A rapidly dwindling fanbase and growing anger among the citizens of Hartford have led the city council to call for a referendum to determine the future for the troubled Emerald League Whalers franchise.
After acquiring the rights to the Whalers name from the NHL franchise, the baseball Whalers have rewarded its faithful with terrible front office decisions and perennial basement finishes in the Noble League. While this would be bad enough in normal circumstances given the history behind the Whalers name, local fury is fueled even more by the NHL Hartford Schooners' four consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup playoffs, making the Stanley Cup Final two seasons ago before falling in six games.
There are two decisions for city voters to weigh in on: Should the baseball team continue to exist and if so, should they be allowed to keep the Whalers name or should it be returned to the local NHL franchise?
The choices:
Dissolve the team
Under this option, the Hartford Whalers and their minor-league affiliates are dissolved following the 1986 season and replaced in the Emerald League by an expansion franchise. Their players will be released to the free agency pool and be available on the market during the annual official FA perod.
Keep the team but change the name
With this arrangement, Hartford will keep its baseball team, but the Whalers nickname will be returned to the NHL squad. Voters selecting this choice are
strongly encouraged to suggest substitute names for ownership to consider.
Keep the team and the Whalers name
The status quo is continued in this choice, with the NHL team remaining the Schooners.
(OOC: Poll forthcoming)