Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Shell Energy Stadium
2200 Texas Ave
Houston, TX 77003
Houston Gamblers – Shell Energy Stadium
The Houston Gamblers ride again! For the third time in history, the Gamblers live to call H-Town their home. The first version of the squad was a member of the original USFL, before that folded in 1985. The squad won their division in 1984 and made the playoffs in 1984 and 1985 with a roster that was bolstered by future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
After its spectacular flame out after the 1985 season, the USFL was reborn in 2022 playing through the 2023 season. The league then merged with the new version of the XFL to form the United Football League (UFL) in 2024. For the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks supplanted the Gamblers, but as mentioned, they are back for 2026.
For the 2026 season, the Gamblers will be calling Shell Energy Stadium their home field. Located in downtown Space City, the stadium is home to the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, the Houston Dash of the NWSL, and college football’s Texas Southern Tigers. Read on to learn more.
Food & Beverage 3
On a normal game day, say for example for the Dynamo, Shell Energy Stadium boasts an impressive array of food and drink options. However, for the Gamblers, the options are very pared down. Don’t get me wrong, though – there are still plenty of options available; you can get a smash burger, or a hot dog, or a chopped brisket sandwich, heck, even Mexican street corn and paletas. The main concourse also has several grab-and-go spots where fans can pick up hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and bottled drinks.
The issue is that nearly one in every three stands is closed for Gamblers games. Lines do tend to bog down during big breaks in the action (e.g. halftime), but you should be okay, regardless. One last thing that I really appreciated is, if you buy a souvenir cup you get unlimited refills of fountain drinks. This is something I wish more teams did, as it eases the heartburn many of us get with concession costs.
Atmosphere 2
By and large, there is no mistaking that Shell Energy Stadium is primarily the home of the Houston Dynamo, as the signage and color scheme all reflect the stadium’s first tenant. This is fine, though; spring leagues really don’t have their own home stadiums, and pretty much always have to share.
What they do have is a few team merchandise stands that sell Gamblers gear (the Dynamo/Dash store on the main concourse is closed on Gambler game days). The stadium itself also has a few interesting spots for fans, like in the north end zone: the Pitchside Patio is a covered bar area at field level behind the end zone. Similarly, a Corona-themed patio bar is located on the upper concourse, which offers covered seating and a full-service bar.
Neighborhood 5
I’ve written extensively about the venues in downtown Houston, with its myriad of entertainment, dining, and lodging experiences for visitors to choose from. Within walking distance – and eyesight – are both Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros, and Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets (and soon to be home of the Houston Comets). Both the Astros and Rockets are in season when the UFL plays, so if you plan your schedule right you should be able to see at least one other game while you’re in town to see the Gamblers.
For dining options, there are several within a short five-minute walk of the stadium. These include the Rodeo Goat, a craft burger and cocktail spot, and Gotti’s, a Cajun food lover’s dream. Again, there are tons of other options in the area for whatever your taste buds require.
Lodging options are just the same; there are several within a short nine to 10-minute walk away from the football venue, with the only limit here being your budget. Nearby options include Marriott Marquis Houston and Hilton Americas-Houston.
Fans 2
The Houston Gamblers are currently drawing the worst home crowd attendance figures in the UFL. AT the last game I attended, the announced crowd was just over 5,100 (which honestly was being generous).
From what I was able to see, the number of fans sporting Gamblers paraphernalia was small. I think the team suffers from what happens to a lot of these clubs that take up residence in a large city – the attention span of fans is so fragmented the team has a hard time gaining any traction.
Hopefully the Gamblers can hold on for a few more seasons and try to rebuild their fan base.
Access 4
Shell Energy Stadium is very accessible to any visitor. Located in downtown Houston, it is right off Interstate 69. If you’re driving in, Houston and the stadium are around a three-hour drive from San Antonio and Austin, and a little over that from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
If you’re flying in, the venue’s roughly 25 minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 20 minutes from William P. Hobby Airport. The area is also loaded with parking lots, with some as low cost as $10 per car to park.
For those not wishing to deal with the Houston traffic, Houston METRO will drop you off right in front of the main entrance to the stadium.
Return on Investment 3
Single-game tickets for Houston Gamblers games can be had for as little as $13 each through the team website, and you can probably pick some up for even less on the secondary market. Concession costs still retain the pricing they use for MLS games, but this is still not as high as those found in other major professional sports stadiums. Nevertheless, with parking as low as $10, the overall cost to attend a Gamblers game at Shell Energy Stadium is actually quite a bargain.
Extras 3
When the Houston Gamblers returned to Space City, they brought with them a lot of the traditional fanfare that most football teams have. There are the cheerleaders, their costumed mascot – Ace the Armadillo – and a team drum corps, all of whom can be found throughout the stadium engaging with fans and standing for photo ops. Beyond that, there is not much else.
Final Thoughts
I’ve attended games for virtually every iteration of spring football that has ever existed. All of them bring so much hope and promise, the same as with the UFL and this iteration of the Gamblers. It’s not close to the atmosphere of the NFL or of big-time college football, but it is still football, and there is likely to always be an appetite for it in the U.S. If you’re post-Super Bowl and jonesing for your football fix in Houston, make a visit to Shell Energy Stadium to check out the Gamblers.