The Continental Football League is continuing to build toward its return to the field, and another historic franchise is officially back in the fold. Today, the Continental Football League (CoFL) announced the return of the Indianapolis Capitols as a member for the 2027 season. The Capitols will be based in Indianapolis, with Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, planned as the club’s practice and gameday home venue.
The return brings one of the most recognizable names from the original CoFL back into professional football. The Indianapolis Capitols were part of the league’s original era and captured the 1969 Continental Cup, defeating the San Antonio Toros 44-38 in the championship game.
More than five decades later, the Capitols are preparing to write another chapter. “The Capitols carry one of the most decorated names in the league’s history,” the league said in its announcement. “The return of the modern CoFL puts that legacy back on the field in the market that built it.”
Building the Capitols for 2027
Along with the franchise announcement, the Capitols named Lauren Boczek as President and Managing Partner. Boczek will lead the organization as it begins laying the groundwork for its return to Indianapolis. The new Capitols ownership group says it plans to focus on culture, sponsorship and community partnerships throughout Central Indiana while operating under what it describes as the CoFL’s “standards-first, community-first” model.
For Boczek, the opportunity represents more than simply bringing professional football back to Indianapolis. “This is a real opportunity — for the players, coaches, and staff who make this club what it is, and for a city that already sets the standard for how sports and community can come together,” Boczek said. She added that the organization wants to build something that reaches beyond the football field, bringing together players, fans, local businesses and the broader Indianapolis community.
Boczek brings a background in collegiate athletics, broadcasting and marketing to the position. A West Virginia native and West Virginia University graduate in Public Relations and Political Science, she spent 17 seasons in the arena public-address announcing space for WVU women’s basketball and has served as a PA announcer and in-game host for WVU volleyball, gymnastics, and baseball. She has also worked in sports media and served as an internal public affairs announcer, along with experience in retail brands, medical and professional services marketing, brand development, digital and traditional media.
For CoFL Executive Officer Manny Matsakis, that combination of experience made Boczek an ideal choice to lead the Capitols. “I’ve spent enough time across the table from Lauren to tell you exactly what the CoFL is getting: background, work ethic, and a competitive spirit that is remarkable,” Matsakis said. “Her football intelligence is that of a gridiron aficionado – she has a command of the game from the administrative side, to the entertainment side, to the connections in the sport that make her a one-of-a-kind person to lead a professional football club”.
Matsakis also pointed toward Boczek’s early work in assembling the Indianapolis organization. “She’s already interviewing and lining up her top people for success in Indianapolis,” he said.
Continental Football League History
The CoFL originally played five seasons from 1965 to 1969, before teams departed for other leagues, forcing it to cease operations after the conclusion of its 1969 season. The league featured numerous National Football League alumni, as well as Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: Ken Stabler, Doak Walker, Bill Walsh and Steve Van Buren.
The league publicly relaunched in September 2025 under the leadership of commissioner Mike Kelly. The new COFL is community owned, and the fan focused league is positioning itself as the lone “AA” professional football league. It returned to the field in May 2026 with teams competing in two divisions (North and South), with the San Antonio Toros being crowned as league champions.
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