The Sacramento Gold Miners made history as the first American team to join the CFL, marking a bold step for Sacramento Gold Miners football. Playing in the Sacramento Gold Miners CFL division, the team became known for its competitive spirit and effort to expand Canadian football’s reach into the United States during the early 1990s.
Established
1993
City
Sacramento - San Antonio
League History
1993 - 1995 / Canadian Football League
Team History
1995 / San Antonio Texans
1993 – 1994 / Sacramento Gold Miners
Nickname
Gold Miners - The Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian Football League (CFL) team that played in the league from 1993 to 1995. The team was based in Sacramento, California, and had its home games at Hornet Stadium on the campus of California State University, Sacramento. Although they only lasted two seasons before folding due to financial difficulties, their nickname remains one of the more unique nicknames in CFL history.
So where did this nickname come from? According to some sources, it was inspired by a local legend about an old gold miner who lived near downtown Sacramento during settlement in 1849 when gold fever swept through Northern California during America's first significant Gold Rush era.
Sacramento Gold Miners Origin
It's said that he used his pickaxe and shovel every day searching for hidden treasure beneath rocks and dirt along riverside creeks around town until his death sometime later without ever finding any natural riches or fame for himself - but with enough stories told about him over time that people eventually began referring to him as "the Old Gold Miner" which then became shortened simply into just "Gold Miners."
Whether or not this story is true remains unknown. Still, it certainly makes sense why someone would have chosen such an appropriate name for a professional football team near where all those miners once dug so long ago, looking desperately for fortune amidst all those hillsides full of potential wealth!
So whether you're talking about legends past or present-day sports teams playing today - remember: sometimes, even if you don't find your pot of gold, you can take pride in knowing others may be able to look back upon your legacy fondly years down the road!
Championship
Grey Cup 0
Stadium
1995 / Alamodome
*Sacramento*
1993 - 1994 / Hornet Stadium
Owner
1993 - 1995 / Fred Anderson
- 1993
- 1995
-
Gold Miners Team Formation
When the WLAF suspended operations in 1992, Surge owner Fred Anderson received a franchise in the CFL after that league expanded to the United States in 1993. The two teams could be seen as one and the same. The two entities had the same colors (aqua and yellow) and head coach (Kay Stephenson). Additionally, several players and administrators made the ... -
Gold Miners to San Antonio
Deciding that Hornet Stadium was inadequate even for temporary use, Anderson decided to look for a new home for the Gold Miners. However, the only other football stadiums in the area, Sacramento City College’s Charles C. Hughes Stadium (a stadium the Surge had used in 1991) and UC Davis’ Toomey Field, were similarly unacceptable. Hughes Stadium was ruled out because it was used by several ...
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Sacramento Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners hold a special place in CFL history as the first American team to join the league. The Sacramento Gold Miners football franchise was founded in 1993 under the ownership of Fred Anderson. The team played its home games at Hornet Stadium, located on the campus of California State University–Sacramento. Their arrival marked a bold step in expanding Canadian football across the U.S. border.
Under head coach Kay Stephenson, the Sacramento Gold Miners showed strong potential during their early years. In their first season, they finished with a competitive 6–12 record — a respectable start for a new franchise adapting to the CFL’s rules and gameplay. The team steadily improved, and by 1994, the Sacramento Gold Miners football squad posted an 8–10 record, demonstrating resilience and talent that gained them respect within the Sacramento Gold Miners CFL community.
Unfortunately, despite on-field progress, financial challenges and low attendance began to affect the franchise. Sacramento’s market struggled to fully embrace CFL football, and logistical challenges added to the strain. By 1995, ownership made the difficult decision to relocate the team to San Antonio, Texas, where it became the San Antonio Texans, continuing the experiment of American expansion in the Canadian Football League.
Gold Miners Achievements:
Even though the Sacramento Gold Miners CFL team existed for only two seasons, its contribution to CFL history remains significant. The franchise paved the way for other American-based teams and proved that Sacramento Gold Miners football could compete with top-tier Canadian teams. Their time in the league stands as a bold chapter in the cross-border story of North American football.
Notable Season Performance (1994)
One of the Sacramento Gold Miners’ most memorable achievements came during the 1994 season. The team improved its record to 8–10 and remained competitive throughout the year, earning praise for their defense and emerging offensive stars. This marked the franchise’s peak performance in the Sacramento Gold Miners CFL era and left a lasting mark on both fans and league history.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history