Overview
- Officials announced the Stockton Crusaders Wednesday as an AF1 expansion team expected to begin play in March 2027 at Adventist Health Arena.
- The organization has hired Kurt Bryan as head coach and plans to begin roster construction through free agency later this year.
- A proposed lease for the team’s use of the arena is under city attorney review and could reach the Stockton City Council as soon as July, so the club is operating under a memorandum of understanding.
- Team leaders say they are evaluating office space, player housing and practice facilities, and they intend to run youth and education programs that keep players engaged in the community.
- Arena Football One is a nine-team national indoor league formed in 2024 and led by former NFL coach Jeff Fisher, with league games televised nationally which links Stockton to a broader professional circuit.