One of the major points of contention in the merger talks has been given short shrift down through the years: what to do about the competing franchises in the New York and San Francisco metro areas?
What to do about the New York Jets and the New York Giants? What to do about the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers? It was sure to be a major sticking point.
Hunt was adamant that any talks must proceed with the understanding that all his AFL teams would come in or a merger was off. The first note Hunt compiled as he sat down with the NFL's Tex Schramm, who had originally approached the AFL founder to talk about a possible merger, was headlined, "NY and Oakland stay."
The NFL was no less hard line on its position, especially the Giants' Wellington Mara and Lou Spaidia, the 49ers' owner. They had to be satisfied or there would be no merger. Each held veto power over any merger that would bring another team into its metropolitan area.
The Jets were suddenly New York's darlings with Joe Namath playing in brand new Shea Stadium while the Giants, playing in an aging Yankee Stadium, were struggling. Meanwhile, in the Bay area, the Raiders had an exciting team, also playing in a new stadium, while the 49ers were among the NFL's downtrodden.
**Next time**: How the NY and San Francisco franchises would co-exist.
**_SOURCES: "AFL-NFL Merger Negotiations, Cabinet 16, Drawer D. "AFL-NFL Merger, 1966," Cabinet 16, Drawer E. "Joint Statement, National and American Football League, June 8, 1966. Lamar Hunt to Hamilton Carothers, June 14, 1966. Lamar Hunt to Clark Breeding, August 9, 1966. "The Men Behind the Merger," Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, June 11, 1986. Lamar Hunt to Jim Perry, November 15, 1990. "Peacemakers," Jim Perry, Super Bowl XXV Program, January 1991._**
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