addition to the Rice Owls, Rice Stadium hosted the Houston Cougars (1951-64), Texas Southern Tigers (1971-2000), and the home of the Bluebonnet Bowl (1959–1967, 1985, 1986).
Last month, the Houston Gamblers were rebranded as the Houston Roughnecks and will play in the USFL Conference. In addition to the Roughnecks, the USFL Conference will feature the two-time USFL champion Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, and the Michigan Panthers.
The XFL Conference will feature the XFL Champion Arlington Renegades, St. Louis Battlehawks, San Antonio Brahmas, and the D.C. Defenders. With Houston now having a stadium to play at in 2024, the UFL also announced that the 2023 schedule will be released on Monday. The 2023 season will air on FOX, FS1, ABC, and ESPN.
