Tag: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Los Angeles Toros Soccer

Los Angeles Toros

January 30, 2018

The Los Angeles Toros were a One-Year Wonder in the start-up National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967. The team was part of a soccer war between the NPSL and another 1967 start-up, the United Soccer Association (USA). Both leagues placed franchises into the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in the spring of 1967. The Toros, owned by L.A. Rams owner Dan Reeves, fought for fans and prime dates against the USA’s Los Angeles Wolves, backed by L.A. Lakers and Kings chief Jack Kent Cooke.

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George Benitez on the cover of a 1968 Los Angeles Wolves program from the North American Soccer League

Los Angeles Wolves

August 30, 2016

The Los Angeles Wolves were a pro soccer club founded in 1967 by Los Angeles Lakers and Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke. In the scramble to get ready to play the 1967 season, each United Soccer Association franchise imported an entire team from Europe or South America to cosplay as an American club. The 1967 Wolves were actually Wolverhampton of England, and the American club derived its name from the English club’s nickname. The Wolves won the 1967 United Soccer Association championship, defeating the Washington Whips at L.A. Memorial Coliseum. In 1968, the Wolves moved to the Rose Bowl and the newly formed North American Soccer League. The club disbanded following the 1968 campaign.

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Los Angeles Skyhawks American Soccer League

Los Angeles Skyhawks

December 11, 2015

The Los Angeles Skyhawks were a 2nd Division pro soccer outfit that competed in the American Soccer League during the late 1970’s. The Skyhawks won a league championship in its debut season of 1976 under the direction of British coach Ron Newman, who went on to be a highly successful coach in the NASL, MISL and Major League Soccer. The club labored in the shadows of the bigger budget Los Angeles Aztecs of the NASL, who boasted international superstars such as George Best and Johan Cruyff during the same years that the Skyhawks scuffled along in obscurity.

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Quarterback Steve Young on the cover of the 1985 Los Angeles Express media guide from the USFL

Los Angeles Express

January 3, 2015

United States Football League (1983-1985) Born: May 11, 1982 – USFL founding franchise Folded: Postseason 1985 First Game: March 6, 1983 (W 20-15 vs. New

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2001 Los Angeles Xtreme Media Guide from the XFL

Los Angeles Xtreme

January 25, 2013

The Xtreme were the first and only champions of the original XFL, the start-up pro football league conceived by WWE wrestling kingpin Vince McMahon. The Xtreme won the league’s “Million Dollar Game” championship at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on April 21, 2001 only to watch the league fold three weeks later. The team did help to re-launch the career of starting quarterback Tommy Maddox, a former NFL 1st round draft choice who won XFL Most Valuable Players honors in 2001 and became the NFL’s Comeback Player-of-the-Year in 2002 as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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