The Los Angeles Chargers and the Dallas Texans had the luxury of playing in professional football like stadiums. The problem was that they shared them with NFL teams, and the numbers of their crowds did not match their NFL counterparts. The Denver Broncos, New York Titans and Buffalo Bills played in stadiums that were also used for baseball. The Boston Patriots used a college stadium and the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers used high school fields.
Chargers, Texans Change Locations
It didn't take Chargers owner Barron Hilton long to realize he had a losing proposition on his hands in Los Angeles, even after the Chargers won the AFL West that first season. Hilton didn't have to look far, though. He simply moved his squad 100 miles down the highway to San Diego, where his players immediately had jobs helping to build an upper deck on aging Balboa Stadium and the Chargers have prospered ever since.
Lamar Hunt was a little more stubborn, and stuck to his belief the Texans would win the battle in Dallas. After the Texans won the 1962 AFL Championship, Hunt came to the conclusion that no matter what, the Cowboys and NFL football was what the fans preferred. Hunt began talks with New Orleans businessman Dave Dixon, and Kansas City mayor H. Roe Bartle about moving his franchise to their cities. Bartle was the more effective salesman, and the Texans made the move to Kansas City where they now prosper as the Chiefs.
Municipal Stadium in Kansas City was also a baseball stadium, but temporary seats were brought in for football increasing the stadiums capacity by 15,000. Another 2,000 was added later on after merger talks were finalized, to bring the stadiums capacity to what the NFL wanted. Both Kansas City and San Diego have had modern stadiums built since then.
Financial Problems Surround Titans, Broncos
At one time, it appeared the New York Titans financial issues could bring the league down with them. Players paychecks were bouncing, and the players were threatening not to play as a result. A dry cleaner even held the uniforms until owner Harry Wismer could pay his bill. The league stepped in at that point, and guaranteed the paychecks. Then, they paid Wismer's dry cleaning bill. The league then decided a new owner was needed for the New York franchise, and took over the team until a new owner could be found. In stepped show business impresario Sonny Werblin. He bought the Titans, changed the name to the Jets and announced the team would occupy the brand new Shea Stadium. The Patriots, Raiders and Oilers also moved into better facilities.
The Broncos may not have had to worry about paychecks bouncing, but they still were not in good shape. They started out wearing bargain basement type uniforms with vertically striped socks that made them the laughingstock of the league. The uniforms were changed after a couple of years, but they still had the issue of locker room floors made of dirt, and a stadium seating only about 30,000. When the league agreed to the TV contract with NBC, and the merger was reaching final stages. Pressure was on for the Broncos to move. Atlanta was looked at as a possible location. But the chamber of commerce came through with a bond issue for improvements to Mile High Stadium, ticket sales improved and the Broncos were in Denver to stay.
