The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference

[JETStender]

Wed., Aug. 4.1976

Owning Team Can Be Expensive

WASHINGTON (AP) -
Three sports entrepreneurs have told Congress of the many problems and pitfalls of owning a team not belonging to one of the established major leagues.

Each cited the lack of a national television contract for income, high salaries for players and the "minor league" tag put on their club as reasons for losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and, in at least one case, millions. Testifying Tuesday before the House professional sports committee were John Y. Brown Jr. of the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels, A.E. Burgess of the defunct World Football League's Birmingham Vulcans, and Jay P. Moore of the Cleveland Crusaders in the World Hockey Association.

They followed Bob Short, former baseball owner who moved the Washington Senators to Texas in 1971. Short said there should be baseball in the nation's capital — a pet project for several congressmen. But he cited several conditions, including a favorable lease and better stadium security, that had to be achieved before such a franchise could become successful.

Brown said he believes professional basketball has a good future now that the ABA and the National Basketball Association have merged. But he recommended that steps be taken to eliminate owners who are not in the sport for the business. "In the horse business, if you don't make a profit in two of seven years then the burden of proof is on you to prove that it isn't a hobby," he said. "There has to be some burden on the owners to make them operate like a business. You won't survive."

He said that although the NBA has failed as much as the ABA in the past 10 years, "the fact is they had national television and standing among the fans. They had stronger and wealthier owners than we did. "The whole industry has been distorted by the money being thrown around," he said. "I don't blame it on the players. I blame it on the owners who don't operate like a business."

About the short-lived World Football League. Burgess, who was joined by Vulcans former coach and general manager Jack Gotta and part owner Bill Kelce. said the lack of a national television contract during the second year was the principle reason the league failed. He also said the WFL was "hurriedly and not properly organized." He said attendance at Birmingham's games dwindled because of the WFL's problems, primarily stemming from the folding of such teams as Chicago. Portland and San Antonio.

Moore, who also is a partner in the Cleveland Indians baseball club, said his club was not successful in Cleveland "because we were in the WHA and not the (older, more established) National Hockey League.

"We were constantly lighting the stigma of not being major league in a city which has the Indians, Browns and the Cavaliers." he said. In answer to a question, he said the California Seals, an NHL hockey team which has been moved to Cleveland, "will have the overall cost but they can charge more.. The NHL seal means something."

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Saturday, August 07, 1976

Oilers reciting an old line in WHA: 'What's up, Doc?'

Edmonton (CP) — Dr. Charles Allard, who wanted nothing more to do with Edmonton Oilers a few months ago, has decided to back the team financially for another World Hockey Association season.

The head of Allarco Developments Ltd. said Thursday his decision was made in the last day or two "because nobody else came forward." But Allard said in an interview that his decision doesn't necessarily mean there will be a team in Edmonton this season.

He said that will depend on the reaction to a secret proposal he plans to submit to a WHA meeting in Toronto Monday. Finances, he said, were no longer the major problem. ','If we're to be successful we'll need a whole new image. We'll need people who are pros at the game. We'd have to have capable people in charge.

Bill Hunter, who resigned as general June 15 but stayed on as vice-president
and one-third owner, apparently will not
be involved in the day-to-day operation of
the club. Hunter plans to go into the investment
business.

Bep Guidolin, unemployed since his January dismissal by Kansas City Scouts of the National Hockey League, is a potential candidate for the job of Oilers coach-general manager. Also reported in the running is Sandy Hucul, deposed coach of the WHA's Phoenix Roadrunners.

Allard said he has talked to Guidolin "but there hasn't been anything to offer him until we're sure we have a team." Guidolin, who coached Boston Bruins to a Stanley Cup f i n a l in 1973-74, was unavailable for comment at his home in Barrie, Ont. "He's out of town on business," his wide said. "That's all I'm allowed to say.

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Tuesday, August 10, 1976

Padres' Kroc buys Mariners

TORONTO (UPI) - The World Hockey Association announced Monday the transfer of its Cleveland franchise to St Paul, Minn., and the sale of its financially-troubled San Diego team to baseball owner-hamburger baron Ray Kroc.

Following a full day meeting, WHA Board Chairman Ben Hatskin said the franchise shifts and the new ownerships would put the league on the strongest footing of its four year history. "Today is an outstanding day for the WHA;" Hatskin said "one of the happiest times for the league because we have people in there that can weather any storms."

Besides Kroc taking over the Mariners and keeping them in San Diego, Hatskin also announced the Edmonton, AB franchise would operate this year under new ownership and the new St. Paul entry would be directed by Nick Meliti.

Mileti, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association, was the original owner of the WHA Cleveland Crusaders when they entered the league but gave up control of the team last year.The move to St. Paul ends a WHA bid to put the Cleveland team in Hollywood, Fla., announced several months ago Hatskin said that issue now was dead, although the league still might expand to Florida next year.

In St. Paul, the WHA again will face competition from the National Hockey League Minnesota North Stars in the other half of the Twin-Cities, Minneapolis Last year, the WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints folded after unsuccessfully trying to share the Minneapolis market with the NHL this time around, Hatskin said, "We've just going to concentrate on St. Paul, not Minneapolis."

Kroc, head of the McDonald’s hamburger empire and Owner of the baseball San Diego Padres that s been in San Diego for two years without much financial success and has been underwritten by the league 'since the end of last season.

Hatskin refused to reveal Kroc's investment in the franchise, saying only that he'd "look after all (financial) obligations." In Edmonton, the team's new owner was Dr. Charles AIlard. president of Allarco and " Edmonton Video Ltd.

Last year, the WHA began with 14 teams in three divisions, but was reduced to 12 before the season ended because of the collapse of the Minnesota team and the Denver franchise that moved briefly to Ottawa but still could not meet its financial needs.

This season, the league will stay with 12 teams in two divisions, with Quebec City, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Birmingham, Ala., (the former Toronto Toros) and St. Paul in the Eastern Division. The Western Division will consist of Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, San Diego, Houston and Phoenix.

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1976

San Diego businessman new Mariners' owner

TORONTO (CP) — Ray Kroc, a San Diego businessman, has purchased the San Diego Mariners franchise of the World Hockey Association, Ben Hatskin, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the WHA, announced Monday.

Details of the deal, completed at the league's annual meeting Monday, were not announced. Kroc owns San Diego Padres of baseball's National League and is the founder of the McDonald's hamburger chain. The Mariners had been without an owner since Joe Schwartz, a Baltimore businessman, missed a payroll and defaulted on the franchise last March.

Larry Gordon, WHA executive vice-president, said Kroc's lawyers told the meeting that the Mariners would continue to operate out of the 13,039-seat San Diego Sports Arena. "Mr. Kroc's attorneys indicated they have reached verbal agreement with the owner of the rink and will be flying to San Diego to sign a deal," Gordon said. The Sports Arena is owned by Vancouver-born millionaire Peter Graham.

In other business, the WHA a p p r o v e d the transfer of Cleveland Crusaders to St. Paul, Minn., adopted new rules to curb violence as recommended by a league committee and the World Hockey Association Players' Association and realigned the league into two geographic divisions, the Eastern and Western divisions.

The league also announced that Dr. Charles Allard now controls the hockey operations of Edmonton Oilers. The announcement dispelled reports that Edmonton and Calgary Cowboys would amalgamate and play at the Edmonton Coliseum, home of the Oilers.

Allard, head of Allarco Developments Ltd., decided last week to back the team financially this season. Allard is one-third owner with Bill Hunter, former general manager and now vice-president of the team, and Zane Feldman. No details of the new Oiler operations were released.

The Cleveland franchise will operate out of the 15,705-seat St. Paul Civic Centre, former home of 'Minnesota Fighting Saints. The Saints were suspended by the league last March after the franchise folded a month earlier because of fin a n c i a 1 difficulties which plagued the team since its inception. There had been reports that the Crusaders would be purchased by businessman Bill Putnam and moved to a new arena in Hollywood, Fla. But
Nick Mileti, owner of Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association, and businessman Jay Moore decided to shift their franchise to St. Paul.

Hatskin said that all Cleveland players will be required to report to St. Paul because "they have to, they're under contract." Hatskin added that Putnam will not have a team for Hollywood , Fla., this season "unless something unforeseen happens there won't be a team this season. "He might get a team for the 1977-78 season. That's what we're shooting for."

The WHA's Eastern division contains two new clubs, Quebec Nordiques of the old Canadian division, and Birmingham Bulls, f o r m e r l y Toronto Toros, who switched to Birmingham, Ala., after the completion of last season. Other teams in the Eastern Division are New England Whalers, Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and the new St. Paul franchise. The Western division has three new teams, Calgary Cowboys, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, former Canadian division clubs. San D i e g o Mariners, Houston Aeros and Phoenix Roadrunners remain in the same division to complete the Western clubs.

The new rules adopted Monday by the league involve fighting, delay of game and player protection in league rinks. Under the new rules, the instigator of a fight will receive a two-minute penalty as well as a five-minute fighting major while the participant will receive a five-minute major. If a players starts two fights in the same game he receives a double minor, a major and a game misconduct while the participant receives only the major penalty. The second time a player Instigates two fights in a single game he receives a double minor, a major, game misconduct, a n automatic three-game suspension without pay plus a hearing to determine other possible disciplinary action.

In the event of a fight, all players not involved in the altercation must go immediately to their respective nets or face a minor penalty. The third man involved in a fight receives a double minor and a game misconduct. The WHA has also moved to stop the increase of stick swinging. Under the new rules, the instigator of a fight involving stick swinging or kicking will receive an automatic $1.000 fine and a three game suspension.

Other rules approved at the meeting include installation of glass partitions to protect players from fans on benches and penalty-box areas, additional police protection between dressing room areas and ice for players and officials, and forbidding the use of fighting in advertising and other promotions for games.

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SYRACUSE HERALD-JOURNAL, Aug. 11, 1976

Florida boom turns to gloom

HOLLYWOOD. Fla. (AP) - South Florida is promoted as a semi-tropical playground, but sportsmen seem to have problems fulfilling promises to add hockey and basketball to the area's natural, outdoor recreations.

Bill Putnam's plans to have a World Hockey League franchise this year fell to ashes Tuesday. Earlier, hopes that Buffalo's National Basketball Association team would move to Hollywood proved false.

But Putnam said the WHA has guaranteed an expansion team for. 1977-78. His problem in the year ahead is to sell now-skeptical fans on buying season tickets for a team existing only on paper.

"It's not a helpful effect." Putnam said of his failure to fulfill a promise to land the Cleveland or San Diego franchise or an expansion club this year. "It's unfortunate, but it's not something we can't overcome. "We're here, we have an office, a staff and we're going to continue operating. "I'll stick with the WHA. I don't want to go through what the NHL (National Hockey League) would require. I don't want to pay that extra money.

"It (an expansion franchise) is in the minutes of the league. The terms are there, and we can live up to those terms. It's just a matter of when we want to put our deposit up." Putnam wouldn't disclose the WHA's price for an expansion club.

He said he had sold about 860 tickets for this season and added. "It started off very well and when all this controversy hit. all sales went to practically zero." He said he would offer this season's ticket purchasers a chance to keep their deposit and seat selection for next year. He said he hoped to sell 8.000 or 9,000 season tickets before next season.

"I am disappointed. Emotionally, I was all geared up to start this year." he said. "But from a business standpoint. I've got to admit giving up a year's leave time is advantageous. We had an awful lot of things to do between Aug. 10 and Oct. 15. "I'm a perfectionist and like things done the right way. We'd have to be doing things very quickly and obviously, you have some mistakes,"

Putnam 'said the rejection this year had nothing to do with the WHA having doubts about the feasibility of hockey in a hot winter climate. "That had nothing to do it with it ... the league's very impressed with the market, impressed with the Sportatorium. There are no problems at all," he said.

"It was just in this case, there was a simple solution where all their (franchise) problems were solved which had been a harrowing experience for them. They weren't in a mood at 4:30 yesterday afternoon to figure out an expansion formula and go through that procedure.

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WINNIPEG Free PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 12. 1976

Sports briefs

Edmonton Oilers of the W o r l d Hockey Association may be called the Flyers in the upcoming hockey season

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Friday, Aug. 13, 1976

Baseball, hockey seeking fewer restrictions on aliens

WASHINGTON.— Representatives of major league baseball and professional hockey have told Congress that federal immigration laws have hampered their efforts to recruit players from outside the United States.

In testimony recently before the House Select Committee on Professional Sports, baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn said his sport would like "less help from the Immigration Service, which seems to think we're bringing in too many Hispanic players." Howard L. Baldwin, vice president of the World Hockey Association, said hockey, too, is having "very pressing problems" with the Immigration Service. When it comes to the importation of players, it becomes the task of the Department of Labor to determine that they are not-taking jobs away from Americans. It is then up to the Immigration Department to issue visas.

The consensus among sports officials who testified was that the laws are too restrictive and often have adverse financial and public relations effects on sports.

KUHN ESTIMATED there are about 50 aliens in the major leagues and another 300 in the minors. Clarence Campbell, president of the National Hockey League, said about 95 per cent of the 300 NHL players are Canadians. Baldwin of the WHA put the Canadian figure at 85 per cent among the league's 200-plus players.

A spokesman for Immigration said virtually all of the North American Soccer League's 400 players are from outside the United States.

Both Kuhn and Campbell said their sport wanted to get the best players for the fans. Robert L, Howsam, president of the Cincinnati Reds, and Campbell told the committee that there was insufficient talent coming out of American schools.

The situation brings baseball, hockey and soccer teams knocking on Labor's door each year, asking that a certain number of aliens be given temporary' visas. A Labor Department spokesman said he does not know of any teams being denied their requested number of visas.

BUT LABOR HAS to determine whether Americans are being displaced by aliens, a decision the spokesman said can best be made by the scouts and managers. To make sure Americans are given a fair chance in the selection process, the Labor Department requires that tryouts be open to them and that documents are prepared showing the development of the sport in this country.

The establishment of minimum salaries is also a key concern since Labor does not want an alien to sign with a team at such a low salary that it will drive down the pay of American athletes in the sport. After the number of aliens on each team is established, Labor notifies Immigration, which, in turn, notifies its 30 district offices. The offices notify the consulates overseas through the State Department and the consulates issue the visas.

This is the point where the headaches begin, the Labor spokesman said. Generally, athletes are admitted to the country under one of two forms of visas. Both stipulate that the player is in the United States strictly for employment. THE H-l VISA is issued to persons of outstanding merit and ability, the one accorded the majority of alien athletes. It is a temporary visa, covering the season from training camp to playoffs. The player is then supposed to go home.

The H-2 visa, also a temporary one, is for less outstanding personnel, perhaps the untried player assigned to a farm club. Over the years, the Labor spokesman said, the department has given almost blanket approval to applicants for H-l visas. "We don't get involved with them," he said. For a number of years, they also tended to avoid involvement with the H-2 petitioners. But a few years ago they became concerned.

Some clubs were bringing in supportive personnel, such as gatekeepers or locker room attendants, instead of players. Such supportive jobs should go to Americans, the spokesman said. ALIENS ARE ADMITTED; to the country for tryouts under other certifications, and Cubans may enter the United States as refugees. "There has been an increasing desire by the teams to keep players here on a 12-mnnth basis, which would require a permanent visa." an Immigration spokesman said.

At the House hearings, sports officials said they need the players year-round for public relations purposes — attending banquets, charity events and clinics. Their appearances also boost season ticket sales. "Technically, that's a violation," the Immigration spokesman said. "But we're really not all that concerned about it."

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. 1976

Dennis Murphy of Newport Beach, former president of the World Hockey Association, has filed a breach of contract suit against Dr. Leonard Bloom of San Diego and the WHA . . . The. suit, asking more than$1 million in damages, stems from Murphy's sale of the now defunct Los Angeles Sharks to Bloom in 1973 . . . Murphy alleged Wednesday that Bloom failed to carry through on obligations to purchase the hockey team, which later became Michigan Stags, then Baltimore Blades, before finally folding before last season.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1976

Future looks bleak for Oilers

EDMONTON (CP) – The future of Edmonton Oilers of. the World Hockey Association seemed bleak Thursday after team owner Dr. Charles Allard withdrew his last offer Wednesday to lease the Coliseum for next season.

"We requested the (Edmonton) Exhibition Association to assign a lease to Edmonton Video Ltd. but they refused to do so," said Dr. Allard, who took over ownership of the struggling club at a WHA truslees meeling in Toronto Aug. 9.

At the time, ownership of the team was transferred from Edmonton World Hockey Enterprises to Edmonton Video Ltd. "It (the transfer) was conditional, however, on our obtaining a transfer of lease from the exhibition association," said Dr. Allard, head of the Allarco conglomerate.

"I'm pulling that offer out now . . . it was a last-ditch effort to keep pro hockey here. We will advise the league that Edmonton Video Ltd. won't accept the transfer of franchise because we couldn't get an assignment of lease." The franchise now reverts to the previous owners—Dr. Allard, Zane Fold man and former general manager Bill Hunter. But this group has said it docs not have the necessary capital to operate the team.

"There may be some method of reorganizing the old company to keep it going," said Dr. Allard, but he wasn't optimistic. "The whole thing is a surprise," said Mr. Feldman, president of the Oilers last season. "I guess we'll have to find some more money somewhere." "I can't really understand why the exhibition association wouldn't transfer the lease," he said. "Maybe they have another client."

G e o r g e Hughes, general manager of the exhibition association, refused to comment. "We'll make a statement when we receive a letter from Dr. Allard stating his intention." said Mr. Hughes. "We've given instructions to our lawyer to reply to their letter (lease application) and to advise them we are prepared to enter further negotiations," he said. "As of now, no lease has been signed." Dr. Allard said the exhibition association's position was "completely unreasonable." "It's a pretty ruthless way to act when Edmonton people have put in a lot of money to bring pro hockey here."

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Sunday, August 22, 1976

AN APPARENT agreement between the Edmonton Oilers and the Edmonton Exhibition Association may have solved the problem of where, when and if the World Hockey Associalion club will be playing during the coming season.

WHA board chairman Ben Hatskin flew to Edmonton Thursday in a bid to resolve differences between the Oilers and the Association over leasing problems al the Edmonton Coliseum. The' Oilers owner Dr. Charles Allard withdrew from talks after problems arose with the new owners of the club, Edmonton Video, Ltd , in negotiating a lease with the exhibition association.

The Oilers had attempted to obtain new financing by tying the team to Edmonton" Video, which would make Allard's publicly-owned company, Allarco. the majority owner in place of Edmonton World Hockey Enterprises.

And exhibition association officials declined to automatically go ahead with the former lease on the grounds that there was a reorganization of ownership.

Allard. who said he would remain with the club as a shareholder but not as a director or officer, said Friday the Oilers will likely play at the Coliseum under the terms of the same lease they've had for the last two seasons.

Mitch Klimore will likely replace Zane Feldman as president of the Oilers. Allard said. Feldman was one of the former owners along with Allard and Bill Hunter, former general manager.

Ted Mildon, exhibition association president, met with Hatskin Friday and said later that further talks will be held with the WHA chief executive officer. "We're looking for some guarantee, perhaps from the league, saying the franchise is viable." said Mildon. "We want a World Hockey Association team in the arena and will do everything possible to help the situation."

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Sunday, August 22, 1976

NHL salaries reverse

TORONTO (AP) — Only 25 National Hockey League players remain unsigned and the escalation of hockey salaries has been halted and reversed, according to NHL President Clarence Campbell.

''There is substantial evidence from contracts filed so far that salaries are going down/' Campbell said Thursday after the semi-annual meeting of the league's Board of Governors. "There are smaller signing bonuses for players, shorter contracts and stabilization of salaries." said Campbell, the only man who sees all NHL player contracts.

"Two years ago. we couldn't see the end of our economic problems but now we can. These problems included wasteful litigation in fighting the World Hockey Association and higher salaries. **None of it hurt our attendance in any way. The public still was interested in us. but it was costing us more to operate. I don't think the public will pay any more.

"Since the biggest cost factor by far was salaries the solution was either for clubs to maintain fewer players or pay lower salaries/" He said NHL teams aren't keeping as many high salaried players and are cutting down on their farm teams. There are 30 fewer players listed in the 1976-77 NHL Guide than in last season's edition.

Campbell said salary savings are not always accomplished by individual pay cuts. Instead, high salaried veterans are dropped in favor of youngsters with lower salaries. At their meeting, the governors formally approved exhibition games between NHL and WHA teams and formally approved transfer of the Kansas City Scouts to Denver, where they become the Colorado Rockies. Campbell said there was no discussion of looking for his successor as league president or of hockey violence

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Thursday, August 26, 1976

EDMONTON — Nelson Skalbania, a consulting engineer with business interests in Edmonton and Vancouver, has purchased a 50-per-cent interest in Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association. He said Tuesday he will work to change the Oilers into the "flagship" of the WHA.

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WINNIPEG FREE Press, Thursday, September 02, 1976


Sports briefs

IN HOCKEY — Peter Pocklangton, a c i t y car dealer, has acquired a 40 per-cent share in Edmonton Oilers, the World Hockey Association club announced Wednesday . . . Nelson Skalbania of Vancouver and Edmonton, who stepped into the ownership picture last week, also has 40 per cent, while Dr. Charles Allard, head of Allarco Developments Ltd., and Zane Feldman, another city car deater, each have 10 per cent.

EDMONTON — President Ted Mildon of the Edmonton Exhibition Association said Wednesday Edmonton Oilers of the WHA have, not signed a lease for use of the 15,300-seat Edmonton Coliseum for the 1976-77 season but an Oiler spokesman disagreed, saying the club has a copy of the signed lease in the team's office.

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Thursday, September 09, 1976

Hull — Players hold up merger

Montréal (DPI! - World Hockey Association superstar Bobby Hull said Wednesday the only stumbling block to a WHA-National Hockey League merger was the NHL Players Association and its executive director, Alan Eagleson.

"I'd like to see a merger happen—I think it's inevitable." said the 37-year old Hull, the only WHA player on Canada's entry in the Canada Cup. "There's just one factor against it—the NHL Players Association and Alan Eagleson. Nothing else.

"It would be a good thing because we're all in hockey to provide entertainment. The best way would be to organize under the same supervision and improve the franchises that have been good draws in the past." Hull, who scored 53 goals for the,WHA champion Winnipeg Jets this past season and was second in the league in total points, also favors reducing the number of franchises and changing the salary scales and terms of many hockey contracts.

"The most important thing is for us to put on a good show for the fans," he said. "The fans have been neglected up to now. There are too many teams, too many players making too much —and some journeymen players not paid enough. "The players need some sort of motivation to perform their best for the fans—not a five-year, no-cut, no-trade contract. In .the old days, if a guy didn't put out for two or three games, he'd find himself on the bench. Everyone's not giving 100 per cent—it's gone too far the other way."

Hull himself has a 10-year agreement with the Jets, calling for him to be paid $2.5 million to play hockey for the first five years and then coach for the last five. Th'at first fiveyear period will be over at the end of the 1976-77 season, the end of the WHA's first five years. Will he extend his playing career, which also included 15 seasons and 604 goals with the NHL Chicago Black Hawks? Hull isn't sure. He is sure he won't be a player as long as 48-year-old veteran Gordie Howe.

"Are you kidding?." Hull said. "I wouldn't want to play that long whether I could or not. Don't get me wrong—he's a fantastic athlete to play so long. I just hope he doesn't play too long and get hurt. People remember how you go out. "Jean Beliveau did it best. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup and he said, 'adieu.'"

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1976

EDMONTON (CP) — Edmonton Oilers of the World H o c k e y Association have agreed to play in the Coliseum this season under the team's old lease, Ted Mildon, president of the Edmonton Exhibition Association, said Wednesday.

He said the agreement was reached at a meeting between the team and the exhibition association Tuesday, just three days before the Oilers open training camp. The agreement means the Oilers will be committed to play in the Coliseum for the remaining e i g h t years of their original 10-year contract.

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1976

If Hamilton gets arena, some WHA club will move

EDMONTON (CP) — The assistant general manager of Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association said Friday he can guarantee that a WHA franchise will be established in Hamilton. Out., if the city gets an adequate arena.

Gord Robson.. 30. an associate of Nelson Skalbania, a 40-per-cent owner of the Oilers, said he would be personally involved in the Hamilton organization but refused to say what club would be moved, there. Rumors have circulated that Calgary Cowboys are contemplating a move but director Joe Kryczka of Calgary said there is no possibility the Cowboys will move this season, despite a decrease in season ticket sales.

Robson. who said friends of Skalbania would like another professsional team in Canyda, also said he believes a merger between the WHA and the National Hockey League is not far down the road. He suggested Hamilton would be a vital part of any Canadian league that became part of the new hockey picture.

A delegation from Hamilton was here last week for discussions with officials of the Edmonton Exhibition Association . which controls the 16,000-seat Edmonton Coliseum. In Calgary, Kryczka denied reports the Cowboys were moving to Hamilton or to Seattle. There also have been suggestions Calgary was moving to the southern United States.

"The Hamilton arena isn't started yet and 1 don't know if any progress has been made," said Kryczka. "1 know an arena won't be ready by next season—and we keep hearing we won't be here for the rest of this year, let alone next year. "I promise we'll be here. That's a commitment that was made two years ago. Kryczka, a past-president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, said it is doubtful a WHA franchise could succeed in Seattle.

"The Western Hockey League had a terrible time in there the last two years there was a team. Maybe somebody is considering a move there but it isn't us. "I don't know where these rumors start. I just hope they stop. I still believe we can fill our own building (the 6,500- seat Stampede Corral, far too small for professional hockey) and we can get down to building a long-range future here."

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 1976

Jets pull plug on telecasts

By REYN DAVIS

The last line of the eighth paragraph of the press release finally said what it was all about. "... CKND-TV ... has reviewed this situation with the Jets' management and has agreed to cancel the rest of the home games to which it has the rights."

Heeding the protests of their investors and season ticket holders, "our bread and butter" as general manager Rudy Pilous described them, the Jets asked CKNDTV to annul their contract that would have seen the station carry 12 games on a live or hour-delay basis to a local audience.

Shocked by the smallness of Tuesday night's crowd of 7,831 for the Winnipeg-Houston game — carried live locally — the World Hockey Association club feared the loss of revenue at the gate would be so significant the club's future would be cast in jeopardy.

"Our viewers are the Innocent victims," said Don Brinton, general manager of CKND-TV. "We had the best i n t e r e s t s of the Jets at heart." The station listed several other factors that could have contributed to the smaller crowds — "the absence of Bobby Hull, the fact that football fever is still in the air, the slow arrival of the winter season to get people in the hockey mood, the comp e t i t i o n from the World Series during the first game, and the date of the second game coinciding with the hardest-fought U.S. presidential election in decades."

Les Landes, the volunteer management committee member of the Jets who negotiated the television contract, said it is still the club's objective to bring WHA hockey to Winnipeg viewers. "Hopefully, when we negotiate our next contract, we will be bringing away games back into Winnipeg," said Pilous.

Paul Morton, president of CKND-TV and a former president of Winnipeg Blue Bombers, said he didn't consider what effect the live broadcast of games might have on the gate when the contract was negotiated. "The terms of the contract were the club's," he said. "We considered it good for us, and good for them." Morton said the cost of showing a Jets' game from the U.S. would exceed $10,000, a price considered prohibitive by the station.

The 10 cancelled games will still be televised but seen live in Calgary and Edmonton only. They will be shown locally on CKND on Saturdays at 2 p.m. However, two of the Jets' games in Calgary will be seen live in Winnipeg later this season. Complaints and compliments were received at CKND-TV following the two live broadcasts out of the Arena.

The complaints came from fans who had bought tickets to see the games while other callers voiced concern for the future of the franchise, supported by public donations and loans, if gate receipts dropped drastically. "Please understand our predicament," said Landes, n o d d i n g toward Morton, Brinton and Peter Liba, a vice-president.

Obviously, they did.

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976

Careful: That word 'merger

TORONTO (CP) — The owners of two of t h e strongest franchises in the World Hockey Association haven't given up the possibility of a merger with the older National Hockey League.

Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL Players Association (NHLPA), said Tuesday he discussed merger at a Monday meeting with Howard Baldwin, managing general partner of New England Whalers, and William DeWitt, board chairman of Cincinnati Stingers.

Eagleson said that merger and hockey's financial problems were discussed at the meeting. He said he advised DeWitt and Baldwin to arrange a meeting with NHL owners. DeWitt said he and Baldwin hope to persuade the NHL to follow the pattern of the National Basketball Association, which absorbed the four strongest survivors of the American Basketball Association during the summer.

"It's hard for me to use the word merger because it has gotten people into legal problems in the past," he said. "Our approach to Mr. Eagleson wasn't officially sanctioned by the WHA, but it reflects the feeling of numerous member clubs within the WHA. Everyone in hockey knows something has to give somewhere and we're prepared to face these dilemmas."

None of the 12 WHA teams expects to make money on this year's operations and several NHL teams will lose money. "Our next step Is to approach NHL owners on this problem," said DeWitt. "Our aim is to so over the whole spectrum of hockey and what can be done."

One obstacle to a merger is a clause in the labor, agreement between the NHL players and owners, which says the agreement becomes null and void if a merger takes place.

[JETStender]

Friday, November 12, 1976

Stinger official seeks common hockey czar

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Stingers Executive Vice President William 0. DeWitt Jr. said he is trying to arrange a meeting between the owners of the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League to discuss a working agreement.

"It could be along the lines of baseball, with two leagues and a common commissioner." said DeWitt. Who attended a Monday meeting in Toronto with New England Whalers general partner Howard Baldwin and Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL PLayers Association "It could be like the basketball stuation. where the NBA absorbed the ABA, or it could be like football with two conferences within one league." said DeWitt

"I think Eagleson is the key. He represents all the players. and in any kind of agreement between the leagues the players must be included and agree to what is taking place." said DeWitt. who dislikes the word "merger "

Eagleson said he was "prepared to listen and prepared to contribute to future meetings. The matter now lies with the owners of both leagues “DeWitt insists the WHA is still a strong league but said he had some doubts about negative moves within the last year

'I'm not concerned about the WHA in terms of it being a viable league I am concerned about fan reaction to teams moving and teams folding In that respect the WHA and the NHL both have problems." DeWitt said He said some form of league correlation ship was "necessary before long I don’t know the timing on it but eventually it will have to take place "

DeWitt said he felt the NHL owners would be "crazy if they don't meet with us. It is in everyone's best interest at this point to seek a solution to our problems." The problems DeWitt said, include smaller crowds, higher player salaries and operating costs and subsequent loss of revenue.

[JETStender]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1976

Consolidate the strong Hull

Hull brought credibility to the World Hockey Association five years ago hut now the veteran scoring star says the league may not survive much longer.

Hull said that without some sort of merger with the National Hockey League, the WHA's years are numbered. "Just took around” he said. You can't expect to survive when you're only getting 6, 000 fans-" Such a merger is getting close, said Hull who is preparing to play wm Winnipeg Jets after missing the first six weeks of the season with an injured left hand- He said a merger would not involve all teams but might see the NHL drop some weaker franchises in favor of the strongest WHA clubs.

That would rid both leagues of "cancerous" franchises and create one strong league. Rut is there a chance of the NHL agreeing to a merger? "They may be stubborn but they'll come around," Hun said. "They have their problem spots too. We saw a game in Cleveland last week and if you put; both the team together you still wouldn't have one good club."

He said falling attendant* is a major problem in both leagues. Winnipeg is the only WHA franchise to show an operating profit last season, but that turned into a loss with the annual payment to former owners of the club. Another problem with the WHA, Hull said, is the lack of improvement in caliber. "Almost every team that comes in here is getting worse," he said. "There just hasn't been the improvement we expected- "We’re not getting the top young kids. They don't want to play in a second-rate league. And we're apt going to be getting many established stars either.

"For every team that has improved, four are worse." Now, he says, it's time to get rid of the bad franchises in both leagues, along with the musclemen employed by various clubs trying to overcome their lack of talent with an excess of violence. Hull reaches the end of his five-year playing contract next spring.

Although he declines to speculate what will happen then—he will still be under contract to Winnipeg for five more years — rumors have been growing that the Golden Jet will be back with the NHL Chicago Black Hawks next season with or without the Jets.