Monday Milestone: Midnight Betrayal

Filed in Other by on March 25, 2012

"They not only threw down the gauntlet, but they put a gun to his head and cocked it and asked, 'Want to see if it's loaded?' They forced him to make a decision that day".
– Michael Chernoff, Colts counsel.

This Week in History:
1984, March 29
In the wee hours of the morning, owner Robert Irsay upends the Baltimore Colts and moves them to Indianapolis.

The trucks arrived in Owing Mills, in suburban Baltimore around 2am on a dark, snowy, and sinister night. They had a solitary purpose in mind. Workers loaded them up, and each vehicle began taking a slightly different route out of the city and across the country. By mid-morning the Baltimore Colts had moved to Indianapolis.

When Colts owner Robert Irsay abandoned Baltimore that night, in such cloak and dagger circumstances, the City of Baltimore and its people felt betrayed, and forgiveness was not easily forthcoming. Irsay’s vanishing act was merciless, but this week the Milestone unearths the political back story, investigating his motivations.

It came down to a stadium. As far back as the mid-1970s, a new stadium was a point of contention. The City of Baltimore had been unwilling to build a modern facility for Irsay, and when negotiations by 1977 had descended into stalemate, Irsay began clandestine discussions with alternative locations, surreptitiously preparing to move the franchise in the event of an ongoing impasse.

Meanwhile in the early 1980s the industrial town of Indianapolis was reinventing itself and courting professional sports teams. In 1982 construction began on the brand new, impressive Hoosier (later RCA) Dome, complete with modern fit-out preparing the city should a franchise become available.

Back in Maryland, Baltimore and Irsay remained at loggerheads. By early 1984 with the government unable and unwilling to fund such large infrastructure with taxpayer money, and Irsay refusing to budge, announcing "this is my goddamn team", the NFL declined to expand the league further, meaning for a new stadium, Irsay would need to relocate. So in late February he secretly visited the new dome in Indianapolis and was impressed.

The political situation worsened. Recognising the discontent, and fearing Baltimore would lose their football team, on March 27, the Maryland Senate intervened, passing "eminent domain" legislation in one chamber that essentially allowed the City of Baltimore to seize the franchise on behalf of government without owner consent.

Irsay was out of time. Racing the clock before the Maryland legislature’s other chamber could entrench the law, he called the city of Indianapolis and that afternoon negotiated a $12.5 million loan, a $4 million training complex, and use of the Hoosier Dome. The deal was made and that night Indianapolis sent the trucks. By 10am the Colts had completely left Baltimore. When later that day the legislation was signed, it was too late. The Colts had gone.

As the news broke, hysterical Baltimore fans called the move treachery, bordering on treason. Tears were shed. Ties were cut.  For Baltimore Colts fans this represented utter betrayal. Legal challenges followed, but were ultimately dismissed.

Not until Baltimore became the Ravens in 1996 did bitterness even begin to subside.Today Baltimore and Indianapolis, since the Colts were stolen away that night have one Super Bowl each. But while some ill-feeling continues exist even today, finally after all this time, Baltimore Colts fans have moved on.

 

The Milestone Five:  Controversial NFL moves

5. Los Angeles to St Louis 1995
The Rams after a tumultuous and largely unsuccessful history, were moved to provide a new start. The Rams would win Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.

4. Oakland to Los Angeles 1982
Owner Al Davis attempts to move the Raiders, requiring legal intervention after an injunction blocks the move. In 1995 the Raiders would return to Oakland.

3.  Cleveland to Baltimore 1996
When the Browns announced their intention to move to Baltimore, the NFL ruled that the legacy of the Browns would stay in Cleveland and instead a new franchise would be given to Baltimore.

2. St Louis to Phoenix 1988
Fan disappointment at the move was so rife that owner Bill Bidwell, stayed away from the final few home games before the move to avoid backlash.

1. Baltimore to Indianapolis 1984
There were no more controversial, than Robert Irsay picking up his Colts franchise in the middle of the night and moving it across the country. The impact for many is still felt almost thirty years later when Indianapolis plays a match in Baltimore.

 

With thanks to Larry French/Getty Images North America for the photo

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