'83 Chronology-On Point

Event Date: March 10th, 1983

Event Description: Pointing Toward Pittsburgh

Source: United Press International

Would you believe the Pittsburgh Point of the United States Football League?

Pittsburgh real estate man Eugene Litman said he and Pittsburgh communications entrepreneur Nelson Goldberg, who want to own a USFL team, received in the mail from the league Wednesday a proposed contract for an expansion franchise.

Litman said neither side had signed the contract nor made a final commitment. But should the team become a reality, he already has expressed a preference for naming it the Point, as in the spot where Pittsburgh's three rivers meet. The team probably would play in Three Rivers Stadium, located near the Point, on the Pittsburgh Pirates' days off, said Goldberg, who noted the venture might cost the partners $5 million to $10 million.

Litman, 67, operator of Brandywine Realty Co., said, “I think the chances are good” of the two gaining the franchise. A public contest probably would be held to name the team, he said. Litman also said he would like the team's uniforms to be black and gold -- like those of Pittsburgh's other pro teams -- but didn't know how that would sit with the league since the Denver Gold already has those colors.

The only other applicant for a Pittsburgh USFL franchise mentioned so far is shopping mall magnate Edward DeBartolo of Youngstown, Ohio, owner of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and Major Indoor Soccer League's Pittsburgh Spirit.

DeBartolo's son, Edward Jr., owns the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, and the elder DeBartolo reportedly might place any USFL team in his daughter's name. DeBartolo was unavailable for comment and Paul Martha, the Penguins' vice president and general counsel, said only, “we are taking a no-comment posture on this until it is finalized because it is a touchy situation. It's touchy because Mr. DeBartolo's son owns the 49ers,” he said.

It was believed NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle might mount a court fight against such “cross-sports ownership,” but USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons favors such holdings. USFL officials in New York, including Simmons, declined comment on which cities would receive four new USFL franchises, following a published report this week that Pittsburgh would get one of the new teams.

“We would like to make the decisions within a week or so or sooner. So things are coming to a head as far as expansion is concerned,” USFL assistant counsel Gary Kaplan said. The league has received more than 25 official applications for franchises from “all over the country,” each accompanied by a $50,000 fee, one league official said.

Story-(United Press International)