The team played the entire 2022 Indoor Football League season at Rio Rancho Events Center.

The team was formed in February 2015 by an ownership group called Duke City Sports Entertainment Group, Inc. a New Mexico corporation consisting of several investors, which also included Gladiators founder and general manager Matt Caward, along with co-founder and head coach Dominic Bramante, and director of media relations Andres Trujillo.

)[12] The Gladiators had originally looked to join the X-League Indoor Football but geographical and financial considerations as well as the sudden availability of the CIF franchise slot led the team to change directions.

[4] Regular season promotions included Hispanic Heritage Night on March 28 and Public Service Day on April 26.

[20] Head coach Dominic Bramante, who had been with the team since its inaugural season, was not retained during the offseason after his contract had ended.

Head coach Martino Theus was replaced at the end of June 2021 after a 2–4 record by former Gladiator quarterback Robert Kent Jr.[28] On January 9, 2025, the Gladiators changed ownership with new owners Michael Fietz and Bob Pitre taking control of the team from previous owner Gina Prieskorn-Thomas effective immediately.