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| Source:ESPN- The Memphis Showboats playing the Portland Breakers, at Portland Civic Stadium, in 1985. |
“Portland tied a United States Football League record by picking off six Mike Kelley passes, the last one to set up Tim Mazzetti’s 44-yard field goal with no time remaining as the Breakers upset the Memphis Showboats 17-14.
Kelley had only been intercepted five times all season before Saturday night’s troubles.
The Breakers, who snapped a six-game losing streak, also set a USFL mark by returning the interceptions for 120 yards.
The loss snapped the Showboats’ four-game winning string to drop their record to 8-6. Portland is 4-10.
Memphis dominated the contest offensively but the turnovers kept Portland close. The Breakers also successfully appealed two officials’ rulings by use of television replays. One of the rulings negated a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown by Henry Williams early in the final quarter.”
From USFL Forever
Unlike with Memphis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Birmingham, and a few other USFL cities, there wasn't even much of a major college football background and history in Portland, Oregon, let alone a major league pro football history. So there was never any real need for a major league caliber American football stadium, in Portland, at least before the Breakers moved there in 1985. Which is why they played at a big, minor league, baseball, which is what Portland Civic Stadium was essentially, not a football stadium.
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| Source:ESPN- the Showboats and Breakers from 1985. |
Playing pro football in a baseball park which is what Portland Civic Stadium was before they converted it to a soccer stadium. And Portland will need a football stadium if they are going to get another major league pro football franchise.
Memphis and Portland are markets that the USFL should’ve been looking at back then and should be looking at today. If they are serious about coming back. Something they’ve talked about since 2011-12. Because these are markets that are not currently occupied by the NFL and they wouldn’t have to compete with the NFL for their fans.
Memphis and Portland are major markets that can both support major league football franchises. Which is what the old USFL was and what a new USFL would be. If they get an agreement with the NFL about training their players in the spring.
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