Evening star., 1940-12-22
Guarantees Provided
In Early Going, but
Are Never Used
Demand After 7 Years
Is for 100000 Seots;
w. v. Miller Pioneer
BY MORTIMER KREEGER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated Press Sports Writer.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 2l.-Seven
years ago 80 men had an idea of q
great winter sports carnival for
New Orleans and believed in it.
"1t can't be DONE" said the wise
ones. 1T will compete with Mardi
Gras." where will the money come
from7" What about the Rose
Bowl?"
Because the 80 men stuck to their
guns, as 1910 fades into history a
total of about 100000 spectators will
see contests here between the best
available college football, basket
ball and boxing teams, the country's
leading track and tennis stars and
outstanding Southern oarsmen and
yachtsmen.
The New Orleans midwinter CAL
endar of sports, featured by the
Sugar Bowl football game, already
is an integral part of Americas
athletic pattern.
Last year more than 10000 visitors
came to New Orleans during Sugar
Bowl week. The biggest football
crowd in Southern history, more
than 10000, watched Texas A. and
M. defeat Purdue, IA to 13.
Demand for tickets this year was
termed unprecedented" and with
both football teams coming from
some distance the number Of visitors
may exceed last years total.
Mardi Gras Still Growing.
Mardi Gras has kept growing
meanwhile, and there has been room
in the country for both the Sugar
and Rose Bowls.
If any one man can be credited
with a major individual part in
bringing this carnival of sport into
being it is Warren v. Miller, an at
torney, who worked out detailed
plan for financing the first Sugar
Bowl football game.
The idea had been discussed for
years. In January of 1884 Miller
interested some of his fellow-mem-
bers of the New Orleans Co-opera-
tive Club in the plan.
Miller explained his idea to other
groups, and a series of meetings
eliminated in formation of the New
Orleans Midwinter Sports Associa-
ton, with a closed membership of
80. some joining as individuals and
some as representatives of civic or
other organizations. Miller was its
first president.
Miller's plan called for raising of
$4,000 guarantee, $4,000 to be
promised to one visiting team, $l2,-
600 for a Southern team and $4,000
for general expenses. It was de-
cided to ask 300 citizens to pledge
$100 each. The money was soon in
the bank.
Guarantee Always Returned.
The guarantee was asked each Of
the first three years, and always
was returned untouched, and none
has been asked since.
Guarantors received no privileges
except priority in choice Of tickets.
But they purchase the tickets. One
prime rule is that nobody gets into
a Sugar Bowl event free unless he is
a participant, an usher, an official
or working newspaperman. The
president of the association pays
full price for his seats.
Tulane stadium has served as the
Sugar Bowl football field In the
first game. on January /, 1885, Tu-
lane beat Temple, 20-14, before 22,-
026 spectators. Each team received
about $4,000, compared with about
$4,000 each will get this year.
Tennis and yachting also were on
the first years program. The fol-
lowing season basket ball and track
were added, and in 1896 boxing and
rowing were introduced.
When nearly 10000 fans over
flowed the permanent stands of Tu-
lane stadium to watch Sammy
Baugh and his Texas Christians
beat Louisiana State, 80, in the mud
in 1887, the Sugar Bowlers financed
an extra $4,000 places. Two years
later they floated a $550,000 bond
issue to enlarge the stadium to TO-
900 permanent seats. Temporary
seats raise the attendance by 1000
to 5000.
Demand Now 100000 Seats.
The stadium was sold out several
days before the teams were an
nounced, and now the cry is for
100000 seats. Such a bowl easily
could be filled, judging by past ex-
perience, but the sports association
still had a few hundred thousand
dollars worth of bonds to pay off.
The sponsors retain a third of the
receipts for bond payments and
other expenses, giving each team q
third.
This years program opens with
boxing matches December q be-
tween Idaho, national intercollegi-
ate champions, and Louisiana State,
Southeastern Conference winners.
Shippers of the Gulf Yachting As
sociation and oarsmen of the Or
leans Rowing Club and the Virginia
Boat Club of Richmond compete the
following day, and the tennis players
will tourney from December %
through 30.
December 90 is the track meet,
and on December 80 Indiana's ma
tional intercollegiate basket ball
champions meet Kentucky's South
eastern Conference kings.
NThe climax comes the afternoon
Of January /, with the football game
HAfmeey1 Tennessee apS poctnn Tnl.