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Jets ready to flee to the Meadowlands in 1977


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Jets ready to flee to the Meadowlands in 1977

Less than capacity crowd watches Giants and Jets lock horns at Meadowlands in Sept. 1977.

Less than capacity crowd watches Giants and Jets lock horns at Meadowlands in Sept. 1977.

  (JIM GARRETT)

(Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977. This story was written by Larry Fox.)

The New York Jets, unable to breathe under the restrictive terms of their lease with the Mets for Shea Stadium, are all set to move to the Meadowlands in New Jersey starting with the 1977 season, The News learned yesterday.

“The ownership of the Jets has entered into negotiations with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and an agreement is imminent, perhaps even this week,” a source close to the negotiations disclosed.

The Jets and their acting president, Leon Hess, made known their intentions to move in meeting with Mayor Beame on Friday. The Jets directors met on Monday to consider the Meadowlands proposal and active negotiations with the Jersey group began the next day.

The Jets thus would share the stadium with that other ex-patriate New York team, the Giants, who were forced out of their long-time home, Yankee Stadium, by the recently completed $100 million renovation.

The Giants all along have indicated no objection to sharing the new stadium that bears their name and in fact would welcome the Jets as co-tenants. If nothing else, another football team would enable them to share the cost of grounds crews and other football team would enable them to share the cost of grounds crews and other full-time stadium personnel.

The Mets made a last-ditch effort to compromise their long-standing prohibition of football games during the baseball season by opening the gates for one exhibition game and two early regular-season contests.

However, negotiations foundered on the Mets insistence that there be alternate rain dates in case of inclement weather. The Jets could go along with this for the exhibition game, but pointed out that the National Football League would not allow arbitrary cancellation of regular-season games with the attendant television complications.

The Jets at that time reiterated their offer to advance the money, up to $4 million, to install artificial turf at Shea Stadium as an “interest-free loan.” This is similar to the way in which the Mets beat the city’s fiscal crunch by advancing the money to refurbish Shea last year. The loan is paid back through withheld rental payments.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

The Mets don’t want artificial turf, claiming it disrupts the nature of the game.

The Jets’ departure would cost the city (and state) about $100,000 per game, plus other fringe benefits such as increased subway use. The Jets hire about 1,300 people per game day at Shea and these jobs also will be lost.

Under terms of the Jets’ lease with the Mets and the city, which has seven years to go, they are committed to paying a minimum fee of less than $10,000 per game. However, in his letter to Mayor Beame, Hess said the club would voluntarily “reimburse our city for the net rental income usually realized from our scheduled games at Shea.” This is roughly $350,000 to $500,000 a year and if they city sets up a legal roadblock to stall the Jets’ move, the matter of a settlement could be the basis of any injunction.

The City of New York, according to its Parks Commissioner, will resist strongly any effort by the Jets to buy their way out of the existing lease at Shea Stadium.

“The value of a major league team in this city transcends any money they pay in renting the stadium,” said Commissioner Martin Lang.

He added: “I have not heard of any such buy-out being offered, and I would not look with equanimity toward losing a team, regardless of any money paid in lieu of performance.”

Commissioner Lang said he had heard only of talks between Don Grant of the Mets and Leon Hess of the Jets to solve the scheduling dilemma. “I was pleased to learn of it, and would hope the two men continue to talk,” said Lang.

Forced to Play on Road

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

In past years, the Jets have been forced to play all exhibition and regular-season games on the road until the Mets have finished using the stadium. In 1973, when the Mets were in the World Series, the Jets had to play eight regular-season games on the road and only six at home.

This problem could get worse since the NFL is considering increasing the regular schedule from 14 to 16 games.

Moving to the Meadowlands not only would ease this competitive problem for the Jets but also provide them with 16,000 additional seats in a football-oriented ball park. Shea was the first of the multiple-purpose stadiums and opened up to the Jets in 1964.

During their early years before they became successful, the Jets were allowed to play an early Saturday-night game at home during baseball season but when the football team became successful, McDonald Grant, board chairman of the Mets, closed the door. Under terms of their original lease with the city, the Mets have total control of Shea from the first day of spring training to the final game of the World Series, even if they are not in it.

The Mets negotiated that lease with mayor Wagner’s administration, which was reeling under the adverse impact of the baseball Giants and Dodgers’ move to California. There was no thought then that the Titans of New York, bankrupt precursor of the Jets, would ever be a viable force.

Wismer Faced Bankruptcy

And when the Mets in turn negotiated with the Titans they were dealing with an owner, Harry Wismer, who was on the verge of bankruptcy. A lease to play in Shea was regard as his only possible salvation and he had to take what they gave him.

In his letter to Mayor Beame, mailed after the Friday meeting in City Hall, Hess called “the current lease arrangement… totally unfavorable to the New York Jets.”

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

He continued, “We are confronted with the still basic dilemma. The management of the Jets has committed to rebuild… But to do so under the current lease, without ever having the hope calling Shea Stadium our real home, would not be in the best interest of the club.”

Hess, multimillionaire owner of the Amerada Hess Oil Co., took over a more active role in the Jets’ direction with the recent death of Phil Iselin.

He cited two major causes for dissatisfaction to Beame:

The fact that the Jets must negotiate their lease with another, tenant, the Mets, rather than with the stadium owner, the city; and the competitive disadvantage caused by the long period they must be away from home at the start of the season.

Grant’s insistence on the regular-season rain dates and refusal to allow the installation of artificial turf - Hess in his letter said Grant vowed that “the Mets would never play on artificial turf” - put the football team “at the impasse, and not one of our own making.” “... we are New Yorkers.”

Hess indicated that the Jets were facing an agonizing decision. “We do not want to leave the City of New York,” he wrote, and he concluded.

Yankee Stadium Is Out

There is, of course, the Yankee Stadium alternative, but the Jets ruled that out after an unpleasant pre-season experience in the refurbished ball park last summer. Three attractive night games failed to draw and the stadium, down to less than 60,000 seats for football after the renovation, proved unsuitable for the game. A field could barely be fitted into its contours and many seats were unsuitable.

The highly promoted game with the Giants, postponed by a hurricane, drew only 35,000. Two other games against Oakland and Washington drew less than that combined.

The Giants’ lease with the Meadowlands is reported to have been more highly favorable to the ball club than a lease at Yankee Stadium. The Jets could expect a Jersey agreement similar to the terms under which the Giants operate. The Jets would be coming out from under a much more restrictive contract at Shea where all fees from preferred parking and concessions go to the Mets.

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The Mets and NYC raped and took advantage of the Jets.  The Jets weren't allowed home preaseaon games or home regular season games until the Mets season was over.  In 1973 when the Mets made it to the World Series the Jets played all 6 preseason and the first  6 regular season games on the road.  They even lost a home game that year.  The Steelers game was flipped to Pittsburgh.  As much as Shea was more convenient, I never blamed Hess for moving the team to the Meadowlands.

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Well, well, well.  I just learned that the Jets had a "drop in season ticket sales" in 1976 and fans routinely no-showed because of an abundance of cold November and December games.

So much for the "diehard tough-guy no distractions loyal blue-collar salt of the Earth never miss a game" fans who walked on water in Shea Stadium.

Another myth busted.  Joe Namath at quarterback and they bailed on the Jets because it was chilly.  They make PSL owners sound positively manly.

SAR I

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17 minutes ago, SAR I said:

Well, well, well.  I just learned that the Jets had a "drop in season ticket sales" in 1976 and fans routinely no-showed because of an abundance of cold November and December games.

So much for the "diehard tough-guy no distractions loyal blue-collar salt of the Earth never miss a game" fans who walked on water in Shea Stadium.

Another myth busted.  Joe Namath at quarterback and they bailed on the Jets because it was chilly.  They make PSL owners sound positively manly.

SAR I

We walked IN water at Shea Stadium , not on water LOL - the bathrooms were flooded usually before kickoff...I was one of those stupid kid fans who still went to every game. I actually gave up my tickets in protest of them leaving NYC and going to be the Giants b*tch. No doubt reflecting back, that least they had was hideous for them, they really had no choice but to move out of Shea.

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30 minutes ago, SAR I said:

Well, well, well.  I just learned that the Jets had a "drop in season ticket sales" in 1976 and fans routinely no-showed because of an abundance of cold November and December games.

So much for the "diehard tough-guy no distractions loyal blue-collar salt of the Earth never miss a game" fans who walked on water in Shea Stadium.

Another myth busted.  Joe Namath at quarterback and they bailed on the Jets because it was chilly.  They make PSL owners sound positively manly.

SAR I

and going 3-11 had nothing to do with the ticket sales drop? :D

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48 minutes ago, SAR I said:

Well, well, well.  I just learned that the Jets had a "drop in season ticket sales" in 1976 and fans routinely no-showed because of an abundance of cold November and December games.

So much for the "diehard tough-guy no distractions loyal blue-collar salt of the Earth never miss a game" fans who walked on water in Shea Stadium.

Another myth busted.  Joe Namath at quarterback and they bailed on the Jets because it was chilly.  They make PSL owners sound positively manly.

SAR I

Shea was hardly ever full.  That article was 1977.  The Jets moved in 1984. So they stayed at Shea another 7 years. 

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2 hours ago, joewilly12 said:

Jets ready to flee to the Meadowlands in 1977

Less than capacity crowd watches Giants and Jets lock horns at Meadowlands in Sept. 1977.

Less than capacity crowd watches Giants and Jets lock horns at Meadowlands in Sept. 1977.

  (JIM GARRETT)

(Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977. This story was written by Larry Fox.)

The New York Jets, unable to breathe under the restrictive terms of their lease with the Mets for Shea Stadium, are all set to move to the Meadowlands in New Jersey starting with the 1977 season, The News learned yesterday.

“The ownership of the Jets has entered into negotiations with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and an agreement is imminent, perhaps even this week,” a source close to the negotiations disclosed.

The Jets and their acting president, Leon Hess, made known their intentions to move in meeting with Mayor Beame on Friday. The Jets directors met on Monday to consider the Meadowlands proposal and active negotiations with the Jersey group began the next day.

The Jets thus would share the stadium with that other ex-patriate New York team, the Giants, who were forced out of their long-time home, Yankee Stadium, by the recently completed $100 million renovation.

The Giants all along have indicated no objection to sharing the new stadium that bears their name and in fact would welcome the Jets as co-tenants. If nothing else, another football team would enable them to share the cost of grounds crews and other football team would enable them to share the cost of grounds crews and other full-time stadium personnel.

The Mets made a last-ditch effort to compromise their long-standing prohibition of football games during the baseball season by opening the gates for one exhibition game and two early regular-season contests.

However, negotiations foundered on the Mets insistence that there be alternate rain dates in case of inclement weather. The Jets could go along with this for the exhibition game, but pointed out that the National Football League would not allow arbitrary cancellation of regular-season games with the attendant television complications.

The Jets at that time reiterated their offer to advance the money, up to $4 million, to install artificial turf at Shea Stadium as an “interest-free loan.” This is similar to the way in which the Mets beat the city’s fiscal crunch by advancing the money to refurbish Shea last year. The loan is paid back through withheld rental payments.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

The Mets don’t want artificial turf, claiming it disrupts the nature of the game.

The Jets’ departure would cost the city (and state) about $100,000 per game, plus other fringe benefits such as increased subway use. The Jets hire about 1,300 people per game day at Shea and these jobs also will be lost.

Under terms of the Jets’ lease with the Mets and the city, which has seven years to go, they are committed to paying a minimum fee of less than $10,000 per game. However, in his letter to Mayor Beame, Hess said the club would voluntarily “reimburse our city for the net rental income usually realized from our scheduled games at Shea.” This is roughly $350,000 to $500,000 a year and if they city sets up a legal roadblock to stall the Jets’ move, the matter of a settlement could be the basis of any injunction.

The City of New York, according to its Parks Commissioner, will resist strongly any effort by the Jets to buy their way out of the existing lease at Shea Stadium.

“The value of a major league team in this city transcends any money they pay in renting the stadium,” said Commissioner Martin Lang.

He added: “I have not heard of any such buy-out being offered, and I would not look with equanimity toward losing a team, regardless of any money paid in lieu of performance.”

Commissioner Lang said he had heard only of talks between Don Grant of the Mets and Leon Hess of the Jets to solve the scheduling dilemma. “I was pleased to learn of it, and would hope the two men continue to talk,” said Lang.

Forced to Play on Road

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

In past years, the Jets have been forced to play all exhibition and regular-season games on the road until the Mets have finished using the stadium. In 1973, when the Mets were in the World Series, the Jets had to play eight regular-season games on the road and only six at home.

This problem could get worse since the NFL is considering increasing the regular schedule from 14 to 16 games.

Moving to the Meadowlands not only would ease this competitive problem for the Jets but also provide them with 16,000 additional seats in a football-oriented ball park. Shea was the first of the multiple-purpose stadiums and opened up to the Jets in 1964.

During their early years before they became successful, the Jets were allowed to play an early Saturday-night game at home during baseball season but when the football team became successful, McDonald Grant, board chairman of the Mets, closed the door. Under terms of their original lease with the city, the Mets have total control of Shea from the first day of spring training to the final game of the World Series, even if they are not in it.

The Mets negotiated that lease with mayor Wagner’s administration, which was reeling under the adverse impact of the baseball Giants and Dodgers’ move to California. There was no thought then that the Titans of New York, bankrupt precursor of the Jets, would ever be a viable force.

Wismer Faced Bankruptcy

And when the Mets in turn negotiated with the Titans they were dealing with an owner, Harry Wismer, who was on the verge of bankruptcy. A lease to play in Shea was regard as his only possible salvation and he had to take what they gave him.

In his letter to Mayor Beame, mailed after the Friday meeting in City Hall, Hess called “the current lease arrangement… totally unfavorable to the New York Jets.”

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

Originally published by the Daily News on Feb. 11, 1977.

  (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

He continued, “We are confronted with the still basic dilemma. The management of the Jets has committed to rebuild… But to do so under the current lease, without ever having the hope calling Shea Stadium our real home, would not be in the best interest of the club.”

Hess, multimillionaire owner of the Amerada Hess Oil Co., took over a more active role in the Jets’ direction with the recent death of Phil Iselin.

He cited two major causes for dissatisfaction to Beame:

The fact that the Jets must negotiate their lease with another, tenant, the Mets, rather than with the stadium owner, the city; and the competitive disadvantage caused by the long period they must be away from home at the start of the season.

Grant’s insistence on the regular-season rain dates and refusal to allow the installation of artificial turf - Hess in his letter said Grant vowed that “the Mets would never play on artificial turf” - put the football team “at the impasse, and not one of our own making.” “... we are New Yorkers.”

Hess indicated that the Jets were facing an agonizing decision. “We do not want to leave the City of New York,” he wrote, and he concluded.

Yankee Stadium Is Out

There is, of course, the Yankee Stadium alternative, but the Jets ruled that out after an unpleasant pre-season experience in the refurbished ball park last summer. Three attractive night games failed to draw and the stadium, down to less than 60,000 seats for football after the renovation, proved unsuitable for the game. A field could barely be fitted into its contours and many seats were unsuitable.

The highly promoted game with the Giants, postponed by a hurricane, drew only 35,000. Two other games against Oakland and Washington drew less than that combined.

The Giants’ lease with the Meadowlands is reported to have been more highly favorable to the ball club than a lease at Yankee Stadium. The Jets could expect a Jersey agreement similar to the terms under which the Giants operate. The Jets would be coming out from under a much more restrictive contract at Shea where all fees from preferred parking and concessions go to the Mets.

yet they stayed at Shea Stadium for another 7 years before making the big move.

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1 hour ago, SAR I said:

Well, well, well.  I just learned that the Jets had a "drop in season ticket sales" in 1976 and fans routinely no-showed because of an abundance of cold November and December games.

So much for the "diehard tough-guy no distractions loyal blue-collar salt of the Earth never miss a game" fans who walked on water in Shea Stadium.

Another myth busted.  Joe Namath at quarterback and they bailed on the Jets because it was chilly.  They make PSL owners sound positively manly.

SAR I

Not sure if you ever got to see a Jet game at Shea but "Chilly" was in September. Even then the wind that came off the bay in November and December was absolutely brutal in the upper deck back then. No such thing as global warming. The swelling winds at the Meadowlands was to Jet fans from that era only a light tropical breeze. 

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2 hours ago, Kleckineau said:

and going 3-11 had nothing to do with the ticket sales drop? :D

Oh, I'm sure it did.

But supposedly nary a single Shea Stadium season ticket holder missed a single game let alone gave up their season tickets.  3-11 with Joe Namath and Richard Todd?  Lord knows, we've seen worse.

SAR I

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2 hours ago, Dcat said:

Shea was hardly ever full.  That article was 1977.  The Jets moved in 1984. So they stayed at Shea another 7 years. 

Can't be.

Those were the glory days, so I'm told, place was packed, sweaty bare-chested men in sub-zero temperatures in Dacron, everyone having a great time, no mobile telephones, white collars, or wine spritzers.

SAR I

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2 hours ago, Bocajetfan said:

Not sure if you ever got to see a Jet game at Shea but "Chilly" was in September. Even then the wind that came off the bay in November and December was absolutely brutal in the upper deck back then. No such thing as global warming. The swelling winds at the Meadowlands was to Jet fans from that era only a light tropical breeze. 

I only saw 3 games at Shea, I was in high school when I developed a love of the sport and shortly thereafter was off to college and couldn't get to games.  I pirated cable TV in my dorm room though, saw every Jets game that way.

Back to Shea, my first Jets game, Pat Leahy missed 3 field goals in the rain and we lost 6-3 to the Bills or something like that, it's hazy.  Second one was Joe Montana's breakout game, only the Jets could see Richard Todd throw for 447 yards and 3 TD's and lose.  Third one was against Houston, we'd opened 0-3 and from that point forward we went 10-2-1 to make the playoffs, was really the contest that got me sold on attending live games (I guess the fact that we won helped).

Shea was terrible to get to, horrible to park in, on TV looking at the Montreal Expos pennant on the centerfield fence on every FG attempt was pathetic, never enjoyed it there.  The Meadowlands was a breath of fresh air.  Figuratively and literally.

SAR I

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7 hours ago, Randy Rasmussen said:

3-11 in 1975, Lou Holtz hired as coach for 1976.
What a storied franchise.


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3 -11!  Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch . . .  The Jets are the only team in history to go 3 -11 three years in a row that I know of. There's gotta be some apocalyptic numerology in there.  Only the Jets . . . 

I was there through it all, praying for death over sins of which I know what, lifting my palms to the sky in supplication, but nay, the gods turned a deaf ear and would not hear me.  Rheingold caps and peanut shells, one could barely protect oneself from the onslaught of collateral damage. And the life of the ebony clock went out with the last of the gay at Shea.  And the flames of the tripods expired. And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death Death held illimitable dominion over all.  

 

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13 hours ago, SAR I said:

Can't be.

Those were the glory days, so I'm told, place was packed, sweaty bare-chested men in sub-zero temperatures in Dacron, everyone having a great time, no mobile telephones, white collars, or wine spritzers.

SAR I

You are just jealous you never got to wear green&white zumba pants in the Shea parking lot. HATER!

Truth: Shea was a complete dump. Way easier to get to in NYC, but a dump. 

 

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18 minutes ago, nyjunc said:

why did the Jets play their home opener at the meadowlands in 1977?

They played a preseason game against the Giants in 1977, won 10-0.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Preseason-Jets-GiantsMeadowlands-77-93/6c354655-79f7-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9

A judge ordered that the Jets could not leave Shea Stadium and void the last 6 years on their contract:

http://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/12/archives/court-confines-jets-to-shea-stadium.html?_r=0

The Jets tried to show cause, that the City of New York violated their lease agreement by allowing the Mets to play home games on NFL Sunday's but the judge threw it out and said the Jets and Mets had to work together to figure it out.

SAR I

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6 minutes ago, SAR I said:

They played a preseason game against the Giants in 1977, won 10-0.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Preseason-Jets-GiantsMeadowlands-77-93/6c354655-79f7-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9

A judge ordered that the Jets could not leave Shea Stadium and void the last 6 years on their contract:

http://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/12/archives/court-confines-jets-to-shea-stadium.html?_r=0

The Jets tried to show cause, that the City of New York violated their lease agreement by allowing the Mets to play home games on NFL Sunday's but the judge threw it out and said the Jets and Mets had to work together to figure it out.

SAR I

they also opened up the reg season at the meadowlands that year against the colts.

 

colts-punter-david-lee-takes-a-bad-snap-

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197709250nyj.htm

 

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21 minutes ago, nyjunc said:

they also opened up the reg season at the meadowlands that year against the colts.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197709250nyj.htm

Interesting, didn't know that.

I assume as part of the legal settlement the Jets agreed to remain at Shea from 1977-1982 and the City allowed the Jets to play a few games at the Meadowlands.  I'll have to look into that.

SAR I

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Found this on the NYJ site:

Shea Hey

After a two-month court struggle, the Jets were guaranteed two September games and two October games for each of the remaining six years of the Jets' Shea Stadium lease with New York City beginning in 1978. State Supreme Court Justice Harold Baer also allowed the Jets to play two preseason games plus their 1977 home opener in the Meadowlands.

SAR I

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14 minutes ago, SAR I said:

Interesting, didn't know that.

I assume as part of the legal settlement the Jets agreed to remain at Shea from 1977-1982 and the City allowed the Jets to play a few games at the Meadowlands.  I'll have to look into that.

SAR I

I believe that was the only reg season game there as home team until we moved there in 1984(also played at NYG in 1981).  

 

it looks like the league had put the sched together before the jets and the City resolved their differences and 9/25 the mets had a home game which I guess is why they played that one game at the meadowlands.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/28/archives/nfl-is-on-jerseys-side-with-jets-home-schedule-jets-home-schedule.html

 

 

 

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13 hours ago, SAR I said:

I only saw 3 games at Shea, I was in high school when I developed a love of the sport and shortly thereafter was off to college and couldn't get to games.  I pirated cable TV in my dorm room though, saw every Jets game that way.

Back to Shea, my first Jets game, Pat Leahy missed 3 field goals in the rain and we lost 6-3 to the Bills or something like that, it's hazy.  Second one was Joe Montana's breakout game, only the Jets could see Richard Todd throw for 447 yards and 3 TD's and lose.  Third one was against Houston, we'd opened 0-3 and from that point forward we went 10-2-1 to make the playoffs, was really the contest that got me sold on attending live games (I guess the fact that we won helped).

Shea was terrible to get to, horrible to park in, on TV looking at the Montreal Expos pennant on the centerfield fence on every FG attempt was pathetic, never enjoyed it there.  The Meadowlands was a breath of fresh air.  Figuratively and literally.

SAR I

Was there for that. Announcer was talking up Todd all day while the Jets were getting smoked 

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14 minutes ago, nyjunc said:

I believe that was the only reg season game there as home team until we moved there in 1984(also played at NYG in 1981). 

it looks like the league had put the sched together before the jets and the City resolved their differences and 9/25 the mets had a home game which I guess is why they played that one game at the meadowlands.

http://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/28/archives/nfl-is-on-jerseys-side-with-jets-home-schedule-jets-home-schedule.html

Great read, thanks for finding that.

It's pretty sad to see how nasty the Mets were to the Jets.  So many people are under the misconception that the Giants mistreated us, it was the exact opposite.

SAR I

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15 minutes ago, SAR I said:

Great read, thanks for finding that.

It's pretty sad to see how nasty the Mets were to the Jets.  So many people are under the misconception that the Giants mistreated us, it was the exact opposite.

SAR I

the Giants mistreated us too just in a different way.  

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15 minutes ago, shawn306 said:

For the life of me I don't remember that ? Maybe there are some clips of the game in 1977 Jets or Colts highlight film ?

I tried to find on youtube but could not, interestingly there is a clip of CBS halftime highlights from the early games but they showed all NFC games so our highlights were not on it.

Interestingly I found this photo from an old preseason game at the meadowlands(I think late 70s).  I like the 80s helmet w/ the 60s/current jerseys

joe-klecko-of-the-new-york-jets-in-actio

 

 

 

here's another shot of the Colts game:

homecoming-day-garden-citys-don-mccauley

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Interesting to read that article. Thanks to the OP for posting it.

What strikes me as curious is that Leon Hess never had the foresight (or appetite) to use that 7 year window to build his own stadium.  I know he was a Jersey guy, but Nassau County in 1977 was in a strong financial position and had ample space for a stadium.  But Hess was content just to lease, not own, and so he went to the NJSEA.   

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Interesting to read that article. Thanks to the OP for posting it.
What strikes me as curious is that Leon Hess never had the foresight (or appetite) to use that 7 year window to build his own stadium.  I know he was a Jersey guy, but Nassau County in 1977 was in a strong financial position and had ample space for a stadium.  But Hess was content just to lease, not own, and so he went to the NJSEA.   


Hess made a deal for the NJSEA to move the Jets to Giants Stadium. In return the NJSEA
agreed to buy 2 horse racing tracks from Hess. The tracks were losing money and he couldn't find a buyer so it was a mutually beneficial situation.
Hess didn't realize that he was old and wanted a winner for another 20 years.
I m pretty sure the city made an offer to build a football stadium next to Shea but being a Jersey guy Hess wanted out.
Single worst decision in franchise history, management decided to remain tenants to a different owner instead of being their own landlord. NYC real estate was dirt cheap in the late 70s, Hess could have built a palace.


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