Home		Wikipedia (WHA) Internet Hockey Database

Will Birmingham join the World Hockey Association?

June 6, 1974

	Birmingham Americans owner William R. Putnam

William R. Putnam, owner of the World Football League's Birmingham Americans, says he plans to bring big league professional hockey to Birmingham as early as 1976. "As soon as a contract is let (on the arena portion of the Civic Center) and work starts and there's a completion date set, I'll negotiate a lease."

Putnam plans to buy an existing World Hockey Association team and move it to Birmingham. He would not name the team. "There's a WHA team that you can buy for $2 million and move it. If we had the building, I know we could buy it right now."

The WHA just completed its second season and was co-founded by Gary Davidson, who also founded the World Football League late last year and the American Basketball Association in 1968.

The National Hockey League does not allow the moving of existing teams and an expansion franchise in the NHL would cost $6 million. Over the last few years, Putnam has been involved with the NHL's Atlanta Flames and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Putnam believes there is a strong hockey interest in Birmingham that could sustain a team. "I've been concentrating on football and I haven't had time to investigate anything else, but so many people have asked me that there must be interest. Hockey is a good spectator sport, maybe the best. But it's a terrible television sport."

October 1975

			1975-76                             World Hockey Association
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Calgary Cowboys		Cincinnati Stingers		Cleveland Crusaders		Denver Spurs		Edmonton Oilers
	Houston Aeros		Indianapolis Racers		Minnesota Fighting Saints		New England Whalers		Phoenix Roadrunners
	Quebec Nordiques		San Diego Mariners		Toronto Toros		Winnipeg Jets

Epilogue
Birmingham did join the World Hockey Association. However, the franchise was not Putnam's.

In 1976 John F. Bassett moved his Toronto Toros franchise to the city and renamed them the Birmingham Bulls. The team would have some success on and off the ice.

The World Hockey Association folded in 1979 when the National Hockey League agreed to absorb four WHA teams.

The Bulls were not one of those teams, but they joined the Central Hockey League for two years before the team folded.

			Teams of the                         World Hockey Association
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Alberta Oilers 1972-73		Birmingham Bulls 1976-77 to 1978-79		Baltimore Blades 1974-75		Calgary Cowboys 1975-76 to 1976-77		Chicago Cougars 1972-73 to 1974-75
	Cincinnati Stingers 1975-76 to 1978-79		Cleveland Crusaders 1972-73 to 1975-76		Denver Spurs 1975-76		Edmonton Oilers 1973-74 to 1978-79		Houston Aeros 1972-73 to 1977-78
	Indianapolis Racers 1974-75 to 1977-78		Jersey Knights 1973-74		Los Angeles Sharks 1972-73 to 1973-74		Michigan Stags 1974-75		Minnesota Fighting Saints (I) 1972-73 to 1975-76
	Minnesota Fighting Saints (II) 1976-77		New England Whalers 1972-73 to 1978-79		New York Golden Blades 1973-74		New York Raiders 1972-73		Ottawa Civics 1975-76
	Ottawa Nationals 1972-73		Philadelphia Blazers 1972-73		Phoenix Roadrunners 1974-75 to 1976-77		Quebec Nordiques 1972-73 to 1978-79		San Diego Mariners 1974-75 to 1976-77
	Toronto Toros 1973-74 to 1975-76		Vancouver Blazers 1973-74 to 1974-75		Winnipeg Jets 1972-73 to 1978-79

World Hockey Association puck

1975-76 World Hockey Association Media Guide

Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: March 01, 2023