The Stockton Crusaders are a future professional indoor football team based in Stockton, California . They were announced as one of the inaugural teams for the new Arena Football One , but will begin play in 2026.
12-657: The Crusaders are the second official Stockton-based team to play in the AFL system and the first since the Stockton Lightning who played in af2 from 2006 to 2009. The team was planned to begin play in 2025 alongside the rest of the AF1, but the Crusaders, along with Monterrey, announced that they would be pushing their seasons back to 2026. The logo was made using Artificial intelligence Arena Football One's predecessor,
24-642: A lease agreement with Mechanics Bank Arena , and the Grizzlies never made it to play. The team logo eventually went with the Oregon Blackbears . Carbajal is now part-owner of the Arizona Bandits of AF1 . The Stockton Crusaders were founded in June of 2024. On September 9, 2024, the Crusaders announced their intentions to join the newly-formed Arena Football One . Its head coach Kurt Bryan
36-713: A professional arena football team based in Stockton, California . They were members of the Western Division of the National Conference of the arenafootball2 (af2). The Lightning joined af2 2006 as an expansion team . They played their home games at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California and were coached by Chad Carlson. The Stockton Lightning were owned by Michael Reinsdorf. The Lightning were formed 2005 and joined af2 in 2006, led by president Dan Chapman and operator Michael Reinsdorf. The team name
48-679: The 2024 revival of the Arena Football League , had initially announced a team in California's Central Valley . With a leaked social media page indicating this team would be named the California Grizzlies, this team was originally to play 233 miles (375 km) southeast of Stockton, in Bakersfield ; its owner, Tim Carbajal, owned a semi-pro outdoor team in that city. Ultimately, Carbajal was unable to secure
60-441: The 2010 season. The Lightning will continue to research playing opportunities after the folding of the arenafootball2 league (af2) at the conclusion of the 2009 playing season. The largest indoor football league in the country, the Arena Football League (AFL), ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2008 season and recently the AFL and af2 have formed a new league for the 2010 season, Arena Football One. Dan Chapman, president of
72-482: The Stockton Lightning, released the following statement: "It is with a great deal of disappointment that the Stockton Lightning have decided to suspend operations for the upcoming 2010 football season. With the transition of the AFL and af2 developing into the new "Arena Football One" league, the proposed "lower tier" that was initially outlined did not become a reality. Furthermore, we have determined that
84-531: The business model for the "upper tier", which caters to larger markets, is not financially sustainable for our organization at this time. For these reasons, we feel as though we have no other viable options to play arena football this season" 2008 AF2 season The 2008 AF2 season was the ninth season of the AF2 . It was preceded by 2007 and succeeded by 2009 . The regular season began on Friday, March 28 and ended on Saturday, July 26. The league champions were
96-574: The last four games, missing the playoffs for the second straight year. The Lightning didn't improve in 2008 as they had hoped and finished 5-11. Once again, missing the playoffs. In the 2009 season, the Lightning did not improve much and finished 6-10, but with this record the team finish in 3rd on NC West and made the playoffs for the first time in team history. On the playoffs, the team lost on NC Round 1 for ( Spokane ). On January 22, 2010 The Stockton Lightning suspended day-to-day operations for
108-463: The season, they hired new head coach Doug Murray , who was introduced to the media at a September 2006 press conference by his friend and rival head coach Fred Biletnikoff, Jr. who wore a Lightning hat. The 2007 season started the way 2006 had, with a loss on the road in Spokane. But, things turned around mid-season as they began to win games, a total of six. However, the season ended with losses in
120-651: Was a co-creator of the A-11 offense briefly used in outdoor football. Team president Scott McKibben had previously been chairman of the Oakland Coliseum authority. On November 18, 2024, the AF1 league announced that the Crusaders and Monterrey Kings will sit out the 2025 season and debut in 2026. Running backs Wide receivers Defensive linemen Defensive backs Special teams Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches Stockton Lightning The Stockton Lightning were
132-407: Was announced at a November 2005 press conference at Valley Brew Restaurant, after a "Name The Team" contest and revealing of the team's black, red, gray and white colors. Richard Davis was also announced as the first head coach in franchise history. The first-year team featured players that were local to the area, they included; James Newson, Josh Wallwork, Kenyatte Morgan, and Lyndell Hawkins. Morgan
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#1732787638662144-564: Was the player who recorded the first touchdown in franchise history, a seven-yard pass from Quarterback Josh Blankenship, in a 41-40 loss to the eventual ArenaCup winners, the Spokane Shock . However, two weeks later, the Lightning recorded the first win in franchise history, when they beat the Quad City Steamwheelers 60-46. The Lightning finished 5-11 in their first season, falling just short of playoffs. After
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