By DAVID SHOIHET
With Quebec City already in the National Lacrosse League, only a “formal announcement” remains before Indianapolis officially becomes a member of the six-team loop.
“Only the legal details remain to be worked out,” said NLL president Gerry Patterson yesterday before leaving for a Quebec press conference to announce that city’s entry into the league.
“We hope to have the Indianapolis situation all straightened out by the end of next week,” Patterson said.
Dick Tinkham, who is the interim president of the American Basketball Association, is principal owner of the new franchise. He’s also major owner of the WHA Racers and the ABA Pacers, The Indianapolis Arena seats 16.009.
Griffins owner, Tad Potter and Butch Keegan
Tad Potter, owner of the Rochester Griffins, is scheduled to meet with Tinkham next week to sign the official transfer of the Griffins to Indianapolis.
Does this mean that Potter, who also owns the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, has given up on lacrosse since he suffered a heavy financial loss in Rochester last year?
“Not at all,” said Patterson.” In fact, we have Pittsburgh ’s application for a 1976 franchise. The reason why Potter didn’t move the team to Pittsburgh for next season was because the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh will undergo renovations during the summer.”
Patterson also disclosed that the Boston group was very disappointed in not getting a franchise this year. The fact that Boston Garden is not air-conditioned would mean that the team would have to play its home games in an arena outside the city which only seats 4,100 and, of course, this would be unsatisfactory to the NLL.
The shift to Indianapolis means that a whole new area — the U.S. Midwest — is opened up, leading to future expansion to such cities as Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago. All these locations are about one hour flying time from Indianapolis.
THIS AND THAT:
Indianapolis will have, in addition to lacrosse, another summer sport in its new arena as Tinkham has also bought the Detroit franchise in the World Team Tennis League …
Les Quebecois, who will train in Baie Comeau starting the end of March, will have two exhibition games there against Philadelphia Wings April 5 and General manager and coach John Ferguson said there are 20 outlets in the Northern Quebec community selling tickets for the games. The arena seats 2,779 . . .
The Philadelphia Wings will have all their players living in Philadelphia for the coming season rather than having them commute back and forth from their homes. . .
Les Quebecois are still waiting for an answer from Long Island coach Jim Bishop on the GM and coaching position here.
Evidently Bishop, an executive of the Detroit Red Wings too, must get his release from owner Bruce Norris. Right now, Norris is having enough problems keeping his Wings out of the division cellar.
