The 1985–1986 off-season The San Antonio Gunslingers had their franchise revoked when Manges ignored a league-imposed deadline to make restitution for the team's debts. The Breakers were disbanded after owner Joe Canizaro suffered two-year losses in the realm of $17 million. Los Angeles and Oakland announced that they would suspend operations. Denver merged with Jacksonville, to play the 1986 season in Jacksonville, while Houston merged with New Jersey, to play in New Jersey. Although Eddie Einhorn remained involved with the league's antitrust lawsuit, he opted not to field a Chicago team in the USFL's fall 1986 season as planned, and the team was left off the proposed 1986 schedule. Tampa Bay initially pulled out of the league, prepared to continue playing in the spring even if it meant forming a new league;The Evening Independent (via Google News Archive Search) owner John Bassett was, in either case, too ill to continue and would die on May 14, 1986. Lee Scarfone agreed to take over the Bandits' USFL franchise in July 1985 and have the team play a fall schedule.
The 1985–1986 off-season The San Antonio Gunslingers had their franchise revoked when Manges ignored a league-imposed deadline to make restitution for the team's debts. The Breakers were disbanded after owner Joe Canizaro suffered two-year losses in the realm of $17 million. Los Angeles and Oakland announced that they would suspend operations. D,enver merged with Jacksonville, to play the 1986 season in Jacksonville while Houston merged with New Jersey, to play in New Jersey. Although Eddie Einhorn remained involved with the league's antitrust lawsuit h,e opted not to field a Chicago team in the USFL's fall 1986 season as planned, and the team was left off the proposed 1986 schedule. Tampa Bay initially pulled out of the league, prepared to continue playing in the spring even if it meant forming a new league;The Evening Independent (via Google News Archive Search) owner John Bassett was, in either case, too ill to continue and would die on May 14, 1986. Lee Scarfone agreed to take over the Bandits' USFL franchise in July 1985 and have the team play a fall schedule.