The Charlotte Observer
By Whitey Kelly
September 27, 1974

STARS ADD FLORIDA TO HOME SCHEDULE

Heartened by the initial response of Charlotte-area fans to the World Football League, Upton Bell has added another home game to the schedule, giving the team four games at Memorial Stadium in October.

Bell, Charlotte vice president and general manager, announced Thursday that the Florida Blazers, leaders of the Eastern Division by one game over Charlotte have agreed to move their Oct. 23rd game here from Orlando where the attendance has been poor.

"We were able to work out the transfer through league president Gary Davison and the officials of the Florida team," Bell said.

Davidson apparently became convinced that the move was a sound one when he learned from Bell that the initial response by Charlotte fans to the WFL resulted in busy day at the ticket office.

By 7:00 Thursday night Bell said the orders from 6,500 season tickets and 5,000 single tickets had been accepted.

"The telephone lines here (at the Manager) have been jammed all day long," Bell added. "The response beats anything I've experienced before.

"The addition of the Florida game to the home schedule gives us a solid package. It may be even more than we bargain for by the end of October.

"Memphis is the best tem in the WFL, Chicago is a great team in the Central Division and the California Sun is leading the Western Division."

The Charlotte team's fateful month starts off against Memphis on Oct. 9 Chicago come into Memorial Stadium on the 19th, followed by the Blazers on the 23rd and then California Sun on the 30th.

In order for Charlotte to make the playoffs it's almost a certainly that it will have to win its division. The league play of formula provides that each of the division winners move into post-seas play along with a wild card team. The wild card team will be the one with best percentage in the three divisions.

Right now one of the Central Division leaders, Memphis and Birmingham, both with a 11-2 records appear a certainty for the wild card spot as well as the division winner berth.

All of Charlotte's home game at Memorial Stadium will start at 8.