Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice, But Is the Third Time a Charm?
I get it, San Antonio; we loved the Commanders. The intro was great, the team carried the city’s identity, and we had excellent attendance at the games. Then it happened, the AAF folded, and it hurt! “Fool me once.” Next came the Brahmas; the XFL was back! We got to enjoy three exciting seasons of Brahmas football, and it seemed pro football was here to stay in San Antonio.
What happened next was almost unthinkable: the United Football League dissolved the San Antonio Brahmas and no longer has a presence in the Alamo City. How else could a fan feel other than “fool me twice.”
On October 22, 2025, it was announced that a new team, the San Antonio Toros of the Continental Football League, was coming to San Antonio. The question has to be asked: are we only to put our heart and soul into another team just for them to fold or be relocated? Will this reimagined version of the Toros gain the city’s trust to tear it to shreds?
Understandably, a once-jaded fan would ask these types of questions, but perhaps there is a more positive viewpoint. Maybe there are reasons to be optimistic, and maybe, just perhaps, the third time can be a charm!
Meet the Ironmen
As we search for reasons for optimism, another team in the Continental Football League provides us with a glimmer of hope: the Ohio Valley Ironmen, a team that is leading the way and setting the example. What can we learn from them?
The Ohio Valley Ironmen is a team out in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the flagship team of the revived Continental Football League (COFL) and are taking a different approach to securing financing and sustainability. They’ve launched a Wefunder campaign, and what it says speaks volumes about their goals and ambitions. We Funders is a crowdfunding platform that European Soccer teams have widely used in the past, and we believe it is not a very popular tool among tech startups in Silicon Valley.
Founded in 1962, the Ironmen are being reborn in 2025! Their vision, “We’re building more than a team — we’re rebuilding football for the forgotten towns,” Says team owner Manny Matsakis. But they are giving fans more than just a team to cheer for; they are giving fans a chance to own the team! Think Green Bay Packers fan ownership, but on steroids.
Reasons for Optimism
We have arrived at the reason “why” fans should be optimistic: the Ironmen are offering the people of the Ohio Valley the opportunity to own an equity stake in the team. With roots tracing back to their championship days in the ‘60s United Football League, they’re proving a model for sustainability, a model that could be the key to keeping them around for a very long time. So, how’s this going to work?
The Wefunder campaign allows everyday fans to invest in the team—think of it as fans buying a ticket to the future of their football team. The money raised can go toward building a solid foundation: player development, community events, and maybe even a top-notch stadium vibe. Manny Matsakis, the Ironmen’s General Manager and Head Coach, has poured his heart into this revival, showing the Ironmen are here to stay.
The San Antonio Toros
Now, how does this parallel the San Antonio Toros? The Toros, also part of this CoFL revival, give us the same reasons to be excited. Like the Ironmen, they’re tapping into a rich history—six championships from the late ‘60s to early ‘70s—and they’re back with a hunger to reclaim their glory. The Toros’ return, paired with the Ironmen’s model of fan-owned success, gives us a lot to be optimistic about. If the Ironmen can thrive with this Wefunder boost, it’s a blueprint for the Toros to follow, ensuring our team sticks around.
Imagine the tailgates, the rivalries, the pride of owning a stake in our own team, not one that a league can take away. This will be a team-owned and fan-funded by the fans who love the team! Plus, this is a team started and already owned by local San Antonians. One of the local owners, Josh Mair, said about Wefunder, “This is the first time in San Antonio outdoor football history that the fans will have an opportunity to own the team!”
So now the big questions… San Antonio, are you ready? As in, are you ready to root for the Toros once again? Are you ready to get hyped and cheer alongside owners who understand the pain of losing a local team and who desire for a team to succeed and stay in San Antonio just as much as you do? Are you ready not just to cheer for a team, but to be an owner of that team and help ensure its long-term success?
If so, well then, we as a group of football fans can confidently say yes! Yes, the third time’s a charm! The Ironmen’s example shows us that with fan support and smart funding, the Toros could be here to stay. We can get ready for a 2026 season that’ll have us perhaps more excited for San Antonio football than ever before, because in a way that has never happened before, this will be OUR team!
This is our moment, San Antonio—let’s make it legendary!