'84 Chronology-Straw Vote

Event Date: August 25th, 1984

Internal Memo: United States Football League Owners Meeting

Re: Straw Poll Vote

Commissioner Simmons called for an informal straw poll vote regarding a move to the fall, a potential merger strategy, stadium issues and future television concerns; 

The owners noted the following as recorded by Jim Byrne; 

1. The owners were called in the following order:
1. Arizona Outlaws-Tathams & Dietrich:
1. Lean toward a fall move; would support spring.
2. Favor a merger strategy.
2. Birmingham Stallions-Warner & Sklar:
1. Favor a new television deal with any network other than ABC.
2. Favor a merger strategy and a fall move.
3. Anti-trust concerns.
3. Chicago Blitz-Eddie Einhorn:
1. Abstains.
4. Denver Gold-Doug Spedding:
1. Concerns regarding direct competition with Broncos.
2. Fall television revenue is enticing.
3. Undecided with regard to schedule switch.
5. Houston Gamblers-Jerry Argovitz & Gene Burrough
1. Pro-fall move.
2. Stadium issues with baseball and Oilers.
6. Jacksonville Bulls-Fred Bullard:
1. Support any league decision.
2. Pro-merger strategy.
3. Undecided on schedule switch.
7. Los Angeles Express-No representative at meeting.
1. Abstains.
8. Memphis Showboats-Billy Dunavant and Steve Ehrhart:
1. Pro-merger strategy and pro-fall schedule.
2. Concerns if remain in spring.
9. New Jersey Generals-Donald J. Trump:
1. Pro-merger strategy and pro-fall schedule.
2. Could possibly sell team if remain in spring beyond 1985.
10. Michigan Panthers-Robert Taubman:
1. Too many hypotheticals with Einhorn plan.
2. Oppose schedule switch due to stadium concerns.
3. Oppose direct completion with NFL.
4. Could be forced to sell or move if move to spring.
11. New Orleans Breakers-Joseph Canizaro & David Dixon:
1. Endorse McKinsey Report, stay spring until at least 1987.
2. Gaining support in New Orleans.
3. Stadium issues in the fall.
4. Concerns regarding direct competition with NFL.
5. Pro salary cap.
12. Oakland Invaders -Tad Taube:
1. Pro-merger strategy and pro-fall schedule.
2. Concerns if remain in spring; could possibly sell.
3. Financial losses for 1983 and 1984.
13. Philadelphia Stars-Myles Tanenbaum and Carl Peterson:
1. Question regarding Einhorn plans for Chicago in 1985; will the team play, move to another city, go dark for 1985 or will the team be put up for sale?
2. Pro-spring.
3. Pro-Pro-salary cap.
14. Pittsburgh Maulers-Paul Martha:
1. Pro-spring.
2. Stadium issues in the fall could force the team to fold.
3. No direct competition with NFL.
4. Pursue for a new television deal with ESPN for 1985-1987.
5. Pro salary cap.
15. Tampa Bay Bandits-John F. Bassett:
1. Pro spring.
2. Lack of a true vote due to abstentions in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington.
3. Give Einhorn a 90-day window to secure a new television deal, (Einhorn objects).
4. Concerns if remain in spring; could possibly sell. Financial losses for 1983 and 1984.
16. Washington Federals-No representative at meeting.
1. Seeking sale of team pending collapse of Miami sale.
2. Looking at possible moves to Orlando or Baltimore.
3. Could fold or possibly merge.

more to come.....