Los Angeles Express (USFL)
| Los Angeles Express | |
|---|---|
 
|
|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Folded | 1985 |
| Based in | Los Angeles, United States |
| Home field | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| League | USFL |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Pacific Division |
| Team History | Los Angeles Express (1983–1985) |
| Team colors |
Express blue, silver, burgundy, white |
| Head coaches | 1983 Hugh Campbell (8-10) 1984–1985 John Hadl (14-24) |
| Owner(s) | 1983 Alan Harmon & Bill Daniels 1984 J. William Oldenburg 1985 USFL |
| Division championships | 1984 |
Express blue, silver, burgundy, white
The Los Angeles Express was a team in the United States Football League (USFL) based in Los Angeles, California. Playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Express competed in all three of the USFL seasons played, 1983–1985.
Cable television pioneers Alan Harmon and Bill Daniels were awarded a USFL franchise for San Diego when the league announced its formation in 1982. However, the city refused to grant the team a lease to play at Jack Murphy Stadium under pressure from the stadium's existing tenants—baseball's Padres, the NFL's Chargers, and the NASL's Sockers. The only other outdoor facility available in the area was Balboa Stadium, the original home of the Chargers. However, it was a relatively antiquated facility (built in 1915) that had not had a major tenant since the Chargers moved into Jack Murphy in 1967, and was now largely used by high school teams. This was an untenable situation for a team that was aspiring to be part of a major sports league.
With only eight months before the season was to start, Harmon and Daniels decided to move to Los Angeles with the league's blessing—in the process, forcing Jim Joseph, second owner of the Los Angeles USFL franchise, to move his team. Joseph relocated his franchise to Phoenix, Arizona, as the Arizona Wranglers.
The Los Angeles Express drafted Dan Marino as the first pick in USFL history. Marino made some appearances on behalf of the Express before signing with the Miami Dolphins.
The Express also made a serious run at Eric Dickerson, and actually matched the Los Angeles Rams' offer for him. However, Dickerson signed with the Rams, apparently because family members were skeptical about the USFL.
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