393:, which was well below the standards expected for a professional football team. At the time, it was made up mostly of temporary-style bleacher seats. It only had threadbare amenities, and fans were forced to use port-a-potties. The stadium was also uncovered, and offered no protection from Sacramento's often oppressive summer heat. One area in which Hornet Stadium would prove to be ideal was field size; because it was built with a running track, it was relatively easy to accommodate the full length and width of the larger Canadian field (110 yards x 65 yards vs 100 yards x
386:, over 890 miles (1,430 km) away. They had to market themselves, receiving no assistance from the CFL. This distance was partially lessened when the CFL added the Las Vegas Posse for the 1994 season, but that team's collapse after only one season left the Gold Miners once again far isolated from even their American competitors (the only other American teams, Shreveport and Baltimore, were 1,900 and 2,700 miles (3,100 and 4,300 km) away, respectively).
141:
29:
453:, were similarly unacceptable. Hughes Stadium was ruled out because it was used by several high schools; the CFL plays many games on Friday nights, the same night as most American high school football games. Toomey Field seated just over 10,000 people—only half the minimum capacity for a CFL stadium. Even if it could have been expanded, it was only connected to Sacramento by way of the narrow
345:
The Gold Miners made a decided improvement from their 1993 inaugural season with a 9–8–1 record. They had a 5–3–1 home record and a 4–5 road mark. Sacramento was ranked fourth in team defense, behind
Calgary, Edmonton and Baltimore — the teams with the three best records in the league. But the record
407:
yards for the
American field) within the track and only cut small portions of the corners, a situation accommodated at a few other Canadian stadiums as well. Attendance did hover around 15,000 per game, but it was widely known that as many as 2,000 of those 15,000 were given free tickets. In 1993
381:
However, the Gold Miners were hobbled by substantial off-the-field problems that ultimately proved too much to overcome. Since the San
Antonio club that was also supposed to be a part of the 1993 expansion had folded, the Gold Miners were the only American team in the CFL during the 1993 season.
313:. The positives for the franchise were the facts that they had a 5–4 home record and were ranked 5th in team defense. Harris was also selected as a member of the 1993 CFL All-Star Team, which showed signs that the team had a good mix of players and staff to improve on for the following season.
247:
started, the Gold Miners, with an all-US staff, took some time to learn the intricacies of
Canadian football. But the team was fortunate enough to have leadership from Archer and got great plays from Harris. In their first season, the Sacramento Gold Miners entered the CFL history books by:
195:
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
346:
was only good enough for fifth place in the tough West
Division. The Miners would have finished fourth with a 10–7–1 record, if not for a poor call by the officials in the team's last game of the season in Edmonton. Archer appeared to throw a game-winning touchdown pass to
341:
name to be used). The Gold Miners were once again a part of CFL history when they played against the Las Vegas Posse in
Sacramento on July 8, 1994. The game was the first-ever game that involved two American-based teams in the CFL. Las Vegas won the game, 32–26.
424:
to
Sacramento, but had ended up being mothballed. Anderson, however, could not come to terms with the local governments. Years later, Sacramento State would upgrade Hornet Stadium to professional standards to accommodate the
411:
Unable to persuade
Sacramento State to upgrade Hornet Stadium to something approaching professional standards, Anderson tried to get the city to build a new stadium for the Gold Miners and his minor-league baseball club, the
889:
904:
350:, but the officials ruled that it had short-hopped into Baysinger's hands. Replays showed that Baysinger had caught the ball cleanly. As it was, the Gold Miners finished one point behind the 10-8
437:
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,
1065:
899:
1286:
232:, the team's wide receivers coach (after serving as a defensive assistant with the Surge) and later director of player personnel, later would become general manager of the
609:
1301:
1281:
305:
The Gold Miners also entered the CFL record books by recording the most wins by an expansion team with 6 wins (the record was broken the following year by the
1291:
1296:
347:
362:
Despite a mediocre on-field record, the Gold Miners represented a serious attempt to form a viable professional football organization. Anderson and
827:
1276:
370:
were considered the only truly dedicated US CFL owners. Anderson's longtime sidekick Tom Bass handled the day-to-day operations, while coach
1271:
1057:
200:). Additionally, several players and administrators made the switch from the WLAF to the CFL. These players included starting quarterback
723:
378:
handled the football side. As with the team, it took Stephenson some time to adapt to the Canadian game, but he was eventually successful.
1266:
681:
228:, who was the Gold Miners' Director of Marketing in 1993 and 1994, which was a similar post he held with the Surge in 1991 and 1992.
495:
290:
also played one game in Canada against a CFL team in 1961, with CFL's Hamilton defeating AFL's Buffalo, 38–21. Prior to that, the
1240:
718:
484:, greatly reducing travel burdens. The Texans only played one season in San Antonio before the CFL exited the American market.
283:
106:
820:
354:
for the last playoff spot in the West. As it turned out, this would be the last game the team would play in Sacramento.
321:
In their second season, the Gold Miners were no longer the lone American team as the CFL introduced three new teams: the
1149:
1121:
989:
984:
636:
547:
520:
213:
1177:
1048:
920:
390:
338:
174:
170:
266:(winning 37–26) on July 24. (However, they were not the first American team to win against a CFL team—see below.)
1261:
1172:
813:
446:
295:
1192:
1187:
1154:
956:
686:
96:
460:
Faced with an unsustainable travel situation and the lack of a suitable facility, Anderson moved the team to
237:
1182:
1139:
626:
286:) played a series of exhibition games, all in Canada, with the NFL team winning all of those matches. The
1144:
76:
621:
201:
442:
426:
351:
287:
279:
263:
309:). The Gold Miners finished the season with a 6–12 record, which placed them in last place of the
696:
438:
221:
408:
the average home attendance was 16,979, but in 1994 the average home attendance fell to 14,226.
857:
417:
158:
61:
1078:
1041:
481:
299:
165:. The Gold Miners inherited a home stadium, front office staff and much of the roster of the
1209:
605:
270:
It is sometimes stated that the Gold Miners were the first American team to play against a
28:
8:
1073:
421:
363:
330:
306:
275:
1222:
1103:
1093:
1010:
738:
646:
465:
326:
256:
51:
310:
154:
785:
761:
1088:
1034:
1015:
477:
291:
233:
166:
1164:
1131:
1113:
1083:
968:
733:
728:
601:
552:
525:
469:
322:
244:
225:
962:
706:
666:
371:
197:
86:
41:
1255:
786:"The Canadian Football League 1994 Season Team Standings on CFLdb Statistics"
762:"The Canadian Football League 1993 Season Team Standings on CFLdb Statistics"
691:
656:
651:
454:
282:
and the CFL (and the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, forerunner of the
217:
1026:
701:
676:
597:
593:
450:
413:
375:
229:
604:
on television. Roye replaced Youngblood as TV analyst in 1994 and former
805:
671:
631:
461:
262:
Becoming the first American team to record a win in the CFL, against the
205:
476:, and was geographically close to the American CFL clubs in Shreveport,
865:
661:
641:
367:
209:
65:
140:
581:
473:
589:
383:
274:
team and to play on Canadian soil when they were the guests of the
472:. San Antonio had the benefits of having a brand-new stadium, the
302:
in 1941 in a three-game series, which Columbus won, 2 games to 1.
1005:
936:
585:
255:
Becoming the first American team to host a CFL game, against the
162:
271:
418:
complete a project that had been started several years earlier
278:(losing 32–23) on July 7. However, in the 1950s and 1960s the
334:
457:. In any event, the CFL frequently plays on Saturdays.
429:
and the stadium would later be named after Anderson.
1287:
Defunct Canadian football teams in the United States
252:
Becoming the first American team to play in the CFL.
894:
612:became the Miners' radio play-by-play announcer.
1253:
615:
1302:American football teams disestablished in 1995
1282:Defunct American football teams in California
1042:
821:
163:American team in the Canadian Football League
1292:Defunct sports clubs and teams in California
1217:Mississippi (suspended prior to 1995 season)
1056:
724:Comparison of Canadian and American football
1297:American football teams established in 1993
1049:
1035:
835:
828:
814:
139:
27:
16:Defunct Canadian Football League franchise
445:(where the Surge had played in 1991) and
224:(RB). One notable team administrator was
1241:CFL USA all time records and statistics
719:CFL USA all-time records and statistics
575:
333:(who were known as the CFLers when the
1277:Defunct Canadian Football League teams
1254:
432:
1030:
809:
1272:1995 disestablishments in California
941:First American based team in the CFL
580:Gold Miners games were broadcast on
173:. The team played its home games at
13:
14:
1313:
1267:1993 establishments in California
171:World League of American Football
116:Aqua, old gold, black, and white
357:
389:Another drag on attendance was
382:Their nearest opponent was the
296:American Football League (1940)
185:
778:
754:
316:
190:
161:. The franchise was the first
1:
1225:(folded prior to 1993 season)
747:
852:Moved to San Antonio in 1995
616:Players and builders of note
7:
712:
10:
1318:
1140:Baltimore F.C. (CFL Colts)
487:
259:(losing 38–36) on July 17.
180:
1233:
1223:San Antonio Texans (1993)
1201:
1163:
1130:
1112:
1064:
998:
977:
948:
929:
913:
877:
845:
443:Charles C. Hughes Stadium
427:Sacramento Mountain Lions
138:
133:
112:
102:
92:
82:
72:
57:
47:
37:
24:
1058:CFL in the United States
967:Special Projects/Radio:
352:Saskatchewan Roughriders
288:American Football League
280:National Football League
264:Saskatchewan Roughriders
439:Sacramento City College
1262:Sacramento Gold Miners
1150:Sacramento Gold Miners
1122:Sacramento Gold Miners
1099:Sacramento Gold Miners
838:Sacramento Gold Miners
238:United Football League
159:Sacramento, California
151:Sacramento Gold Miners
20:Sacramento Gold Miners
1178:Birmingham Barracudas
1079:Birmingham Barracudas
300:Winnipeg Blue Bombers
606:San Francisco Giants
576:Radio and television
1173:Baltimore Stallions
1074:Baltimore Stallions
433:Move to San Antonio
422:Los Angeles Raiders
364:Baltimore Stallions
331:Baltimore Stallions
307:Baltimore Stallions
284:CFL's East Division
276:Ottawa Rough Riders
21:
1193:Shreveport Pirates
1188:San Antonio Texans
1155:Shreveport Pirates
1104:Shreveport Pirates
1094:San Antonio Texans
1011:San Antonio Texans
739:San Antonio Texans
647:David Diaz-Infante
337:did not allow the
327:Shreveport Pirates
257:Calgary Stampeders
19:
1249:
1248:
1024:
1023:
573:
572:
420:to lure the then-
348:Freeman Baysinger
169:from the defunct
155:Canadian football
147:
146:
1309:
1183:Memphis Mad Dogs
1089:Memphis Mad Dogs
1051:
1044:
1037:
1028:
1027:
1016:Sacramento Surge
868:
860:
839:
830:
823:
816:
807:
806:
800:
799:
797:
796:
782:
776:
775:
773:
772:
758:
492:
491:
416:. He planned to
406:
405:
401:
398:
292:Columbus Bullies
234:Omaha Nighthawks
167:Sacramento Surge
143:
129:
126:
123:
120:
31:
22:
18:
1317:
1316:
1312:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1307:
1306:
1252:
1251:
1250:
1245:
1229:
1197:
1159:
1145:Las Vegas Posse
1126:
1108:
1084:Las Vegas Posse
1060:
1055:
1025:
1020:
994:
978:CFL seasons (2)
973:
969:Jack Youngblood
944:
925:
909:
873:
866:
858:
849:Founded in 1993
841:
837:
834:
804:
803:
794:
792:
784:
783:
779:
770:
768:
760:
759:
755:
750:
744:
734:1994 CFL season
729:1993 CFL season
715:
618:
602:Jack Youngblood
578:
490:
470:1995 CFL season
435:
403:
399:
396:
394:
360:
323:Las Vegas Posse
319:
245:1993 CFL season
226:Jack Youngblood
193:
188:
183:
127:
124:
121:
118:
117:
68:, United States
33:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1315:
1305:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1247:
1246:
1244:
1243:
1237:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1227:
1219:
1214:
1212:(never played)
1210:Miami Manatees
1205:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1169:
1167:
1161:
1160:
1158:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1136:
1134:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1124:
1118:
1116:
1110:
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1107:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1070:
1068:
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1054:
1053:
1046:
1039:
1031:
1022:
1021:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1002:
1000:
996:
995:
993:
992:
987:
981:
979:
975:
974:
972:
971:
965:
963:Kay Stephenson
959:
952:
950:
946:
945:
943:
942:
939:
933:
931:
927:
926:
924:
923:
921:Hornet Stadium
917:
915:
911:
910:
908:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
881:
879:
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874:
872:
871:
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846:
843:
842:
833:
832:
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801:
790:stats.cfldb.ca
777:
766:stats.cfldb.ca
752:
751:
749:
746:
742:
741:
736:
731:
726:
721:
714:
711:
710:
709:
707:Kay Stephenson
704:
699:
694:
689:
684:
679:
674:
669:
667:Bobby Humphery
664:
659:
654:
649:
644:
639:
637:George Bethune
634:
629:
624:
617:
614:
577:
574:
571:
570:
567:
564:
561:
558:
555:
550:
544:
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540:
537:
534:
531:
528:
523:
517:
516:
513:
510:
507:
504:
501:
498:
489:
486:
434:
431:
391:Hornet Stadium
372:Kay Stephenson
359:
356:
318:
315:
268:
267:
260:
253:
214:George Bethune
198:Kay Stephenson
192:
189:
187:
184:
182:
179:
175:Hornet Stadium
157:team based in
145:
144:
136:
135:
131:
130:
114:
110:
109:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
87:Kay Stephenson
84:
80:
79:
77:Hornet Stadium
74:
70:
69:
59:
55:
54:
49:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1314:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
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1270:
1268:
1265:
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1260:
1259:
1257:
1242:
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1232:
1226:
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1215:
1213:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1170:
1168:
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1162:
1156:
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1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1135:
1133:
1129:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1115:
1111:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1052:
1047:
1045:
1040:
1038:
1033:
1032:
1029:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1003:
1001:
997:
991:
988:
986:
983:
982:
980:
976:
970:
966:
964:
960:
958:
957:Fred Anderson
954:
953:
951:
949:Key personnel
947:
940:
938:
935:
934:
932:
928:
922:
919:
918:
916:
912:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
882:
880:
876:
870:
869:
862:
861:
854:
851:
848:
847:
844:
840:
831:
826:
824:
819:
817:
812:
811:
808:
791:
787:
781:
767:
763:
757:
753:
745:
740:
737:
735:
732:
730:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
716:
708:
705:
703:
700:
698:
695:
693:
692:Mike Oliphant
690:
688:
685:
683:
680:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
663:
660:
658:
657:Bill Goldberg
655:
653:
652:Malcolm Frank
650:
648:
645:
643:
640:
638:
635:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
620:
619:
613:
611:
607:
603:
599:
596:on radio and
595:
591:
587:
583:
568:
565:
562:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
545:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
527:
524:
522:
519:
518:
514:
511:
508:
505:
502:
499:
497:
494:
493:
485:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
458:
456:
455:Yolo Causeway
452:
448:
444:
440:
430:
428:
423:
419:
415:
409:
392:
387:
385:
379:
377:
373:
369:
365:
358:Off the field
355:
353:
349:
343:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
314:
312:
311:West Division
308:
303:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
265:
261:
258:
254:
251:
250:
249:
246:
241:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
218:Mike Oliphant
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
178:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
142:
137:
132:
115:
111:
108:
107:West Division
105:
101:
98:
97:Fred Anderson
95:
91:
88:
85:
81:
78:
75:
71:
67:
63:
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
43:
40:
36:
30:
23:
1221:
1216:
1208:
1098:
961:Head Coach:
905:Head coaches
884:
864:
856:
836:
793:. Retrieved
789:
780:
769:. Retrieved
765:
756:
743:
702:James Pruitt
697:Mike Pringle
682:Paul Liggett
677:Mike Kiselak
622:David Archer
598:Grant Napear
594:Lee Grosscup
579:
459:
451:Toomey Field
436:
410:
388:
380:
376:Tom Huiskens
361:
344:
320:
304:
269:
242:
230:Rick Mueller
222:Mike Pringle
202:David Archer
194:
186:On the field
150:
148:
672:Carl Parker
632:Kerwin Bell
610:David Glass
462:San Antonio
414:Modesto A's
317:1994 season
298:played the
206:Carl Parker
191:1993 season
1256:Categories
1234:Statistics
867:California
859:Sacramento
795:2024-06-14
771:2024-06-14
748:References
687:Troy Mills
662:Rod Harris
642:Tony Burse
608:announcer
584:radio and
557:5th, West
530:5th, West
482:Birmingham
368:Jim Speros
210:Rod Harris
83:Head coach
73:Home field
66:California
62:Sacramento
885:Franchise
878:Franchise
855:Based in
515:Playoffs
474:Alamodome
243:When the
220:(RB) and
999:See also
955:Owners:
914:Stadiums
713:See also
627:Tom Bass
590:Tim Roye
468:for the
447:UC Davis
384:BC Lions
329:and the
272:Canadian
103:Division
93:Owner(s)
58:Based in
1006:CFL USA
937:CFL USA
900:Seasons
895:Players
890:Records
586:KRBK-TV
509:Losses
503:Finish
500:League
488:Seasons
478:Memphis
464:as the
402:⁄
374:and GM
294:of the
236:in the
181:History
153:were a
134:Uniform
113:Colours
38:Founded
496:Season
480:, and
466:Texans
366:owner
325:, the
216:(DT),
212:(WR),
208:(WR),
128:
125:
122:
119:
48:Folded
1202:Other
1066:Teams
588:with
512:Ties
506:Wins
339:Colts
1165:1995
1132:1994
1114:1993
990:1994
985:1993
930:Lore
600:and
592:and
582:KFBK
548:1994
521:1993
149:The
52:1995
42:1993
569:No
553:CFL
542:No
536:12
526:CFL
441:'s
335:NFL
1258::
863:,
788:.
764:.
566:1
563:8
560:9
539:0
533:6
449:'
395:53
240:.
204:,
177:.
64:,
1050:e
1043:t
1036:v
829:e
822:t
815:v
798:.
774:.
404:3
400:1
397:+
196:(
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