'84 Chronology-Fire Sale

Event Date: May 22nd, 1984

Event Description:  Federals to Flee?

Source: UPI (Modified)

Sherwood (Woody) Weiser, a prominent South Florida real estate developer, said last night he expected to complete his purchase of the Washington Federals.

Weiser and Berl Bernhard, the Federals' majority owner, were ironing out final details of the ownership transfer yesterday in New York. The change is expected to be approved by Commissioner Chet Simmons as well as the USFL owners at their July meetings.

"We are down to a final few details," said Weiser, who would buy out all the Federals' general and limited partners. "I fully expect everything will be finalized before the July meetings, so the sale can be presented to the owners. I have no idea how the vote will turn out, but obviously I hope it will be approved."

Weiser earlier had signed a non binding agreement to buy the team. He and Bernhard have been negotiating terms of the sale for the few weeks. The sale price reportedly is between $5 million and $6 million.

Although USFL sources are convinced Weiser will move the Federals, he reiterated yesterday that no decision about the future location of the financially troubled team has been made.

League owners will be asked to approve the sale on an option basis, giving Weiser the choice of keeping the franchise in the Washington-Baltimore area or moving it to Miami or possibly Orlando. It is expected they will ask that he decide within two months after the end of this season.

"What people say and what I will do are two different things," he said. "It's no secret that I've cleared the way to move the team to Florida if I want to. But I will not make a decision until after I have received all necessary information.

Bernhard will continue to be associated with the Federals, at least through the rest of this season.

It is expected some league owners will object to a move to Miami, in part because they want to keep a team in Washington, in part because they feel it might be impossible to place an expansion team here and in part because they are convinced they can find expansion owners for a Miami team that would play in the Orange Bowl.

The league and the Orange Bowl, which is owned by the City of Miami, already have a signed agreement to accommodate a USFL franchise.

Story-(UPI-Modified)