1974 Economy

I read an article from the historical Baltimore Sun archive from the Langsdale Library's databases. The article, "4,145 Colts Fans Cancel", appeared in the Baltimore Sun on March 21, 1974. The article talks about the drop off season ticket sales for the Baltimore Colts and the cancellation of 4,145 season tickets. The article cites the Colts' general manager, Joe Thomas, as blaming the "team's recent losing ways, the economy pinch, and the inclusion of preseason games in the season ticket package", as reasons for the drop off. I plan to research more to see if the drop in sales affected the dissatisfaction between owner Robert Irsay and the city of Baltimore.

Interview

I interviewed my father about the departure of the Baltimore Colts. My father, a lifelong Colts fan, was born in 1957 in Baltimore and was raised in Glen Burnie, a suburb of Baltimore. In 1984, when the Colts left, my father was living in Baltimore and was a Baltimore city police officer.

1.Why do you think the Colts left Baltimore? Irsay wanted a new stadium and Baltimore wouldn't work with him to get one. And he was personally a jerk, and an alcoholic but still Baltimore didn't make a move to build a new stadium.

2. Do you think the economy had any impact on the Colts leaving/Irsay's discontent with Baltimore?

I don't remember what the economy was like then, but the team was realyl lousy and it was losing fan support, which means ticket sales which means money, which is the bottom line.

3. What was the general reaction when the Colts left? Mass misery and disbelief. Everyone was upset and sick but they all blamed it on Irsay and his unpleasant personality rather than looking at themselves as being part of the reason they left. Baltimorons still do this to this day. I can't find anyone (except me) who said Irsay had a right to take the team away, as the owner he takes the loss as well as the profit.

4. You were a Baltimore cop at the time, did you see anything relating to the Colts departure? Just people being really upset and sad and hating Irsay but as mentioned, not accepting any of the blame for the Colts leaving.

5. Why did you continue to like the Colts when a lot of other people did not? Because I liked the team regardless of the owner and believed the owner had a right to take the team, it is his to do with as he wishes and business dictates. I know that is a minority view. And I could not root for the Redskins or Steelers though I did start rooting for the Browns of Bernie Kosar days.


This interview provided me with some much needed insight into the Colts' departure and the reaction of the fans afterwards. I think that the slump in ticket sales and Baltimore's reluctance to build a new stadium were the main causes of the Colts leaving.
I also think my father had interesting insights into peoples' reactions after the Colts left. Overall, football is a business. The owner has the right to do what they wish with their team. Though I think the way Irsay took the team in the middle of the night was shady, I also do not wholly fault him for moving the team. He had better business and football opportunities elsewhere, especially when Baltimore's support for his team was continuously waivering.

Vince Bagli talks about The Colts leaving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPKrwlM95tE

Vince Bagli, former sportscaster for WBAL, talks about his experience with The Baltimore Colts leaving. He said there "hadn't been many moments when [he] felt poorer than that night..."

I was having trouble finding good articles on the Baltimore Sun database on Langsdale, because years are still missing. Instead I searched the New York Times historical database and found some interesting articles.

There was an article, "Colts to Stay, For Now", that appeared in the New York Times on March 3, 1984, 26 days before the Colts left Baltimore. This article talks about the meeting Irsay had on March 2nd in which he assured people that the Colts would stay in Baltimore for now. At the end of the article the reporter mentions that Indianapolis has a good chance of having the Colts move there since they just built a new domed 61,000 seat stadium. This helps to confirm that one of the main reason for the Colts move was the desire for a better stadium.

An article on the Colts Leaving Baltimore

I found an article titled, "12 Vans to Indianapolis", on the New York Times historical database. The article was written by Dave Anderson on April 1, 1984, right after the Colts left the city. This article talks about Irsay moving The Colts in 12 vans overnight. The writer mentions that this is what Irsay will be remembered for- moving The Colts in a shady manner. He also voices his opinion that Indianapolis should change the name of the team, which I think is an interesting idea and I'm curious as to why they didn't do that.

I think the author makes a good point, one that has been often echoed, in that the way Irsay moved the team was the worst part about the move. He literally did it under the cover of night after telling the city a few weeks earlier that they would stay. I can understand how this would greatly offend and upset fans who had supported his, and Baltimore's, team.

Reaction of Baltimore fans

I found the article, ". . . but in Baltimore, It Leaves a Void In the Heart of Fans" by Stephen Engelberg in the April 8, 1984 edition of the New York Times. I was glad to find an article that talked about the feelings of Baltimoreans after the Colts left. I also thought it was interesting, but not surprising, that I found that article in the New York Times. The article focuses on the "void" that was left in Baltimore after the Colts left and how fans were upset over the move.

Another Blog

I was googling and came across another blog from blogger.com. This particular blog includes the "top ten NFL tragic moments", which I thought was a great topic. The Colts leaving Baltimore was number five on the list. The link is below:

http://nominalme.blogspot.com/2005/01/nfl-tragedy-5-colts-leave-baltimore.html