Houston's UFL team gets a new name and venue for 2026

Catch up quick: Houston was one of several cities with two non-NFL professional football teams by the early 2020s after the revival of both the USFL and XFL.

• The XFL, Vince McMahon's brainchild from 2001, was revived in 2020 with the Houston Roughnecks as one of eight teams nationwide.
• Two years later, the USFL also returned with the Houston Gamblers among eight teams in the league.

The USFL and XFL merged in 2023 to form the UFL, with only eight teams of the original 16 remaining.

• Houston emerged from the merger with a UFL team, which was called the Roughnecks.

Driving the news: The UFL announced the Houston team's name and venue change along with three new expansion teams in Columbus, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; and Louisville, Kentucky.

• Three teams — the Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas and Memphis Showboats — are not returning for the 2026 season.

What they're saying: The move is also a win for Shell Energy Stadium, which is primarily home to the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash.

• "We look forward to showing Gamblers fans why residents and visitors enjoy the convenience that our location offers combined with unparalleled premium seating and an authentically Houston food and beverage experience," Dash president of business operations Jessica O'Neill said in a statement.

What's next: The 2026 UFL schedule and uniforms will be unveiled in the "near future," per the organization.