The Pittsburgh Gladiators were one of four founding members of the Arena Football League in 1987. The novelty of 50-yard indoor football caught some traction in the Steel City in the summer of ’87. All four of the Glads’ home games in the summer of 1987 drew strong crowds, culminating when Pittsburgh hosted Arena Bowl I at the Civic Arena before 13,232 and an ESPN national TV audience on August 1, 1987.
This brief entry in the Arena Football League shared Portland, Oregon’s 19,000-seat Rose Garden arena with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Largely undistinguished in competition, the Dragons did help to jumpstart the NFL career of wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, who went on to a solid 6-year stint with the Miami Dolphins after excelling in Portland.
Arena Football League (1987, 1989-1990) Born: 1987 – Arena Football founding franchise Folded: Postseason 1990 First Game: June 19, 1987 (L 48-46 @ Pittsburgh Gladiators) Last Game:
The Tampa Bay Storm were arguably the greatest franchise in the 30-year history of the Arena Football League(s). The Storm played for 26 seasons and won 5 Arena Bowl titles. For many years the team was among the most popular box office attractions in the AFL. The Storm’s fierce “War on I-4” rivalry with the Orlando Predators lasted a quarter century from 1991 until 2016 and drew large crowds in both cities.
This short-lived Arena Football League franchise was named after the Hooters restaurant chain. Owner Dave Lageschulte was one the early franchisees of the Hooters wings-and-boobs empire and developed the chain’s many South Florida restaurants. The team signed former Miami Dolphins stars Jim Jensen and Mark Duper and former U. of Miami Hurricanes notables Leonard Conley and Bryan Fortay in an effort to appeal to local fans.
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