Kraken Almost-Ancestors
A half-century before the Seattle Kraken brought the National Hockey League here, Seattle was promised an NHL expansion team. Or the transfer of an existing NHL team. Or a World Hockey Association team.
Of course, none of those happened. How it all fell apart is a fascinating mid-1970s tale of broken promises, missed payments, egos, lawsuits and backroom maneuvering. This is the first of five stories retrieved from the dusty archives of the Seattle Times (ST) and Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I).
January, 1974: NHL Meets, Seattle Council Votes
“The next National Hockey League expansion, and a possible team for Seattle, begins in Chicago tomorrow where club owners are attending the All-Star game. Vince Abbey and Ken Heim, Seattle Totem vice presidents, are on hand for discussions with expansion committee members.” (ST, 1-28-74)
“The Seattle City council voted to restrict the Seattle Totems Coliseum lease to one year, rather than the three years they requested. The three year Totems lease would have preserved the territory for the NHL until the 1976 expansion.” (P-I, 1-29-74)
“What dissuaded some council members is the hint that the city may be invited to tango with the World Hockey Association. Heim feels the council’s action will cost Seattle an NHL franchise. The WHA may be Seattle’s last resort.” (ST)
“The result of the council’s vote will bring major league hockey to Seattle before expected,” said Jim Pattison, president of the WHA Vancouver Blazers. “It will force the NHL to put a team in there by next year, or else the World Hockey Association will be there.” (P-I)
“Vince Abbey, the Seattle attorney who is leading the drive to bring a National Hockey League franchise here, returned from Chicago where he discussed Seattle’s bid with league officials.” (P-I, 1-30-74)
February, 1974
Taul Watanabe, Burlington Northern VP, is announced as one of five investors in Vince Abbey’s group bidding for an NHL expansion team.
“Watanabe was in attendance at the Totems’ January 5 game with the Russian national team, which drew 12,700 fans. ‘The game proved that this is a major league hockey community.'” (ST)
March, 1974
“Groups from three Western League cities made presentations yesterday in their bid for franchises. They are the same cities – Seattle, Denver and San Diego – the NHL has been considering for the past six months. Clarence Campbell, NHL president, said the three groups were heard at ‘considerable length’ by the expansion committee.” (ST)
April-May, 1974
“Bill MacFarland, president of the Western Hockey League, will jump to the World Hockey Association as president of the Phoenix Roadrunners. MacFarland was under consideration for the GM position with Seattle’s NHL team, if and when it came. Since MacFarland is thought to have a fairly good pipeline to the NHL’s inner sanctum, his decision to take the Phoenix job may have ominous implications for this city’s expansion hopes.” (P-I)
“The National Hockey League will meet June 10-13 in Montreal, and is expected to announce whether it will expand beginning with the 1976 season. If the decision is affirmative, Seattle is expected to be granted a franchise.” (P-I)
June, 1974
“It was in 1972 that Abbey and MacFarland, WHL president, hammered out an agreement with the NHL providing that at least half of all the teams awarded franchises would be from the Western League. Now, two years later, Seattle – for a price of $6 million – appears on the verge of achieving Abbey’s goal.” (ST)
“Seattle’s Coliseum is 1,000 seats short of the NHL’s 15,000 seat requirements. Abbey has plans to increase the Coliseum to an eventual 20,000 seats if he lands the franchise.” (ST)
“Mayor Wes Uhlman, just returned from a meeting in Montreal with the NHL expansion committee, felt good about the trip’s results. ‘I think we’ve got it. I feel very certain the financing can be put together. Seattle is a great hockey town.'” (ST)
Mayor Uhlman said, “I have learned from persons connected with hockey that the NHL Board of Governors has some misgivings about (Abbey’s) financial strength.” (ST)
One Dream Becomes Reality, Another Dream Dies
“The National Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise to Seattle, one week after a similar move by National Football League owners. Both teams will begin play in 1976.
“(Seattle Totems owner) Vince Abbey will head the operation. He said the team name will remain the same. The WHL will immediately cease operating. Seattle will play in the Central Hockey League during its final two minor league seasons.” (P-I, 6-13-74)
“We’ve got until the end of the year to bring our group together,” Abbey said. “We have had a tremendous response locally and from out-of-town people who want to participate.” (P-I) “We’re not short of money at all.” (ST)
Irving Clark, Jr., Seattle attorney, who has joined Abbey’s group, said today, “With its money-making history, I’d rather be in the NHL than the National Football League.” (ST, 6-13-74) “I think Seattle will support hockey but not football,” said Marian Codling, a shopper at University Village. (ST, 6-30-74)
Tomorrow: Sometimes expansion is just hot air.
Some images from the featured graphic come from SportsLogos.
