:: View topic - Abe Pollin dead @ 85 - brought the Capitals to DC

Pollin’s bid to bring the NHL to Washington was a long shot at best; Las Vegas oddsmaker Jimmy the Greek set his chances of getting a team at 600-to-1. But Pollin would not be denied. He traveled the continent to visit NHL owners and make the case for his hometown of Washington.

In May 1972 the NHL Finance Committee convened to review applications and make its recommendations. With 10 different ownership groups in the running, the committee opted to take a few days to more carefully consider the options before proceeding. Pollin and his associates descended upon Montreal and began to lobby around the clock for the Washington cause.

Pollin’s pitch was persuasive. On the fourth ballot franchises were awarded to Washington and Kansas City. His Capitals team took the ice in 1974, bringing pro hockey back to the District after an absence of 15 years. It took a quantum leap of faith to believe the league would award a team to an area that had been without the pro game for son long, but Pollin never wavered.

Author:	sabresindc [ Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:12 am ]
Post subject:	Abe Pollin dead @ 85 - brought the Capitals to DC
Abe Pollin, philanthropist, died yesterday from a rare brain disease called corticobasal degeneration. He fought to bring the Bullets and the Capitals to DC. He spend two hundred million dollars of his own money to build the Verizon Center. http://capitals.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=507380&navid=DL\|WSH\|home Quote: Pollin’s bid to bring the NHL to Washington was a long shot at best; Las Vegas oddsmaker Jimmy the Greek set his chances of getting a team at 600-to-1. But Pollin would not be denied. He traveled the continent to visit NHL owners and make the case for his hometown of Washington. In May 1972 the NHL Finance Committee convened to review applications and make its recommendations. With 10 different ownership groups in the running, the committee opted to take a few days to more carefully consider the options before proceeding. Pollin and his associates descended upon Montreal and began to lobby around the clock for the Washington cause. Pollin’s pitch was persuasive. On the fourth ballot franchises were awarded to Washington and Kansas City. His Capitals team took the ice in 1974, bringing pro hockey back to the District after an absence of 15 years. It took a quantum leap of faith to believe the league would award a team to an area that had been without the pro game for son long, but Pollin never wavered.

Author:	Dreakon [ Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:23 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Abe Pollin dead @ 85 - brought the Capitals to DC
Wow, the guy really wanted a NHL team in the capitol. RIP.

Author:	Howie Hodge [ Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Abe Pollin dead @ 85 - brought the Capitals to DC
I'd almost forgotten The Washington Wizards were once The Baltimore Bullets....

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