USFL '86: The Season That Never Was

Friday, April 10, 2020

'85 Chronology-Format '86

Event Date: October 7th, 1985

Event Description: USFL  vs. NFL

Source: UPI

A streamlined alignment of two seven-team conferences was announced today by the United States Football League, which also warned that it is in high gear with the legal battle to prevent the National Football League from tampering with existing USFL franchise cities.

Under the league's new format, each of the 14 teams will play home and away within its own conference and each team meets four teams of the other conference when the 1986 regular season opens the weekend of Feb. 22nd.

The Eastern Conference consists of the Baltimore (from Philadelphia) Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, New Jersey Generals, Orlando Renegades and Tampa Bay Bandits.

Western Conference clubs are the Arizona Outlaws, Denver Gold, Houston Gamblers, Los Angeles Express, Michigan Panthers, New Orleans Breakers, and Oakland Invaders.

The San Antonio Gunslingers franchise has been placed under league control and is currently embroiled in a variety of lawsuits. In addition, the Chicago franchise has yet to be re-animated.

The USFL draft will be held January 2nd and 3rd and training camps open January 21st. The championship game is scheduled for June 28th, but the site is to be determined.

On the legal front the league has endorsed a pair of anti-trust lawsuits which are currently being put forth by the Oakland and Philadelphia franchises. 

“The purpose of today's media conference is to provide some answers as to where we're going,” said USFL commissioner Harry Usher.

Story-(UPI '84 Modified)

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