Oregon would not see the AFL again until 2013 when the Portland Thunder were established by Clackamas billionaire Terry Emmert and would take the field a few months later.

The Thunder were rebranded as the Portland Steel in 2016 after the league took control of the franchise from Emmert, then abruptly folded at season's end with no explanation.

The ownership group was announced to have been led by former Oregon Ducks standout and current New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and that their head coach is former player Chuck Jones.

[12] In a statement, Johnson expressed surprise that his organization had not been involved in the decision and that he would accept the ruling and disband the team, beginning negotiations with other leagues to ensure Blackbears players could finish the season elsewhere.

[10] After declining a Week 5 reassignment to play the Southwest Kansas Storm in place of the Billings Outlaws "due to unforeseen circumstances,"[19] the Blackbears were briefly removed from the Arena Football League's list of teams on May 27 without their knowledge before being restored later that day.

The Lightning were established as a new franchise, legally the successor to the former Oregon High Desert Storm of the American West Football Conference, to sever any remaining ties to Hutton and Gaines.

Jones is a co-owner of the Lightning in addition to his head coach role, while Johnson is a senior advisor to the team..[24]