Back in '72

RMc · 10-20-2019, 02:37 PM

"Back in '72" was the title of a Bob Seger album, which you can read about here. (It didn't sell very well, and has never been issued on CD. I mean, what the hell, guys? It's freakin' Bob Seger...!)

Also back in '72, the World Hockey Association began play. This dynasty will rewrite hockey history from July 1, 1972...only in this timeline, the WHA has a number of advantages they didn't have in OTL:

1) The WHA is on much better financial footing, thanks to the support of a Shadowy Billionaire ("SB"), who is definitely not to be confused with the guy played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie The Aviator;

2) SB's TV network, HTN, decides to go national in 1971 and take on ABC, CBS and NBC...and the following year, they ink a deal to show several WHA games every week. (HTN was a real network, evolving from a company called Sports Network Incorporated);

3) The WHA beats the NHL to Long Island. In OTL, the WHA planned to place its New York team in the brand-new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Nassau County officials did not consider the WHA a major league and wanted to keep them out; however, in this timeline, SB uses his connections (and lotsa cold cash) to make Nassau an offer they can't refuse. Bingo! Welcome, New York Golden Blades! (Yes, I know, but "Raiders" is too close to "Rangers", and there's already a football team using that name);

3a) And since the Islanders don't happen, neither do the Atlanta Flames, leaving the brand-new Omni Coliseum empty...at least for now. (Sportswriters and many league officials agree that the NHL, having gone to 14 teams just two years earlier, shouldn't be expanding again so soon);

4) And how! Actually, and Howe: Houston signs Gordie, Mark and Marty a year early. (And just for fun, I had the Cougars pry Stan Mikita away from the Blackhawks, giving him the seed money he needs to open the donut shop we see in the Wayne's World movies. Party on, Garth!)

Ready? Let's begin.

Dkitson16 · 10-21-2019, 10:51 PM

I'll be following this as well.

I would actually rebrand the Raiders as the Islanders, just for fun.

The WHA was wooing Atlanta as well, so if they're not going NHL they should show up in the WHA.

Will the Miami Screaming Eagles exist in your WHA? Just reassign the Blazers to MIami.

RMc · 10-22-2019, 08:00 PM

I'll be following this as well.

Thanks!

I would actually rebrand the Raiders as the Islanders, just for fun.

Funny, but a little confusing.

The WHA was wooing Atlanta as well, so if they're not going NHL they should show up in the WHA.

It might get decided by a dice roll, especially if the NHL decides to expand in 1973.

Will the Miami Screaming Eagles exist in your WHA? Just reassign the Blazers to MIami.

The Eagles didn't happen because there wasn't anything resembling a major-league ice arena in Miami at the time. However, the Sportatorium made some major upgrades in '76, and attempted to lure a couple of WHA teams...

Dkitson16 · 10-22-2019, 11:50 PM

The Eagles didn't happen because there wasn't anything resembling a major-league ice arena in Miami at the time. However, the Sportatorium made some major upgrades in '76, and attempted to lure a couple of WHA teams...

They also made at least one phone call to lure the Blues. Also there was the proposed Miami Executive Arena. Sportatorium was really in a bad location as well.

By the time Miami got serious about the WHA I speculate they didn't get in as the stronger teams in the WHA knew they would be paying off the weaker teams who didn't get "merged" with the NHL.

10-20-2019, 02:37 PM	#1
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,444	Back in '72 "Back in '72" was the title of a Bob Seger album, which you can read about here. (It didn't sell very well, and has never been issued on CD. I mean, what the hell, guys? It's freakin' Bob Seger...!) Also back in '72, the World Hockey Association began play. This dynasty will rewrite hockey history from July 1, 1972...only in this timeline, the WHA has a number of advantages they didn't have in OTL: 1) The WHA is on much better financial footing, thanks to the support of a Shadowy Billionaire ("SB"), who is definitely not to be confused with the guy played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie The Aviator; 2) SB's TV network, HTN, decides to go national in 1971 and take on ABC, CBS and NBC...and the following year, they ink a deal to show several WHA games every week. (HTN was a real network, evolving from a company called Sports Network Incorporated); 3) The WHA beats the NHL to Long Island. In OTL, the WHA planned to place its New York team in the brand-new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Nassau County officials did not consider the WHA a major league and wanted to keep them out; however, in this timeline, SB uses his connections (and lotsa cold cash) to make Nassau an offer they can't refuse. Bingo! Welcome, New York Golden Blades! (Yes, I know, but "Raiders" is too close to "Rangers", and there's already a football team using that name); 3a) And since the Islanders don't happen, neither do the Atlanta Flames, leaving the brand-new Omni Coliseum empty...at least for now. (Sportswriters and many league officials agree that the NHL, having gone to 14 teams just two years earlier, shouldn't be expanding again so soon); 4) And how! Actually, and Howe: Houston signs Gordie, Mark and Marty a year early. (And just for fun, I had the Cougars pry Stan Mikita away from the Blackhawks, giving him the seed money he needs to open the donut shop we see in the Wayne's World movies. Party on, Garth!) Ready? Let's begin. __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..."

10-22-2019, 08:00 PM	#3
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,444	I'll be following this as well. Thanks! I would actually rebrand the Raiders as the Islanders, just for fun. Funny, but a little confusing. The WHA was wooing Atlanta as well, so if they're not going NHL they should show up in the WHA. It might get decided by a dice roll, especially if the NHL decides to expand in 1973. Will the Miami Screaming Eagles exist in your WHA? Just reassign the Blazers to MIami. The Eagles didn't happen because there wasn't anything resembling a major-league ice arena in Miami at the time. However, the Sportatorium made some major upgrades in '76, and attempted to lure a couple of WHA teams... __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..."

10-21-2019, 10:51 PM	#2
Dkitson16 Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 315	I'll be following this as well. I would actually rebrand the Raiders as the Islanders, just for fun. The WHA was wooing Atlanta as well, so if they're not going NHL they should show up in the WHA. Will the Miami Screaming Eagles exist in your WHA? Just reassign the Blazers to MIami.

10-22-2019, 11:50 PM	#4
Dkitson16 Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 315	The Eagles didn't happen because there wasn't anything resembling a major-league ice arena in Miami at the time. However, the Sportatorium made some major upgrades in '76, and attempted to lure a couple of WHA teams... They also made at least one phone call to lure the Blues. Also there was the proposed Miami Executive Arena. Sportatorium was really in a bad location as well. By the time Miami got serious about the WHA I speculate they didn't get in as the stronger teams in the WHA knew they would be paying off the weaker teams who didn't get "merged" with the NHL.