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Driveball Concept Series (New Mad Hatters logo)


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Live footage of the mad scramble for Dallas Metros 1973 tickets after word gets out that it could potentially Be the Metros’ final season in Texas. (Recorded January 1973, Footage courtesy of KDFW)

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19 hours ago, ItsSlothy said:

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Live footage of the mad scramble for Dallas Metros 1973 tickets after word gets out that it could potentially Be the Metros’ final season in Texas. (Recorded January 1973, Footage courtesy of KDFW)

 

2 hours ago, TheTalkingBrony said:

If The Metros does move, where are they gonna go?

 

Hot off the presses:

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Q&A questions/check to make sure you’re still alive:

 

1. Is there a Driveball Hall of Fame?

2. Are there any teams that are popular internationally?

3. Which UDA teams have the most rabid fans/Largest fanbases as of 1972?

4. Is expansion coming up?

 

Thanks.

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5 hours ago, ItsSlothy said:

Q&A questions/check to make sure you’re still alive:

 

1. Is there a Driveball Hall of Fame?

2. Are there any teams that are popular internationally?

3. Which UDA teams have the most rabid fans/Largest fanbases as of 1972?

4. Is expansion coming up?

 

Thanks.

 

I. A Driveball Hall of Fame was first proposed in 1967 during the 20th Season celebrations, but a site hasn't been chosen yet.

Possible sites:
Albany, New York (Former home of the 1948 Albany Dutchmen/Trappers)

Youngstown, Ohio (Birthplace of Cleveland Mad Hatters founder Bruno Scarfiotti)

Brockton, Massachusetts (Childhood hometown of Los Angeles Jaguars founder Spencer Holbrook)

Peoria, Illinois (Birthplace of Driveball co-inventor and Chicago Gaels founder Cubby Dempsey)

Plano, Texas (Birthplace of Dallas Metros founder Obie Coolidge)

 

II. International followings

Mexico: In the border towns that straddle the Rio Grande, the Metros are bigger than the Marshals by a 3-1 ratio. Over in Baja California, the Admirals pretty much claim Tijuana as part of their fanbase, given the town's proximity to San Diego. Everywhere else in Baja is Jaguar Country.

 

Ireland: If you were a kid growing up in Dublin in the early 70's, chances are, you would want to go the one clothing store on Grafton Street that sold your choice of Unicorns, Heroes or Gaels' gear. Bootleg Phoenix Gila Monster merchandise is highly sought in County Sligo where star forward Declan O'Shaugnessy was born.

  

Australia: Wendell Bates (Jaguars), Randy Christopher (also a Jag), Hugh Daniels (Squirrels forward) and Tony Malcolm (Mad Hatters forward) were VFL (Aussie rules) scrubs that became Driveball legends. Look at a postcard from 1970's South Melbourne, and you'd swear it was Oakland.

 

Italy: Sicily is Mad Hatter Nation thanks to Bruno Scarfiotti bringing his team to Palermo for an exhibition against the Rogues two years ago.

 

Canada: With the CDL going out of business, the northernmost UDA teams are scrambling to penetrate the Canadian markets. The Lakers (the Driveball Lakers that is) hope to expand their radio network into the Golden Horseshoe (Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph etc). The Detroit Roadsters had a few fans in Windsor before the club moved to Baltimore. The Emeralds are hoping to attract former Raven fans in Vancouver.

 

Unless someone is crazy enough to move a team to Montreal, that place is pretty much done as a Driveball city, having seen the Voyagers leave in the 50's and the Castors and Trappers go down with the CDL ship more recently.

 

III. Largest UDA fanbases

Top Ten

1. Cleveland Mad Hatters: Despite the New York Heroes tying their Frosty Mug total in '65, the Hatters' faithful still cling to their "Yankees of Driveball" claim.

 

2. Los Angeles Jaguars: Should the 55ers of the IDA prove viable, the Jags would take a slight hit.

 

3. New Orleans Revelers: The success of the Sixties has given way to struggles in the Seventies. In a city where almost everyday is a party day, Revs games at Tulane Stadium, chants, noisemakers and beads are a common occurrence.

 

4. Buffalo Lakers: The Frosty Mug wins in '69 and '71 have helped elevate the Lakers pretty high. In fact, their fanbase in 1972 is much bigger than it was for the original Lakers in the 1950's.

 

5. Kansas City Rustlers: The Rustlers enjoy a very strong following throughout much of the heartland.

 

6. Dallas Metros: The relocation scare and the miracle Frosty Mug winning season afterwards made for one 18 month roller coaster.

 

7. Minnesota Shockers: Despite a heavily crowded sports market (NHL North Stars, NFL Vikings, NBA Lakers, MLB Twins), the Shockers still receive plenty of corporate support from General Mills, Dayton-Hudson (then-parent company of Target) and Hamm's Brewing.

 

8. Philadelphia Brawlers: Off the field, the Brawlers bitterly fight with the A's and Eagles over dates at the Vet. On the field, the Brawlers' first home game at the Vet was called off because of AstroTurf issues. Regardless, Brawler fans still show up for a team that won only 4 games in '72.

 

9. Chicago Gaels: For a team that hasn't won the Mug in fifteen years, they still maintain a steady fanbase not just in Chicago, but other Irish American enclaves across the country.

 

10. New York Heroes: The future of Driveball in America's biggest media market is not in any real jeopardy except for stadium issues. The MLB Yankees will need somewhere to play while The House that Ruth Built undergoes refurbishment in the next couple years and the Heroes take up weekends the Yanks may need at the only other NY stadium capable of hosting MLB, the Dodger Dome in Brooklyn.

 

Bottom Five

1. San Francisco Dragons: Made the playoffs in '69 and '71, but off the field, their owner stands accused of exaggerating his wealth when he tried to buy the Disney company right after Walt's untimely death. Moving the Dragons will be impossible because their sweetheart lease with Candlestick Park doesn't expire till 1996.

 

2. San Diego Admirals: Three straight losing seasons and the IDA's 55ers taking away their Orange County fans.

 

3. St Louis Showboats: The Budweiser bucks keep this team afloat, but even in this universe, St Louis is still Cardinal Nation.

 

4. Miami Flamingos: The Fabulous Flamingos of '58 have all grown old and retired. Their recent struggles have coincided with the rise of the NFL Dolphins. However, any attempt to move the Men in Magenta would be a bigger crime than the Roadsters moving to Baltimore just two years ago.

 

5. Houston Marshals: Once the Oilers and Astros came to Houston, everyone in town forgot the Marshals even existed.

 

IV. Expansion

 

Expansion is coming up, but I'm thinking of either folding or moving some teams around. Detroit is on the short list, but they'll get a team sometime after the Pontiac Silverdome is built. Tampa Bay, Portland or Anaheim might join Detroit should the IDA fold and the UDA decide to expand.

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