On November 12, 2015, the league announced the SaberCats would be ceasing operations due to "reasons unrelated to League operations." A statement from the league indicated that the AFL was working to secure new, long-term owners for the franchise, but no such group has emerged. In 2019, it was announced that the Indoor Football League would be expanding to Oakland with the creation of the Oakland Panthers bringing arena football back to the Bay Area for the first time since the SaberCats demise.