By March 1995, an investment group that originally sought to relocate the defunct Las Vegas Posse franchise announced their intention to pursue an expansion franchise to begin play in the 1996 season.

To be coached by Ron Meyer, the team needed to sell 20,000 to 25,000 tickets per game to break even.

[1] Although previously stating that an expansion franchise would be preferred, the Miami ownership group sought to purchase the Las Vegas team after deals to relocate to Jackson, Mississippi, and Los Angeles, California, fell through.

[2] Following an exhibition at the Orange Bowl between the Baltimore Stallions and the Birmingham Barracudas that drew an announced 20,250 spectators, the ownership group continued its pursuit to relocate the Posse franchise.

[4] Had the league gone forward with American teams in the 1996 season, the Manatees would have been the only CFL team to compete directly in an NFL market (the Baltimore Stallions refused to do so and moved to Montreal to become the revived Montreal Alouettes; had Baltimore stayed in the U.S. it would have relocated to recently vacated Houston).