Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-24

Stadium Treated
Like Mona Lisa
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

- BY MORRIS SIEGEL
IN DALLAS TWO WEEK ENDS ago, there were one
fourth many college and professional football games
played in the ancient Cotton Bowl within 72 hours as
Washingtons paatia $24 million sports palace will house
all season.
Navy and SMU kicked off the gridiron carnival on
Friday evening" Texas and Oklahoma the main eventers
were on display Saturday and the Detroit Lions and Dali
las Cowboys closed out the spectacle Sunday afternoon
None Of the tenants found the field to be the
for wear All three games drew well. About $4,000
the Mddies lose for the first and only time this year.
while the usual $4,000 mustered for the annual Texas
Oklahoma Another $1,000 rounded up to watch
the Dallas Cowboys winess at the time play Detroit also
no title threat.
THIS is TOO MUCH traffic for any stadium to handle
on regular basis On the other hand c. Stadium for
all Its splendor is too untrafficked During the football
season it is almost regarded with the same loving care
reserved for Mona Lisa - look, but don't touch
The other day Navy, itching to bring its exciting Mid
dies into Washington had to shift its 1864 scuffe with
Georgia Tech to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville Navy
didn't want to go to Gaorland but couldn't wait any
longer it claimed to be assured D. c. Stadium would be
available for college game october 10, 1864
Army also has made unofficial inquiries for 1854 The
Cadets have an attractive date with Duke currently booked
at Niche Stadium and would like very much to tangle
here, instead of at West Point.
Saturday. Roger Staubach & Co. will play host to I'M
beaten Pittsburgh in Nays miniature capacity An
napoliS Stadium. This was another blue ribbon event
which sought home in WaShngtonS 50OOO-seat stadium
but failed to find room in the Southeast sports inn
THE PROBLEM STEMS from one source The Red
SKINS looking out for their best interests first de-
manded and got lease which gives them control of the
Stadium for "a hours prior to every Redskin home game
permission shall not be unreasonaby withheld" the
clause pertaining to Redskin occupancy in part
However it's the Redskins who decide what is and what
Is not unreasonable"
They gave George Washington permission to play
Army last year They did not grant Navy permission
meet Pitt at c. Stadium Saturday "a hours before the
Redskins meet st. Louis
1t adds up to a huge revenue loss for the Stadium
The unusual Redskn arrangement already has drawn
lire from several Congressman and heavier bombardment
could be forthcoming Representative oren Harris who
1anered the Stadium legislation the House sde has
asked for an audience with Stadium Manager Dutch
Bergman next week to look into the matter.
THE STADIUM WAS NOT built for the Redskins, the
senator's Navy George Washington or ANYBODY snecifi
cay The idea was to erect landmark for all to enov
George Marshall & Co. have not been unduly unfair
In sticking to the letter of the agreement Marshall him
sell asked NIL Commissioner Pete Rozele to try and
clear date for next years Navy-Georga Tech game
several months ago. But Rozelle who doesn't draw I'm
the NIL slate until December, could give Navy the
immediate clearance the Mddes insisted they needed to
book game IL months in advance.
MarShals illness also egislated against Navv meet
ing Georgia Tech here next October When NAVY letter
to the Redskins went unanswered the ddies since we
never received assurance that could use the stadium
SL11Ceo 70 JACKSONVILLE.
All that Navy got, when it was indicated it wouldn't
be able to play here, was SNUG comment from Red
skin field hand who sad I'VE have no intention of wav
ing the rule at this time"
The Redskins perhaps due some extra considera-
ton from the Stadium. Without them there would not
be stadium. They signed lease when Calvin Griffith
fled town But the Stadium big enough more than
merely seven Redskins and four George Washington
games.
NAVY AND ARMY, if they are sincere about wanting
to play here, should give little also and play Friday
nights.
Navy does not into the bargaining with its
hands entirely clean The Middies exercised the same
option the Baltimore Stadium that the Redskins own
locally Navy foolishy prevented Redskin-Colts game
from being played the day after the ddes meet
Notre Dame.
Stadium Manager Bergman estimates football SELL
out would bring badly needed $4,000 rental
ceSSonS to the Stadium There is and need for
college activity, not rinky-dink games but gtime
scheduling which Army and Navy and others attract
1t costs nearly $1200O00 to operate plush play
pen Interest bonds to $831OOO annually Oper
ang expenses add up another 100000 The StadumS
founding fathers" wrote into House Bill 1887 provi
sion that the athletic plant" should be self quidatng
With income of only 100000 against expenditures of
$l2000OO, only taxpayers will be nqudated paying for
the FederaIly subsidized plant.
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