'83 Chronology-Clearing the Way

Event Date: June 4th, 1983

Event Description:  Bassett Supports Bullard

Source: United Press International

The owner of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits said Thursday he has surrendered his expansion rights for Florida and cleared the way for a new league franchise in Jacksonville.

John Bassett, majority owner of the Bandits, and general partner Stephen Arky agreed Wednesday to a proposal made by Clearwater businessman Fred Bullard, who wants to place an expansion team in Jacksonville.

Bassett, who owns the USFL's expansion rights in Florida, said it's “95 percent sure” Jacksonville will have a team in the league by next year.

“As far as I'm concerned, as long as he puts up his money and the league agrees to him and his representatives, he'll have a team,” said Bassett. “The only thing that could foul it up is lawyers, and the league owners not approving him.”

Bullard, who must pay a $6 million expansion fee, was unavailable for comment. But an associate said all systems were “go” for a new club. “I got a call that said, “The contract is in our pocket. Get smiling again, everything is go,'' said Charlie Roberts, a spokesman for Bullard.

A USFL spokesman in New York said he could not comment on the agreement, but said owners were expected to vote on league expansion at a meeting next week in Denver. Cities already granted expansion franchises for next year include Houston, Pittsburgh and San Diego.

Bassett declined to discuss specifics of the agreement, including the price Bullard would pay for the state expansion rights, but admitted to making sacrifices to help the fledgling league.

“We made concessions that were good for the league, for Jacksonville to come in,” said Bassett, whose Tampa Bay team is one of the most successful franchises in the league, averaging nearly 40,000 in attendance.

“If I was not interested in the league, in Jacksonville coming in, if I only had selfish interests, I would not have gone along with this,” he said.

Bassett also said concessions were made in the league's stocking plan of players. Tampa Bay now holds the rights to players from Florida and Florida State, but Bassett said he would “work something out with (Jacksonville). They'll get some players from Florida and Florida State.”

Story-(UPI)