The League - 1980

After the 1979 season, the league had every intention of playing in 1980. They had a valuable affiliation with the Bic Pen Corporation as the official sponsor of the league. The contract was signed in February 1979. A TV contract was finalized in August 1979 with the third-largest sports programming firm in the country. And for the first time, survival did not head the agenda at the annual league meetings. The draft, expansion and new marketing techniques topped the league’s agenda.

But it all started to unravel at the beginning of 1980. The Bic Pen Corporation withdrew full financial support for the upcoming year. With the loss of corporate sponsorship the league would be forced to assess a fee to each franchise to keep the league office going for which the teams could ill afford. The league sought new corporate sponsorship but the attempt failed. The owners of the franchises in Connecticut, San Jose and Buffalo voted to continue the league without corporate sponsorship. The St. Louis owners wanted to play but need additional financing. The Edmonton owner could not be reached and since the New York team was run by the league it was highly doubtful that they would continue.

A four-team league with Connecticut, San Jose, Buffalo and St. Louis was considered but traveling from coast to coast would be too costly. After the St. Louis franchise said it couldn’t field a team in 1980, the only option left was for the league to call a one-year moratorium. It was hoped this moratorium would give the league time to find a corporate sponsor and more franchises located closer together. Initially for the 1981 season, the league wanted to relocate teams around Connecticut and San Jose in two divisions. However, it was later decided that it would be primarily a northeast-based league. Travel costs were just too expensive. Teams were to be based in Meriden (CT), Westchester County (New York City), Buffalo and Poughkeepsie (NY). The league was still looking for two additional teams as it acknowledged that the IWPSA needed six teams to regain solvency. However, in late 1980 it was decided to suspend play for 1981 due to financial problems. The league wanted to form a good base and go in 1982. More than ever the league needed a national sponsor to attract new franchises. Unfortunately, as history has shown, that did not happen and the league did not survive.

To read news articles about the league in 1980, see below.