Spring football isn’t going anywhere in Houston — though it came close to leaving. United Football League co-owner Mike Repole confirmed that the league seriously considered moving its Houston team to another city before deciding to relocate only the Memphis, Michigan, and San Antonio franchises. What saved the Gamblers, Repole said, was Houston’s strong football culture and a new home at Shell Energy Stadium.
“The market was right, and the stadium was right,” Repole told the Houston Business Journal. “We have to give a lot of credit to the city of Houston and our partners at Shell Energy Stadium, the Dynamo, and the Dash. Without them, I’m not sure we could’ve stayed long term.”
Repole, who joined the UFL ownership group in August 2025, praised Houston as one of the best football cities in America. With loyal fans supporting the Texans, Cowboys, and Texas A&M, he said it made perfect sense to keep the Gamblers in town — once the venue situation was solved.
Early discussions ruled out college stadiums like the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium and Rice University’s Rice Stadium as long-term homes. The move to Shell Energy Stadium fits a larger league-wide shift toward soccer-specific venues that seat between 15,000 and 25,000 fans.
It’s a strategic decision, Repole explained. UFL games averaged about 12,000 fans last season, and smaller stadiums create a more energetic and full atmosphere. “When you play in a 60,000-seat dome with 12,000 fans, it feels empty,” Repole said. “But in an MLS-style stadium, that same crowd feels electric.”
The San Antonio Brahmas’ old venue, the Alamodome, held more than 60,000 seats — one reason the UFL chose to relocate that franchise. By 2026, every team in the league will play in an MLS-style stadium.
The Houston franchise also got a fresh identity. The team rebranded from the Roughnecks to the Houston Gamblers, reviving the name of the city’s 1980s USFL team. “It fits the city,” Repole said. “We hope Roughnecks fans come along and that new fans get to know the Gamblers brand.”
Repole, best known for co-founding Vitaminwater, Smartwater, and Bodyarmor, joined the UFL ownership group after being impressed by the quality of football in its first season. The league, formed in 2024 through a merger of the USFL and XFL, is preparing for its second season starting March 27.
Repole now oversees the UFL’s business operations and plans to announce coaches, rosters, and the 2026 schedule in early January. Despite the struggles of past spring leagues, he believes this one can last.
“Spring football has had its ups and downs, but people keep coming back to it,” Repole said. “With the ownership group and operations team we have, I truly believe this league can be successful.”
Also Read: UFL Folds San Antonio Brahmas in Surprise Move with 2 Other Teams
Shedeur Sanders Has a Tough First Game in Browns’ Loss