Evening star., 1962-09-16
SEGH AT LARGE
Pro Grid War
Divides Big D
By MORRIS sIEGEL

DALLAS, TEX, SEPT. 15-The Dallas Cowboys don't
know they'll be able to force the Dallas Texans out
of town altogether but at least they've got the
move Clint Murchison r multi tmilionaire owner of the
Cowboys purchased the practice field his AFL rivals had
been using years and forced them to relocate
In typical Texas fashion, Lamar Hunt multimillion-
are of the Texans up another training site
three blocks away To prevent any future encroachment
by Murchsons Cowboys he also bought up all the avail
able grazing land in the immediate vicinity.
In the fierce, costly cashbox battle that began three
years ago when the NFL Cowboys and AFL Texans both
decided try Dallas for size pro football town.
NFL entry geefuy confsses the Texans have had greater
in only phase of the struggle The Texans
Murchisons group Claims have lost money than the
Cowboys.
VERY FEW HERE KNOW which team has lost more
and those who do remain extremely quiet The prevailing
best that between them the warning neghbors
have dropped almost 81 million in two Another
swim in the deep of red ink is inevitable this year for
both
The cutthroat competition between the well-heeled
Murchisons and the equally solvent Hunts split the
towns loyalty 1t also has left fans indifferent This in
difference precpitated by understandable desire of
neutral parties not to offend either welding fac
ton in the neghborood braw makes ghost town Of the
$4,000 capacity Cotton Bowl home field for both teams
Department stores, for example, refuse to inclose
schedules and other promotona literature about either
team in their monthly billings for fear of taking Sides
Civic groups won't host welcome home" luncheons or
salute" dinners for the same reason"
Their fight be lkened to third party observing
family scrap between husband and wife, both close
friends of his neutral observer said You dare not
intervene take sides for fear of getting them both mad
at you"
THE COWBOYS, who open their home season against
the Redskins tomorrow maintain they averaged 255O for
each of their home last year. The Texans they
claim averaged 1887 for their home engagements
Neither viii these figures represent paid admissions
In all probability they don't.
= Under Of the many ticket sale plans here it is
possible for five spectators to the Cowboys play for
little $275 total In this arrangement any adult who
purchases $25 general admission ticket is entitled to
bring four youngsters IA under into the game free
charge Kids applaud the idea but encountering
difficulty finding adults willing to take advantage of the
bargain
There are many stories with as many different YER
sions, depending on who's telling them, to how the
battle joined The Murchson group insists it tried
to get together with the Hunts originally in trying to bring
professional football to Dallas This was our only aim"
they say. Hunt willing the story goes, only he de-
1nanded 81 per cent Of the team.
Young Murchison, 49, needs partner about much
Tommy Manville needs another wife, His father, Clint
sr last headed syndicate which control of the
bion-dolar Allegheny Corp 1t doesn't figure he would
become minority stockhoder in anything triflng
apro football operation. So Hunt went his way and got
AFL franchise and Murchison got the NFL team.
BOTH GROUPS MAINTAIN they're here to stay Both
say Dallas has great potential pro football town and
Just as soon as one of the here becomes
spectacle the tagging rival is doomed Last year neither
was threat. The Cowboys only four times, the
Texans six games
There is no indication fans waiting breathlessly to
choose sides in this intramural scue Cab drivers and
bartenders generally regarded sound listening posts,
are not certain which team is playing at home.
"I Just know there's usually game here every Sunday,
but bless know which team it is, they respond.
This in itself indictment of the Cowboys advertising
campaign Their owner, MurchisOn, also owns the only
cab company in Dallas.
Hunt only &c. raised ticket prices from $4 to IS this
year His logic was puzzing "As long have many
empty Seats explained. "they well be IS empeS
as a."
What this guy really needs is 2000O0-seat stadium.
Think of the potential there at IS an empty seat