Stockton Lightning The Stockton Lightning were a professional arena football team . They were members of the Western Division of the National Conferenece of the arenafootball2 ( af2 ) . The Lightning joined af2 2006 as an expansion team . They played their home games at Stockton Arena in Stockton , California and were coached by Chad Carlson . The Stockton Lightning were owned by Michael Reinsdorf . History . The Lightning were formed 2005 and joined af2 in 2006 , lead by President Dan Chapman and Operator Michael Reinsdorf . The team name was announced at a November 2005 press conference at Valley Brew Restaurant , after a " Name The Team " contest and revealing of the team ' s black , red , gray and white colors . Richard Davis was also announced as the first head coach in franchise history . The first - year team featured players that were local to the area , they included ; James Newson , Josh Wallwork , Kenyatte Morgan and Lyndell Hawkins . Morgan was the player who recorded the first touchdown in franchise history , a seven - yard pass from Quarterback Josh Blankenship , in a 41 - 40 loss to the eventul ArenaCup winners , the Spokane Shock . However , two weeks later , the Lightning recorded the first win in franchise history , when they beat the Quad City Steamwheelers 60 - 46 . The Lightning finished 5 - 11 in their first season , falling just short of playoffs . After the season they hired new head coach Doug Murray , who was introduced to the media at a September 2006 press conference by his friend and rival head coach Fred Biletnikoff , Jr . who wore a Lightning hat . The season started the way 2006 had , with a loss on the road in Spokane . But , things turned around mid - season as they began to win games , a total of six . However , the season ended with losses in the last four games , missing the playoffs for the second straight year . The Lightning didn ' t improve in as they had hoped and finished 5 - 11 . Once again , missing the playoffs . In the season , the Lightning did not improve much and finishied 6 - 10 , but with this record the team finish in 3rd on NC West and made the playoffs for the first time in team history . On the playoffs , the team lost on NC Round 1 for ( Spokane ) . On January 22 , 2010 The Stockton Lightning suspended day - to - day operations for the 2010 season . The Lightning will continue to research playing opportunities after the folding of the arenafootball2 league ( af2 ) at the conclusion of the 2009 playing season . The largest indoor football league in the country , the Arena Football League ( AFL ) , ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2008 season and recently the AFL and af2 have formed a new league for the 2010 season , Arena Football One . Dan Chapman , president of the Stockton Lightning , released the following statement : " It is with a great deal of disappointment that the Stockton Lightning have decided to suspend operations for the upcoming 2010 football season . With the transition of the AFL and af2 developing into the new " Arena Football One " league , the proposed " lower tier " that was initially outlined did not become a reality . Furthermore , we have determined that the business model for the " upper tier " , which caters to larger markets , is not financially sustainable for our organization at this time . For these reasons , we feel as though we have no other viable options to play arena football this season " Statistics . Season - by - season records . ! Totals | | 22 | | 43 | | 0 < nowiki > * < / nowiki > = Current Standing