The Battle for Houston: XFL Roughnecks vs USFL Gamblers

[MarkNelson]

Comparing the two Houston teams. DeMarcus Cullors presents his research into the Houston Roughnecks and the Houston Gamblers engagement statistics.

Roughnecks come out on top.

[FootballYoda]

good comparison here. They have a tough decision to make if they choose the Gamblers over the Roughnecks. The numbers say how many fans may be alienated.

[4th&long]

good comparison here. They have a tough decision to make if they choose the Gamblers over the Roughnecks. The numbers say how many fans may be alienated.

Really? Like spring FB fans will stay away if the name changes? Not buying a 7-8 game played over 4 years is having that impact.

[MarkNelson]

Really? Like spring FB fans will stay away if the name changes? Not buying a 7-8 game played over 4 years is having that impact.

The bigger issue is the lack of stadium. How does the merged league deal with that? Perhaps going with the Gamblers who have never played in the market is how they sidestep that issue.

[4th&long]

Really? Like spring FB fans will stay away if the name changes? Not buying a 7-8 game played over 4 years is having that impact.

The bigger issue is the lack of stadium. How does the merged league deal with that? Perhaps going with the Gamblers who have never played in the market is how they sidestep that issue.

Correct -That is the bigger issue. That's why Canton may be in play. And I've also posted if Houston is hubbed for games Gamblers makes way more sense.
I'd like to see Canton in 2024 and Houston & NJ brought in 2025 (at that point can be either Gamblers or Roughnecks), but they need that NJ/NY market.

[super390]

I wish they would just let the Roughnecks keep playing wearing the Gamblers' uniforms.

[Rmbay]

Really? Like spring FB fans will stay away if the name changes? Not buying a 7-8 game played over 4 years is having that impact.

The bigger issue is the lack of stadium. How does the merged league deal with that? Perhaps going with the Gamblers who have never played in the market is how they sidestep that issue.

I think they'll need to keep 2025 and beyond in mind when deciding anything, so I think it still leans Roughnecks. Perhaps they've got little option outside one of the 10,000 seat HS stadiums in that area, or to pony up for NRG for a year. As a last resort, maybe they play out of Arlington. But if they wind up not going with either team for the year it probably needs to be done with the understanding they will return in 2025. I just don’t know if that's a promise they're prepared to make.

[GregParks]

I've yet to encounter a compelling argument to keep the Gamblers over the Roughnecks. The best I've seen is that it may even out or come closer to evening out the USFL teams compared to the XFL teams in this "merger of equals," though that's not a great argument from a business standpoint.

I guess if they end up in a hub it ultimately doesn't matter much (though you're losing a legendary HC in Wade Phillips and an up-and-coming assistant in AJ Smith unless you just swap them out for the Gamblers staff). If they manage to find a stadium for the Houston team, one thing to keep in mind is they've already been taking season ticket deposits for the Roughnecks. If you keep the Gamblers, you're starting from scratch selling tickets. Even if they've only sold 50 deposits for the Roughnecks (which admittedly are NOT season tickets themselves, but would turn into season tickets, and hey, it's still revenue), that's still 50 more than the Gamblers have sold.

[4th&long]

I've yet to encounter a compelling argument to keep the Gamblers over the Roughnecks. The best I've seen is that it may even out or come closer to evening out the USFL teams compared to the XFL teams in this "merger of equals," though that's not a great argument from a business standpoint.

I guess if they end up in a hub it ultimately doesn't matter much (though you're losing a legendary HC in Wade Phillips and an up-and-coming assistant in AJ Smith unless you just swap them out for the Gamblers staff). If they manage to find a stadium for the Houston team, one thing to keep in mind is they've already been taking season ticket deposits for the Roughnecks. If you keep the Gamblers, you're starting from scratch selling tickets. Even if they've only sold 50 deposits for the Roughnecks (which admittedly are NOT season tickets themselves, but would turn into season tickets, and hey, it's still revenue), that's still 50 more than the Gamblers have sold.

The Houston Roughnecks tickets would simply be transfered to Houston Gamblers tickets. The teams would be interchangable, ie a name change. Anyone not agreeing can get a refund but that's ilkely a pittance.

[Rmbay]

I've yet to encounter a compelling argument to keep the Gamblers over the Roughnecks. The best I've seen is that it may even out or come closer to evening out the USFL teams compared to the XFL teams in this "merger of equals," though that's not a great argument from a business standpoint.

I guess if they end up in a hub it ultimately doesn't matter much (though you're losing a legendary HC in Wade Phillips and an up-and-coming assistant in AJ Smith unless you just swap them out for the Gamblers staff). If they manage to find a stadium for the Houston team, one thing to keep in mind is they've already been taking season ticket deposits for the Roughnecks. If you keep the Gamblers, you're starting from scratch selling tickets. Even if they've only sold 50 deposits for the Roughnecks (which admittedly are NOT season tickets themselves, but would turn into season tickets, and hey, it's still revenue), that's still 50 more than the Gamblers have sold.

The Houston Roughnecks tickets would simply be transfered to Houston Gamblers tickets. The teams would be interchangable, ie a name change. Anyone not agreeing can get a refund but that's ilkely a pittance.

I don't know about that. That seems pretty presumptive and could backfire. And from what I've seen from both the video posted and on some forums, "pittance" might be under selling it.