"The Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League announced Wednesday that they will be entering dormancy and not participating in the league's 2026 season. The Panthers, who were co-founded in 2020 by Oakland football legend Marshawn Lynch, have played at San Jose's SAP Center over their four seasons of existence. The team was initially named the Oakland Panthers in honor of the Black Panthers and expected to play at the Oakland Arena after the Raiders' and Warriors' departure from the Coliseum complex."
"The COVID-19 pandemic complicated their launch, and they ultimately moved to San Jose and changed their name to represent the whole region before they even played a game. Bay Area won the IFL championship in 2023, the Panthers' second year of competition in the league. The Panthers lost their first-round playoff game in early August to the eventual champion Vegas Knight Hawks after going 13-3 in the regular season."
"Going into dormancy allows us to step back, reassess, and explore ways to reimagine the future of the team in a way that is sustainable, competitive and meaningful for everyone involved, the team's release said. The Bay Area has been host to successful arena football in the past, as the San Jose SaberCats won four Arena Football League championships between their inception in 1995 and their folding in 2015."
The Bay Area Panthers will pause operations and not participate in the Indoor Football League 2026 season, citing rising operational costs, increased venue and travel expenses and broader economic pressures. The team was co-founded in 2020 by Oakland football legend Marshawn Lynch and has played four seasons at San Jose's SAP Center after moving from an initial Oakland plan complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bay Area won the IFL championship in 2023 and went 13-3 this past regular season before losing a first-round playoff game to the eventual champion Vegas Knight Hawks. Dormancy is intended to allow reassessment and exploration of a sustainable future.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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