Section30 wrote:

Philly looks amazing, love the colors and the big Keystone. Although I wish they could have moved to Minnesota I get why they didn't. Newark has some competiton for my favorite team now

To be fair, Minnesota will still be on the short list for expansion or relocation.

However, it'll likely be Milwaukee getting a team first, OR Minnesota and Milwaukee both getting teams at the same time if that helps Chicago with their travel.

The Expansion/Relocation/Rival League short list...
Milwaukee
Minneapolis/St Paul
Boston
Baltimore
Washington, DC
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
St. Louis
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Los Angeles
San Francisco

Rugrat wrote:

The Sprits look AMAZING!!!! Sorry Montreal, they are my new favorite team now! (Any chance for teams in Texas at this point possibly?)

Texas will have teams eventually. By the time Dallas and Houston get teams, it'll likely be at the same time because it feels weird having one without the other.

Florida will have Driveball too, but Miami will have priority over Tampa, Orlando or Jacksonville.

BUT...California will get teams before either of those states.

1949 DANA Season

The big story of the DANA offseason was the controversial relocation of the Albany Capitols. Some in the Albany region put up a valiant fight to save the team while Jesse Lindholm made a reasonable offer to move the team to his native Minnesota. But in the end, Philadelphia, then the third largest city in the United States, would be the new home for the beleaguered franchise. Newark, New York and Brooklyn objected to the Minnesota transaction on the grounds they wouldn't be able to afford the extra travel costs.

The City of Albany has filed suit in a New York state courtroom against the DANA in hopes of getting a team back. But for now, Philadelphia has welcomed the Spirits with open arms.

Still, Albany will not be the last city to lose a Driveball franchise. In Canada, where hockey is king, both the Voyageurs or the Titans have struggled to gain any meaningful traction in their respective markets. Smaller markets in the United States like Newark, Rochester and Fort Wayne are each rumored to be the next dominoes to fall following the Capitols' relocation to Philadelphia.

In the Tri-State area, there is a three way battle for players and fans between New York, Brooklyn and Newark. Only one or two will remain standing, and the loser(s) are likely next to move.

Speaking of Philadelphia, the Spirits have been a smash hit in their new home. Last season, average attendance at most DANA stadiums was 6,500 per contest. The Spirits drew roughly twice that number in each home game at Franklin Field. Determined to further distance themselves from their disappointing single season in Albany, the Spirits pulled the trigger on the first of many trades to shore up the roster. To Rochester went midfielder Karl Tracy, forwards Cecil Crawford and Gene Giles and back pocket Ray Campbell. To Philadelphia came center Whitey Sullivan, halfbacks Alexis Duchamp and Marvin Woodward, fullback Sterling O'Malley and left wing Seymour Larkin.

With the first blockbuster trade in Driveball history complete, Spirits head coach Lou Geronimi went straight to work. First, he moved center Walt Tozier to right wing and lined him up with newcomers Larkin and Sullivan. In the backfield, Duchamp and Woodward move to back pocket and O'Malley stays at fullback to complement promising second year halfback Theo Bloom. For the 1949-50 offseason, the Spirits will focus on improving its attack through the inaugural amateur draft.

The bitter rivalry between Cleveland and Buffalo continues to be the big story in the West. Meanwhile in the East, the most improved team this year has been Newark.

1949 DANA Standings
Eastern Division
Y - Newark Bulldogs 7-3
X - Montreal Voyageurs 7-3
X - Brooklyn Coasters 7-3
Philadelphia Spirits 4-6
New York Heroes 3-7
Toronto Titans 2-8

Western Division
Y - Buffalo Lakers 7-3
X - Cleveland Mad Hatters 6-4
Chicago Gaels 5-5
Fort Wayne Appleseeds 5-5
Rochester Millers 4-6
Detroit Roadsters 3-7

1949 Playoffs
East Tiebreaker
June 5, 1949
Delorimier Stadium
Montreal, Quebec

Brooklyn Coasters 45
Montreal Voyageurs 27

East Final
June 11, 1949
Ruppert Stadium
Newark, NJ

Brooklyn Coasters 36
Newark Bulldogs 54

West Final
June 12, 1949
War Memorial Stadium
Buffalo, NY

Cleveland Mad Hatters 18
Buffalo Lakers 9

Second Frosty Mug
June 19, 1949
Ruppert Stadium
Newark, NJ

Cleveland Mad Hatters 27
Newark Bulldogs 36

The fans who came to Ruppert Stadium expected a coronation. The players on the Cleveland Mad Hatter roster hoped to spoil the party. Only one team could emerge victorious. It was win or go home time in Newark.

Cleveland led early, hoping to cruise to their second straight title. At the end of the third quarter, Newark tied the game at 27. The fourth quarter was a defensive nail biter that wouldn't be resolved until the closing minutes. With his team one tackle away from possible defeat, Newark center Fred Moore couldn't find anyone open. In desperation, Moore attempted a 43 yard kick from outside the Cleveland quarter line. Fans watched nervously as the ball made its descent towards the goal post. And when the referees signaled that Moore's attempt was good, the crowd roared and rushed the field to congratulate their new hero.

MVP: Fred Moore (C; Bulldogs)
 

Last edited by NeoPrankster (5/27/2020 9:16 pm)

Congrats Bulldogs! Finally a New Jersey team besides the Devils wins something!

1949-50 Off-season continued.

The DANA settles with the City of Albany but that does not mean a DANA franchise is coming back to the state capital of New York anytime soon.

In the meantime, a new team, the Albany Viscounts, formed by two former Capitol players who stated behind, will become one of eight new teams in a planned amateur league tentatively called the New York/Pennsylavnia Driveball League. The Viscounts will use the same orange and blue uniforms formerly worn by the Caps.