They were members of the Central (1996–1997) and Western (1998–2001) Division of the American Conference of the Arena Football League (AFL).

The team played at the Myriad, now known as the Cox Convention Center, in downtown Oklahoma City.

In years of 1997, 1998, and 1999, the Forest Dragons compiled records of 2–12, 4–10, and 7–7, never making the playoffs while in Portland.

During the 1998 season the team featured receiver Oronde Gadsden, who won the league's Rookie of the Year award, and went on to sign with the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

[3] The AFL's developmental league af2 welcomed the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz to play from 2004 to 2009.