Houston, Texas (December 12, 2022) – The XFL today announced that Catherine Schultz has been hired as Vice President of Business and Event Operations for the Houston Roughnecks. She will oversee the team’s business performance and activations to elevate awareness, drive fan and community engagement, and execute gameday experiences based on the League’s strategic plans. The Roughnecks will return to the field in February 2023 and play their home games at TDECU Stadium.
“We are excited to have Catherine lead the business staff of the Houston Roughnecks,” said Brooke Campbell, XFL’s Senior Vice President of Team Services. “Catherine has a wealth of experience in the Houston market, and she is the right person to lead the charge as we prepare for kickoff in 2023.”
“It’s a blessing and privilege to join this outstanding organization,” said Schultz. “I am honored for the opportunity to join the team as we bring the XFL back to Houston. I look forward to connecting with the local community and passionate Roughnecks fans by building a brand and experience that Houston will be proud of.”
Schultz comes to the XFL with 20 years of sports, entertainment, and community engagement leadership experience. She most recently served as Senior Vice President of Sports Business Operations and Productions with the start-up Teton Ridge, LLC, a brand devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. In that role, she provided leadership, oversight, strategic vision, and management of all properties and businesses within the Teton Ridge Sports Division, which was created with the singular focus of elevating classic western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage.
Prior to joining Teton Ridge, Catherine spent 18 years with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, serving as the Managing Director of Sports and Event Presentations. She built strong and collaborative teams while leading thousands of volunteers committed to empowering the youth of Texas. She has also served as a Community Outreach Director, as well as a consultant for various non-profit entities.
Schultz holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development from Texas A&M University.
Brittany Rader joins Houston Roughnecks as Director of Team Communications and Media Relations:
The League has also announced that Brittany Rader will serve as the Director of Team Communications and Media Relations for the Roughnecks. Rader brings more than 15 years of experience in both agency and corporate settings. In her previous role as senior manager of Media Relations & Communications at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™, she was responsible for managing the Rodeo’s media relations strategy, the execution of all external communications, and providing strategic communications counsel to senior leadership.
Prior to Brittany Rader joins Houston Roughnecks as Director of Team Communications and Media joining the Rodeo in 2017, Rader served as VP/Communications Consultant at BBVA Compass, providing communications counsel to the bank’s sports marketing and sponsorship areas, and supporting several campaigns through the bank’s sponsorship of the NBA, BBVA Compass Stadium, the Houston Dash and the University of Alabama. Rader received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and is a proud Red Raider.
ABOUT XFL
The XFL’s ownership group—led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners—is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and an enhanced 360-game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world-class football, with the goal of advancing football and expanding player opportunities when it launches in February 2023.
