Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-01-09

N~OO~"SH
In Attendance
MIAMI BEACH, Fla, Jan. 8
(AP).-Booming National Foot.
ball League attendance hit q
record high Of 3,986,159 in 1861
with an average crowd of 40
CTS at each Of SO regular
season games.
1--WE are enthusiastic about
the general balance of our at
tendance" said Commissioner
Pete RoZelle, who was reelected
yesterday for a new five-yeal
term at $4,000 a year. From
1852 to 1859, Los Angeles was
very successful with big crowds
of 10000 and $4,000 account
ing for a good share of our at
tendance. Although the Ram.
were not utilizing their biggest
stadium in the league to full
capacity, our attendance still
went up. That is a healthy
trend. We are sorry we missed
by only $4,000 from hitting the
4-million mark"
Jim Kensil, league Tublic
relations chief, did not an.
nounce any individual clut
breakdown when he released
the official paid attendance
figures. He said the average
crowd in 1861 was 4O,675, com.
pared to 40.106 in 1860, an in.
crease per game of $50.
Reelection No Surprise
Unofficial Associated Pres.
figures showed that Cleveland
led the league with 426,886
followed by New York with
423,949 and Philadelphia with
412,318. The largest single
turnout was 80,455 at Cleve.
land for the November 26 game
with New York.
The reelection of Rozellt
came as no surprise because
the league has enjoyed unprec.
edented success in his regime
He just finished the SECOND
year of an original three-yeal
term following his election a.
a compromise choice at the
stormy 1860 meeting. Although
Rozelle received no salary in.
crease, it was expected thai
adjustments would be made
later after current problems
have been resolved. Reelected
along with him were Treasurer
Austin Gunsel and Assistant
Treasurer Joe Donoghue.
After negotiating a single
network CHS television dea,
calling for SO million plus ovel
a two-year period, Rozelle suf-
fered a setback last summer
when a Federal Judge ruled the
pact in violation of antitrust
laws. Rozelle then led a battle
that ended in Congressional
action approving single net.
work deals for pro football
baseball, basketball and hockey
1--WE may expand in the next
five years." Rozelle said. Right
now we have no immediate
plans for adding clubs. We
want to get the Dallas and
Minnesota franchises well of
the ground first. The new sta
dunn at Washington has beer
the big plus of the last two
years. New parks in st. Louis
and Pittsburgh by 1864 or 1865
are two important keys to the
future.
Trading Limit Extended
The NFL turned down pro
posal to increase the playe
limit from Sc to 80 men will
six clubs reported voting agains
the increase. Twelve votes wer,
needed. 1t also rejected a sug,
gestion to set up an injured
player reserve list, injured
players. not inactivated for thu
season, must continue to q
through the waiver system be,
fore they can be restored to thu
active list.
The trading limit was ex.
tended to the period before thu
fifth game instead of the thirc
game and the clubs again were
given permission to use play.
ers in military service with thu
consent of the players com.
handing officer. However, such
players, must be on the origina
36-man active list.
The owners heard a brief dis.
cuSSion of the various pay TV
systems in use. Rozelle called il
a more or less educational re.
port" and added, II am moi
eager to see it."
A progress report on the $1C
million civil antitrust suit flee
in 1860 by the rival American
Football League, will be hearC
today or tomorrow. The suit is
scheduled to be heard Febru-
airy 10 in Baltimore.
The player requests of the
Players Association also will be
discussed before the meeting
ends tomorrow.