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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:09:07 GMT -6
As promised I will begin posting articles from the earliest talks of bring an NHL team to Winnipeg, albeit temporary, to the start of the WHA on to the NHL/WHA merger. For cleanliness, please post comments in the Comments: Winnipeg Jets (NHL WHA) Hockey History 1968 - 1996 Thread. I would just like to add that most articles come from The WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. I will give credit to the author where available.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:11:36 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1968
'Peg Offers NHL Orphans Shelter By KEVIN BOLAND
The orphans of the National Hockey League have been offered a new roof over their heads. Winnipeg Arena.
And chances are the Philadelphia Flyers, forced out of The Spectrum while roof repairs are being made, will accept the offer — for one night at least.
Most probable is a meeting Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings. The conditions are perfect, couldn't have been fixed better.
Philadelphia meets Minnesota North Stars the night before in Minnesota — a 55- minute ride on the iron flybird from Winnipeg.
The Kings have a Friday night date in Minnesota. You couldn't ask for a better traveling schedule for teams that have two games sandwiched into 24 hours.
A decision is expected Monday afternoon. The Flyers have moved into the home of the Quebec Aces for their Sunday assignment against the North Stars.
Bill Putnam, president of the Flyers, said in a long distance telephone interview from there that Winnipeg's offer sounded "attractive." "The things that depend on us playing there are conditions," he said. "First there's travelling and that's the main concern." He said gate and acceptance by the Kings are secondary factors, but important. "I like the prospects of a full house in Winnipeg Arena. If the prices were right and the other factors fall in place I'd be inclined to listen."
Winnipeg Alderman Mark Danzker, chairman of Winnipeg Enterprises — the Arena's guiding light — said the money would be all right. "For sure, the money will be good," he said. "They -couldn't ask a better deal."
That leaves the power behind the Los Angeles Kings — one Jack Kent Cooke, the key to the deal. "I'd hate to make every decision in life on a moment's notice," he said over the blower from his office in Inglewood, California last night.
"I have, mind you. But it isn't good for ulcers. "But it's not my choice; the choice belongs to the Philadelphia people. If they say Winnipeg, it's Winnipeg. "It's their home game, and their choice."
Cooke had been in Winnipeg "many, many times," he said. "I still get a chill when I think about it. That's why -I love it down here so much.''
The reins of the deal have been shifted to the able fingers of Danzker. "Philadelphia seems favorably disposed to the idea," he said after talking to the Flyers' president. "I'll know for sure on Monday afternoon." Danzker said the Philly club could expect a neat profit of $15,000 for one date. The Arena concern figures on $5,000 for tickets, promotion, expenses.
"We're not primarily interested in a moneymaking 'venture," he said. "We just think it would be great to get NHL Hockey here, even if it is for only one night." Danzker based his estimate on games here between NHL clubs and the Canadian national hockey team.
In case you're worrying Danzker doesn't expect the tariff to be stiff. "I think about $3.50 for the best seats is a good price," he said.
"People can afford that. It's usually the working man who stays home to watch the NHL games on Saturday night. He's the real fan; we'd like to give him the chance to see the action live and be able to take his wife."
The whole thing was triggered by a mayoral brainwave yesterday morning. Stephen Juba, in the political prose of the good mayor he is, offered the arena to the Flyers.
He addressed it to Bud Poile, general manager of the Flyers and former coach of Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League.
He said it would be "financially advantageous" and a " terrific morale booster" for Art Stratton and "other Winnipeg players of the team" to use the arena for Flyer home games this season. Poile, however, wasn't in Philadelphia. He may never have got the telegram, in time. But the idea was there and that's what good mayors are for. We got the Pan-American Games that way.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:12:18 GMT -6
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1968
Flyers Won't Be Here
Mayor Stephen Juba's dream of adopting the homeless Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, has fizzled
The Philadelphia team forced to vacate its own rink because of construction flaws — announced yesterday it will play its next two games in Quebec City, and likely remain there until its home rink is playable again.
The team drew a $35,000 gross gate in one weekend' game _ Quebec city 16,000-seat Collseum — and at full capacity, it's doubtful whether the 9,000- seat Winnipeg Arena could have drawn a gate near $25,000. j
The Flyers also own the Quebec City franchise in the American Hockey League, which facilitated their arrangements to -move into the Coliseum last week.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:12:44 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1968
Hey! Mr. Juba... Why Not An NHL Team Of Our Own?
JOHN ROBERTSON
It would be too easy to dismiss Mayor Steve Juba's bid to give the Philadelphia Flyers of the expanded NHL a temporary home here, as a grandstand play. Granted, Steve could have clued in President Mark Danzker of Winnipeg Enterprises before he made the offer simply because it would have been up to Mark and his Enterprises board to clear available dates in the event the Flyers had decided to finish the season here.
But you still have to give our mayor full marks for progressive thinking.
As everyone knows, the Flyers decided to stay in Quebec City home of their American League farm club where they drew 16,000 for a single NHL game. So you shrug your shoulders and say: "Winnipeg loses another one."
But if Mayor Steve Juba is really serious about getting National League hockey for Winnipeg, there is a way it CAN be done on a permanent basis, in the not too distant future.
No, I haven't flipped my lid. But the NHL governors have made no secret of the fact that they are considering expansion to 18 teams before 1975. I agree that Winnipeg didn't have a chance in the first expansion, because, in the words of at least one NHL governor, Stafford Smythe, it was not a major league city.
Well, a lot of things have happened since then. For one thing, the Pan Am Games has made all the world recognize Winnipeg as one of the most enthusiastic sports centres on the continent.
But there is another equally important development that should enhance Winnipeg's chances even further. The NHL has found out, to its sorrow, that the size of a city doesn't necessarily dictate whether it can support big league hockey.
Oakland, with a population of four million people within 30 minutes driving distance of the rink, is averaging less than 6,000 fans per game. Pittsburgh is in similar financial difficulties. And there is reason to believe either or both franchises will be shifted. Vancouver will probably get the Oakland franchise, and the Pittsburgh club will probably shift to some other eastern city. And that city could just be Quebec.
Okay, so where does that leave Winnipeg? Well, when the next expansion comes, the NHL governors will be hesitant to make any further mistakes that will lead to franchise shifting. So they win likely lean taking up the cause toward "cities which are best prepared, both in enthusiasm and hockey knowledge, to handle pro hockey.
It used to be said that Winnipeg's geographical location all but excluded it from consideration in any major league sport But the progress made by Minneapolis in the past decade, where professional football, baseball and hockey franchises sprung up in quick succession, proves that distance is no object any more.
Now the shoe is on the other foot. If the NHL expands to 18 teams — and it surely will — it will have, to come up with at least three more mid-western cities to bridge the gap between the east and west coasts. The three divisions, in fact, will likely line up as East, Central and West.
And Winnipeg is in an ideal position to be paired with Minneapolis and form a natural hockey rivalry. It's about time these two major centres competed against each other for something besides tourists. But it won't be easy to convince NHL owners, and that's where the selling job comes in. And don't tell me the same people who banded together here to sell the Pan-Am Games, couldn't do the same job on NHL hockey.
If you're still listening, Mr. Juba, here's what you do. Call every sports-minded industrialist in the city together, and find out how many of them are interested in buying a piece of a possible NHL franchise. You'll be surprised at the reaction you get.
Then you get together with Mark Danzker and find out how much it would cost to increase the seating capacity at the Arena to 12,000 or better.
Then you start a massive public campaign, asking people to pledge money for season tickets, in the event you get the franchise.
Then you go down to the next NHL meeting, with a huge delegation of civic and business leaders, and you say this to the NHL governors: "Here are pledges for 12,000 season tickets. Here are your new prospective owners. And just tell us what else we have to do to get into the NHL, and we'll do it now ... before you even ask for bids from new cities."
The NHL doesn't care much about anything else but cold, hard cash. They don't like to gamble. And if Winnipeg put forth a strong enough proposition, I'm convinced they couldn't turn it down.
But win or lose, Mr. Juba, it's worth a try. The winters here would be much shorter for sports fans, with NHL hockey from October to May.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:13:51 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1971
NEW, IMPROVED STARS TO TRAIN HERE AGAIN
Minnesota North Stars were just another NHL expansion club striving for respectability when they held their pre-season training camp at Winnipeg Arena last September.
Frankly, hockey followers weren't exactly ecstatic, and the North Stars didn't leave anybody awe-struck with their potential. Well, the North Stars will be back to train al the Arena this fall, and apart from respect, they can expect quite a following locally.
Seldom has a learn captured the imagination of the fans as the Stars did in their gritty attempt to upset the Stanley Cup champions in a bristling semi-final series that went six games.
North Stars, coached by popular ex-Winnipegger Jackie Gordon, will be at the Arena Sept. 10-29, it was announced Monday by Arena general manager Percy Downton. They'll also play exhibition games here against Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Black Hawks.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:15:59 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 5. 1971
Sellout Looms Tonight For Hawks And Stars
It's been many a year since Billy Reay has been in a hockey rink in this area in an official capacity, but tonight at the Winnipeg Arena will change all that.
Billy, a hometown boy from away back, brings his highly-rated Chicago Black Hawks into town for an exhibition National Hockey League tuneup against Minnesota North Stars. Game time is 8 p.m.
So rare are the Chicago appearances in Winnipeg and so star-studded is the lineup, that tickets for this one have been gobbled up well in advance. Enterprises general manager Percy Downton said Monday, that -there were a few hundred seats still for sale and he assumed the rink would be selling standing room today.
This will be the North Stars' third showing on the Arena ice — where they trained — and coach Jackie Cordon is getting tired of kissing his sister. The Stars can do no better than tie on their preseason tour (which they did against Chicago Saturday night) and the first victory of the exhibition whirl is their one and only objective this evening.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:16:58 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 6, 1971
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:17:35 GMT -6
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 6, 1971
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Post by JETStender on Jun 27, 2012 1:24:16 GMT -6
Thats all I have on the Pre WHA, NHL talks.
I will post the WHA formation soon.
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:16:29 GMT -6
This is the earliest article I could find about the formation of the WHA that included Winnipeg. Note that the WHA WANTED Winnipeg in the league and were trying to sell Ben Hatskin on the idea. WFP OCT 6, 1971
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:18:39 GMT -6
WFP Nov 9, 1971
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:34:42 GMT -6
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:36:07 GMT -6
WFP Nov 3, 1971
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:37:20 GMT -6
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Post by JETStender on Jun 28, 2012 1:46:05 GMT -6
WFP Nov 11, 1971
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