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. 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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* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners have a long and proud Canadian Football League (CFL) history. Established in 1993, they were one of two expansion teams that year, joining the league alongside the Las Vegas Posse. The team was originally owned by Fred Anderson and played their home games at Hornet Stadium on the campus of California State University-Sacramento.
In their inaugural season, they finished with an impressive 10-8 record under head coach Kay Stephenson. They made it to playoffs but lost to eventual Grey Cup champions British Columbia Lions in the semi-finals. Despite showing promise early on, attendance began to dip as fans grew tired of losing seasons and eventually relocated after just four years due to financial difficulties caused by low attendance figures.
Despite being short-lived, many sports fans remember fondly what could’ve been for this historic franchise had things gone differently during those first few years; however, there is no denying that despite their brief existence, they left behind some great memories for CFL enthusiasts all over Canada!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history