Roughnecks’ first season in UFL kicks off March 31
The Houston Roughnecks will begin play in the new United Football League with a home game against the Memphis Showboats at 2 p.m. March 31 at Rice Stadium.
The league, which is a merger of the XFL and USFL, released the schedules for its eight teams Monday morning, beginning with the league debut featuring defending XFL champion Arlingon Renegades facing the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions on March 30.
“I can’t think of a better way to kick off the 2024 UFL season than at home in Houston, at iconic Rice Stadium, in front of thousands of Houston Roughnecks fans,” Roughnecks coach C.J. Johnson said.
Each team will play a 10game regular season schedule. As members of the USFL conference, the Roughnecks will play the other three teams in their conference — Showboats, Birmingham Stallions and Michigan Panthers — twice each with one game against each of the teams in the XFL conference. Four of the eight teams will make the playoffs with the top two teams from each conference facing each other to set up the championship game on June 16.
Thirty one of the season’s 43 games will be televised by ABC or Fox with 10 more on ESPN and one each on ESPN2 and FS1.
“Through the combined reach of our partners at Fox and ESPN, who both share a commitment to broadcast innovation, the UFL will now have exceptional platforms through which fans can experience spring football,” UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said in a press release. “We are equally excited to welcome new and returning fans back into our buildings this season so they can immerse themselves in the energy around spring football. Our players are here to perform and to reach the next level and our fans are going to be treated to an excellent on-field product and in-stadium experience.”
Roughnecks season tickets go on sale Feb. 12, and single-game tickets will start being sold Feb. 20. Season ticket-holders with money already in their account can select their seats Monday before season tickets are available to the public.