52-738: The Ackerley Group was an American media company founded by businessman Barry Ackerley that owned and operated several radio stations in Seattle, Washington , as well as television stations across the United States (primarily in New York and California , as well as one in Fairbanks, Alaska ). The company also owned the NBA Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Seattle Storm professional basketball teams. The Ackerley Group
104-421: A best-of-three series. The four preliminary series winners joined the four division winners in the quarterfinals, and they were again re-seeded 1–8 based on regular season record. The teams that advanced to the semifinals were reseeded 1–4. Proponents of this re-seeding state that it makes the regular season more important by rewarding teams with better records with potentially easier matchups. In addition, it avoids
156-483: A secured $ 5 million line of credit in case the league had to take over ownership of the team at any point. Ackerley would not sacrifice Sonics revenues for a hockey team in which he would be a minority investor. Seattle would eventually get an NHL team in 2018 when the Seattle Kraken were approved to begin play in 2021. In June 1991, nearly a year after the city agreed to the arena deal, Ackerley announced that
208-614: A stroke. 1974-75 NHL season#League business The 1974–75 NHL season was the 58th season of the National Hockey League . Two new teams, the Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts , were added, increasing the number of teams to 18. To accommodate the new teams, the NHL re-organized its divisional structure and playoff format. The regular season was expanded to 80 games per team (which would be
260-849: The Cleveland Barons before merging with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978. The Scouts gave up on Kansas City after two seasons and moved to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies in 1976 before moving east to East Rutherford, New Jersey , in 1982 and becoming the New Jersey Devils ; Denver returned to the NHL in 1995 when the Quebec Nordiques moved there and became the Colorado Avalanche , where they remain to this day. Seattle
312-578: The Patrick Division and Smythe Division . The Capitals had the worst season ever recorded in the history of major professional hockey, and the third worst in the postwar era the following season, while the Scouts the following season will have the fifth worst record of the postwar era. The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl and Prince of Wales Trophy (previously awarded to the first-place finishers of
364-557: The Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association from original owner Sam Schulman . Ackerley began exploring new options for an arena. Heavy relocation rumors began to circulate, amongst them a potential move to San Diego or possible sales to groups in other markets like Milwaukee or Toronto. In 2018, Ackerley's son Chris would say that the family was always committed to keeping
416-740: The Vancouver Maroons who lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the 1924 Stanley Cup Semifinals . The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the Quarterfinals as the fourth seed and they qualified for this round by defeating the St. Louis Blues in the preliminary round. The New York Islanders were seeded fifth in the Quarterfinals and qualified for this round by defeating the New York Rangers in the preliminary round. This
468-745: The West Division and East Division respectively) now became awarded to the first-place finishers of the Campbell Conference and the Wales Conference, respectively. In early 1975, newspapers reported that the California Golden Seals and Pittsburgh Penguins were to be relocated to Denver and Seattle respectively, in an arrangement that would have seen the two teams sold to groups in those cities that had already been awarded "conditional" franchises for
520-572: The 1976–77 season. After staunchly rejecting previous franchise relocation attempts, league president Clarence Campbell saw this as a method by which the NHL might extricate itself from two problem markets, while honoring the expansion commitments it had made. The Penguins ended up staying in Pittsburgh (and ultimately, over time, made Pittsburgh one of the NHL's stronger markets), while the Golden Seals moved to Cleveland in 1976 to become
572-540: The 1976–77 season. The NHL briefly flirted with relocating the Pittsburgh Penguins to Seattle (and the California Golden Seals to Denver) to address a troubled market and fill the expansion commitment, but ultimately kept the team there. Eventually, the Seattle franchise award was rescinded altogether when the potential ownership group was unable to secure the funds for the expansion fee. In July 1990,
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#1732783433852624-532: The Ackerley application already submitted, the two groups would merge with Larson and MacFarland being primary points of contact with the NHL. Then the owner of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Bill Yuill, also joined the group. Larson and MacFarland, along with Barry Ackerley and Bill Lear, Ackerley's financial advisor, were set to make a presentation to the NHL's board of governors on December 5, 1990. At
676-682: The New York Rangers and the New York Islanders entered the preliminary round with 88 points earned during the regular season. However, the Rangers entered as the fourth seed (and seventh seed overall) by winning the tie-breaker with the New York Islanders in wins (37 to 33) while the Islanders entered the preliminary round as the fifth seed (and eighth seed overall). This was the first playoff series between these two teams. The Rangers won this year's season series earning 7 of 12 points during
728-641: The Norris ( Montreal Canadiens ), Patrick ( Philadelphia Flyers ), and Adams ( Buffalo Sabres ) all had 113 points. By virtue of having the most wins, the Flyers were accorded the league's best record and held home-ice advantage in the playoffs, where they eventually met the Sabres in the Stanley Cup Finals . The Vancouver Canucks , which had been playing in the original East Division since they debuted in
780-647: The advertising industry selling space for the magazine Better Homes & Gardens . In 1964, he approached a wealthy family in Wichita, Kansas, and asked for their financial assistance in acquiring billboards. The family agreed and, as a minority shareholder in the venture, Ackerley purchased billboards in Fresno and Bakersfield, California. Over the next four years, Ackerley purchased additional billboards in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, California. By 1968,
832-465: The beginnings of Ackerley's new company, named Northwest Communications, Inc. in 1975 initially, and renamed Ackerley Communications, Inc. the following year. From there the new company would begin to acquire broadcast television stations and radio stations in the early 1980s. After mainly transitioning to a broadcast media company, the company would be sold to sold to Clear Channel Communications in 2001 for $ 1.1 billion. In 1983 Ackerley purchased
884-599: The billboards in northern California had generated enough income to provide Ackerley with the start-up capital he had lacked in New York five years earlier. He sold his interest in the venture back to his benefactors and, with a new partner, parlayed the proceeds toward the establishment of an outdoor advertising company, Golden West Outdoor Advertising. Golden West, had billboards in Sacramento, California, and Colorado until 1974, when Ackerley purchased his partner's share in
936-465: The case until 1992–93 ). The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year. The Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts were added as expansion teams. The 1974 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 12 to fill the rosters of the two new teams. With the number of teams increased to 18, the NHL bumped up the number of regular season games from 78 to 80, and split
988-566: The city about a public contribution to the new arena, but the city was reluctant over fears the city-owned Coliseum would become obsolete. They offered to help finance a renovation of the Coliseum, but the team owner declined. To sweeten the offer, Ackerley sold city leaders on the idea that the new arena in SoDo could also attract an NHL club. The city, along with Denver, had been conditionally granted an expansion NHL franchise in 1974 to begin play in
1040-526: The city council approved a deal for a privately owned $ 100 million facility to be built on the Ackerley land in SoDo, despite objections over traffic and parking by the Seahawks and Mariners in the neighboring Kingdome. The city's contribution would be to waive about $ 31 million in tax revenues (about $ 1 million per year) to potentially be collected on admissions fees at the new arena. It would also pay $ 2 million for street improvements around
1092-420: The city hinged on the ability to sell the 70 proposed luxury suites. Ackerley also committed to submitting an expansion application to the NHL by a September 15, 1990 deadline as part of the arena deal. His son Bill would head the expansion effort, while a competing group led by Microsoft executive Chris Larson and former Seattle Totems player then coach Bill MacFarland was preparing their own application. With
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#17327834338521144-536: The company and then sold the company to Gannett Company. With the money garnered from the sale to Gannett, Ackerley, after a brief return to the Northeast to work for an advertising firm, relocated to Seattle, Washington, in 1975 and purchased Seattle-based Foster & Kleiser from Metromedia Inc . and Obie Outdoor Advertising based in Eugene, Oregon. The acquisition of these two outdoor advertising companies formed
1196-752: The constitutionality of the arena deal, while potential lawsuits from the Mariners and trade show organizers and possible legal challenges to environmental review of the project loomed. Seattle Center Arena was extensively remodeled in 1995 for the Sonics. In 2000, Ackerley and his wife Ginger launched the Seattle Storm of the WNBA . Both the SuperSonics and Storm were sold in 2001 to Howard Schultz . Ackerley died on March 21, 2011, two days after suffering
1248-457: The council ahead of their final vote. During negotiations, Ackerley had asked for a provision to reduce the seating at the Coliseum by 9,000 seats so the older arena couldn't compete with the new building, but the city would not agree. Another selling point of the new arena was luxury suites, a means to attract corporate money and sponsorship that was then an emerging new revenue stream for sports team owners. Ackerley's financing and agreement with
1300-716: The defending champion Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia and tying the Canadiens in Montreal. The Kings lost only twice in their first 26 games, and on Christmas, Montreal had only a two-point lead in the standings. When L.A. won in Montreal in mid-January, they were back in first place. The teams continued to battle, with the Canadiens finally clinching first place with three games to play. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for
1352-535: The four games in this year's regular season series. The Montreal Canadiens entered the playoffs as the Norris Division champions, and the third seed overall earning 113 points during the regular season, losing the tie-breaker to both Philadelphia and Buffalo in total wins. The Vancouver Canucks entered the playoffs as the Smythe Division champions and the sixth seed in the quarterfinals as
1404-584: The history of the NYSE . The record setting high price tag was attributed to the overwhelming market monopoly position of the Ackerley Group's Out of Home Media (billboards) marketplace in the Washington , Oregon , Massachusetts and South Florida media markets- all areas where Clear Channel was devoid of inventory. Barry Ackerley and his immediate family owned approximately 82% of the company stock at
1456-433: The last time an NHL team forced a seventh game of a best-of-seven series after trailing 3–0 until the Flyers themselves did so against Boston in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals . This was the second playoff series between these two teams, with Montreal winning the only previous meeting in six games in the 1973 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals . Buffalo won this year's season series earning nine of ten points during
1508-579: The league, were moved over to the Campbell Conference and led the way in the Smythe Division with a meager 86 points. Bobby Orr won the scoring title for the second time, the only defenceman in the history of the NHL to accomplish this feat. The surprise team of the year were the Los Angeles Kings . The Kings, with their disciplined defensive style, and excellent goaltending tandem of Rogie Vachon and Gary Edwards , battled Montreal all year for first place. The Kings opened their season by beating
1560-620: The lowest remaining seed in the playoffs and qualified for the Quarterfinals by defeating the Los Angeles Kings in the preliminary round. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Philadelphia won this year's season series earning 7 of 8 points during the regular season. The Buffalo Sabres entered the playoffs as the Adams Division champions, the Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions, and
1612-419: The meeting, Ackerley and Lear asked to meet with the board first, promptly withdrew their application, and left. Larson and MacFarland were stunned to learn of the development but were unable to pursue any recourse as their names were never on the submitted application. Thought to play a factor in Ackerley's decision were the significant demands by the NHL for an expansion team: a $ 50 million expansion fee that
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1664-422: The playoffs are highlighted in bold With the new conference and division structure, the 1975 playoffs used a new format. The playoffs were expanded from eight to twelve teams with the top three teams in each division qualifying for the playoffs. The first place teams in each division earned a first round bye, while the second and third place teams were seeded 1–8 based on their regular season record and played
1716-515: The potential issue of two lower seeded teams (who may have pulled early round upsets) playing each other in the next round while two higher seeded teams are playing each other (as is possible in a "bracketed" playoff format like in the NBA ). The biggest beneficiary of this format was the Vancouver Canucks , who were ninth overall in the regular season but received a first-round bye for winning
1768-613: The previously two-division league into two conferences with four divisions. Because the new conferences and divisions had little to do with North American geography, geographical references were removed until 1993–94 . The East Division became the Prince of Wales Conference and consisted of the Adams Division and Norris Division . The West Division became the Clarence Campbell Conference and consisted of
1820-519: The project would not move forward. Increasing project costs, legal disputes, and inability to secure construction financing were cited as reasons to drop the project. Only around 30 of the 70 luxury suites were sold and the Ackerleys were unable to find a corporate buyer for naming rights. Ackerley Communications profits were down, which also contributed to the financing difficulties. A state Supreme Court case brought by Seattle Center employees challenged
1872-462: The proposed site, including a pedestrian walkway over South Royal Brougham Way. Ackerley also agreed to sign a 30-year lease for the Sonics and to build a 1,800-stall parking garage. Ackerley appeased the Seahawks' concerns, noting the arena would be empty during any NFL games. The Mariners unsuccessfully continued to object, even enlisting then-Major League Baseball commissioner Fay Vincent and then-American League president Bobby Brown to speak before
1924-447: The regular season and entered the preliminary round as the eighth seed (and twelfth seed overall). This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Los Angeles won this year's season series earning 9 of 10 points during the regular season. The Boston Bruins entered the preliminary round as the second seed (and fifth seed overall) earning 94 points during the regular season. The Chicago Black Hawks earned 82 points during
1976-418: The regular season and entered the preliminary round as the seventh seed (and eleventh seed overall). This was the fifth playoff series between these two teams, with Boston winning all four previous meetings. Thus was a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Semifinals where Boston won in six games. The teams split this year's regular season series. The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the preliminary round as
2028-567: The regular season. The Philadelphia Flyers entered the playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Patrick Division champions, the Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions, and the first seed overall earning 113 points during the regular season, winning the tie-breaker over both Buffalo and Montreal in total wins. The Toronto Maple Leafs were seeded eighth in the Quarterfinals as
2080-658: The regular season. The defending Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers' appeared in their second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals and second overall. In the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals , the Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in six games. This was the Buffalo Sabres' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in their fifth season. This was the first playoff series (and only Finals) meeting between these two teams. The Philadelphia Flyers won this year's regular season series earning seven of eight points. In
2132-499: The regular season. After becoming the second North American professional sports team to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3–0 in the previous round against the Penguins, the Islanders almost accomplished the same feat in this round. However, the Flyers firmly defeated them in game seven to preserve the series win. In doing so, the Islanders set a record for most consecutive playoff wins (8) when facing elimination. This would mark
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2184-521: The relatively weak Smythe Division. Unfortunately for Vancouver, the fact that the Quarterfinals was re-seeded regardless to their first place divisional finish meant they had to face another division champion in the second round, the Norris-winning Montreal Canadiens , who defeated Vancouver 4–1. The team that suffered the most from the new format, the Los Angeles Kings , had the fourth best overall record but had to play in
2236-451: The risky mini series where they were upset by the twelfth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1. The twelve teams that qualified for the playoffs are ranked 1–12 based on regular season points. Note: Only teams that qualified for the playoffs are listed here. The Los Angeles Kings entered the preliminary round as the top seed (and fourth seed overall) earning 105 points during the regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs earned 78 points during
2288-458: The second seed overall earning 113 points during the regular season, losing the most wins tie-breaker to Philadelphia while winning the same tie-breaker over Montreal. The Chicago Black Hawks were seeded seventh in the Quarterfinals as the second lowest remaining seed in the playoffs and qualified for the Quarterfinals by defeating the Boston Bruins in the preliminary round. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Buffalo won three of
2340-587: The team in Seattle, and that "in each case, we stood on our principles that this is a Seattle community asset." Briefly, the Ackerleys talked about building an arena east of Lake Washington near the mall in Bellevue. They would eventually purchase land in the SoDo District near the Kingdome, some of which included the site that would become the Mariners' current home, T-Mobile Park . Ackerley approached
2392-459: The third lowest remaining seed in the playoffs, earning 86 points during the regular season. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Montreal swept all four games in this year's regular season series. This series also marked the first appearance of a team representing Vancouver in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 51 years. The most recent team to represent Vancouver before this was
2444-453: The third seed (and sixth seed overall) earning 89 points during the regular season. The St. Louis Blues earned 84 points during the regular season and entered the preliminary round as the sixth seed (and tenth seed overall). This was the second playoff series between these two teams, with St. Louis winning the only previous meeting in six games in the 1970 Stanley Cup Semifinals . The teams split this year's regular season series. Both
2496-649: The time of the sale. Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license . Notes: Barry Ackerley Barry Allan Ackerley (April 15, 1934 – March 21, 2011) was an American businessman. He was the former chairman and CEO of the Ackerley Group media company. He was also the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics basketball franchise from 1983 to 2001 and the Seattle Storm basketball franchise from 2000 to 2001. Born in Des Moines, Iowa , in 1934, Barry Ackerley began his career in
2548-572: Was later awarded an expansion team, the Seattle Kraken , in 2018 that began play in 2021. The 1974 NHL Amateur Draft was held on May 28–30. For the first time, the draft was held at the NHL offices in Montreal , Quebec . Greg Joly was selected first overall by the Washington Capitals . For the first time ever in the National Hockey League, there was a three-way tie for first place overall. The respective divisional leaders of
2600-525: Was more than any NHL club was valued at the time; a $ 5 million down payment that would be forfeited if 10,000 season tickets weren't sold in the first year – the Sonics had never sold more than 9,000 season tickets; season tickets needed to produce at least $ 9 million annually, which would've made the tickets the second most expensive for a team in the area at the time; a 20-year lease with a "substantial" share of arena revenues from concessions, parking, and ad signage; priority status for postseason arena dates; and
2652-406: Was sold to Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) in 2002. Ackerley announced its sale to Clear Channel Communications on October 8, 2001; the merger was completed on June 14, 2002. At the time of the closure of the transaction, the sale price was reported to be 38 times cashflow (approximately $ 1.1B USD), the highest ever sale valuation for a North American publicly traded media company in
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#17327834338522704-484: Was the first playoff series between these two teams. The teams split this year's regular season series. After trailing the series 3–0, the Islanders rallied to win four straight games and take the series. They became the second North American professional sports team (after the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs ) to accomplish such a feat. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. The Flyers won this year's season series earning eight of twelve points during
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