XFL to evaluate alternatives if the stadium cannot accommodate home dates
HOUSTON — The Houston Roughnecks may have to seek an alternative home for the 2024 XFL season.
The Roughnecks’ home base, which is TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston, is currently undergoing renovations.
Houston officially became a member school of the Big 12 Conference on July 1. As a result, Houston leadership understood that an athletic program entering into a Power Five conference will also involve facility upgrades.
Depictions of the new upgrades were brought up during a June 30 live stream, titled “Toast to the Big 12”.
Renovations on TDECU Stadium, as well as a new $140 million football operations facility, will break ground following the November 18 home finale against Oklahoma State. Tentative plans are in place for a potential move-in date in fall 2025.
Among these upgrades are premium seating and a new video board at TDECU Stadium, a new weight room, and, of course, the new football operations facility.
How this could impact the Roughnecks’ 2024 home schedule
While the project timelines are uncertain entering the 2024 XFL season, both the league and the Roughnecks may need to prepare for an alternate venue if not all of their home dates are approved.
The ultimate goal would be to get as many games approved as possible before resorting to a neutral alternative site within Houston. However, there has been no indication of a piecemeal setup for approval of certain home dates. As a result, it could very well be an all-or-nothing scenario regarding scheduling.
Construction can always be a finicky thing due to many unknown elements, and it could play a factor in scheduling.
It may be too early to tell in late July to predict what could happen in February 2024. Things could work out (with a reduced attendance threshold) and all dates are greenlit. It could also unintentionally go south and the XFL could have to seek an alternative venue for the 2024 season.
The XFL is working on it though, according to XFL CEO and President Russ Brandon.
“The XFL is working with the University of Houston to determine the availability for our games in 2024,” Brandon said in a statement on the renovations.
Brandon would hint at an alternative decision should negotiations fall through.
“We will find a new home in the area for the coming season,” Brandon said.
Even if the Roughnecks don’t play at TDECU Stadium in 2024, don’t count on them disappearing from the league. For all we know, the Roughnecks could — wishful thinking — be playing its 2024 home games at NRG Stadium.
This article was previously published on Ambush Sports Network.
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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
