Toronto-Buffalo Royals

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Toronto-Buffalo Royals - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Toronto-Buffalo Royals

Sport	Team tennis
Founded	May 22, 1973 (1973-05-22)
Folded	February 1, 1975 (1975-02-01)
League	World TeamTennis
Division	Eastern
Team history	Toronto-Buffalo Royals (1974) Hartford Royals (Never played)
Based in	Toronto, Ontario, Canada Buffalo, New York, United States
Stadium	CNE Coliseum Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Colors	Navy Blue, Light Blue
Owner	Herbert S. Hoffman, Phyllis Morse
Head coach	Tom Okker
Championships	None
Division titles	None
Playoff berths	None

The Toronto-Buffalo Royals were a charter franchise of World Team Tennis (WTT) founded by John F. Bassett and John C. Eaton, III. The team was sometimes referred to as the Buffalo-Toronto Royals. The Royals played half of their home matches in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the other half in Buffalo, New York, United States. The Royals played only one season before being sold and moving to Hartford, Connecticut after the 1974 season. The team was contracted by WTT on February 1, 1975. The Royals had 13 wins and 31 losses, and finished in last place in the Central Section missing the playoffs.

Team history

The Royals were founded by Canadian businessman and retired tennis player John F. Bassett and merchant John C. Eaton, III as a charter member of WTT in 1973. Originally, WTT granted the franchise to Toronto.^[1] The team began play in WTT's inaugural 1974 season. The Royals played half of their home matches at the CNE Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the other half at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, United States.^[2] While WTT identified the team as the Toronto-Buffalo Royals in its official standings,^[3] the team was sometimes called the Buffalo-Toronto Royals by the Canadian media^[2] among others. The team identified itself as the Toronto-Buffalo Royals in its media guide and promotional materials such as team pennants.^[4]

The Royals' main attraction was player-coach Tom Okker. However, Okker's contract allowed him to be excused from his commitment to the Royals when he had opportunities to play in ATP or Grand Slam tournaments. So, Okker was effectively a part-time player.^[2] The Royals struggled to a record of 13 wins and 31 losses, last place in the Central Section.^[3]^[5]

On October 16, 1974, team president Bassett announced that the Royals had been sold to Bert Hoffman and Phyllis Morse who said that they would move the team to Hartford, Connecticut.^[6]

At the WTT owners meeting on February 1, 1975, each team was required to post a $500,000 letter of credit. Since the Royals failed to do so, the team was contracted by WTT. A dispersal draft was conducted to distribute the players among the remaining teams in the league.^[7]

Home courts

The following table shows home courts used by the Toronto-Buffalo Royals in 1974, the only season in which they competed in WTT.

Venue	Location	Duration		Notes
Venue	Location	Start	End	Notes
CNE Coliseum	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	1974	1974	Home venue for half of the team's matches
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Buffalo, New York, United States	1974	1974	Home venue for half of the team's matches

1974 roster

The Toronto-Buffalo Royals roster for the 1974 season was

References

^ Janoff, Murray (July 7, 1973). "Tennis: New Pro Circuit". Sporting News.
^ ^a ^b ^c Li, Justin (October 15, 2013). "A League of Their Own: A Brief History of Defunct Toronto Sports Teams". The Grid. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "World Team Tennis Life Events". World TeamTennis. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ Van Miller, Chevy (March 29, 2007). "Three Buffalo Professional Sports Franchises". Two Bills Drive. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "Steve Dimitry's Extinct Sports Leagues: World Team Tennis (1974–1978)". Steve Dimitry. 1998. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "WTT Franchise Sold to Harford, Conn". Playground Daily News. October 17, 1974. p. 18.
^ "New Boston Net Team Obtains Six Backers". Berkshire Eagle. March 28, 1975. p. 18.

External links

Official World TeamTennis Website

v t e World TeamTennis (WTT)
Current champions (2021): Orange County Breakers
Seasons	1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Current teams	Chicago Smash New York Empire Orange County Breakers Orlando Storm Philadelphia Freedoms San Diego Aviators Springfield Lasers Vegas Rollers Washington Kastles
Former teams	Austin Aces (2014–2015) Baltimore Banners (1974) Boston Lobsters (1974) Boston Lobsters (1974–1978) Boston Lobsters (2005–2015) California Dream (1993–2015) Chicago Aces (1974) Cleveland Nets (1974–1976) Cleveland-Pittsburgh Nets (1977) Delaware Smash (1987–2008) Denver Racquets (1974) Detroit Loves (1974) Florida Flamingos (1974) Hartford FoxForce (2000–2006) Hawaii Leis (1974–1976) Houston E-Z Riders (1974) Houston Wranglers (2005–2007) Idaho Sneakers (1994–1997) Indiana Loves (1974–1978) Indiana Loves (1983) Kansas City Explorers (1993–2012) Las Vegas Neon (2014) Los Angeles Strings (1974–1978) Los Angeles Strings (1981–1993) Minnesota Buckskins (1974) New Jersey Stars (1987–1995) New Orleans Sun Belt Nets (1974–1978) New York Apples (1974–1978) New York Buzz (1995–2010) New York Hamptons (2000–2002) New York OTBzz (1995–1998) New York Sets (1974–1976) New York Sportimes (2000–2013) Newport Beach Breakers (2003–2011) Philadelphia Freedoms (1974) Phoenix Racquets (1974–1978) Pittsburgh Triangles (1974–1976) Sacramento Capitals (1988–2013) San Diego Buds (1981–1985) San Diego Friars (1975–1978) San Diego Friars (1981–1983) San Francisco Golden Gaters (1974–1978) Schenectady County Electrics (1999–2000) Sea-Port Cascades (1977) Seattle Cascades (1974–1978) St. Louis Aces (1994–2011) Texas Wild (2013–2014) Toronto-Buffalo Royals (1974) Wichita Advantage (1990–1995)
Current stadiums	Credit Union 1 Arena (Chicago) Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning (New York) Breakers Stadium at the Palisades Tennis Club (Orange County) USTA National Campus (Orlando) Michael J. Hagan Arena (Philadelphia) Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (San Diego) Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex (Springfield) Orleans Arena (Vegas) Kastles Stadium at Union Market (Washington)
Other related articles	Team tennis No-line court

Categories:

Team history

Home courts

1974 roster

See also

References

External links