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--- peter_tyrrell [2024/06/03 17:23] – ehaight
+++ peter_tyrrell [2025/06/13 17:02] (current) – [1925] ehaight
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 ====== Peter Tyrrell ======
-Peter Aloysius Tyrrell
+Peter Aloysius Tyrrell\\
 Born April 8, 1896, Philadelphia\\
 Died May 8, 1973, Philadelphia (age 77)
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 From the early days of the Depression to the mid-1960s, Tyrrell seemingly had a hand in every kind of sport and entertainment that needed a roof over its head. He managed, promoted,  and organized everything from hockey and basketball, to boxing, rodeo, ice skating, indoor soccer, and various charitable events. Invariably described as quiet and undemonstrative, he appeared to do his job to the satisfaction of all involved and there seemed never to be a hard word against him. Before and after his death he was the subject of numerous anecdotes, almost all of which cast him as the dispenser of sage, cheerful wisdom, hard-won over the course of a lifetime getting temperamental people to work together without rancor. His son, Pete Jr., went on to a career in politics, serving for a time as a Supervisor of Newtown Township, north of Philadelphia near Trenton. Pete, Jr., died in 2016.
+=====Timeline=====
+===1896===
+-April 8-
+Born in Philadephia to Peter J. and Agnes Tyrrell.
+===1946===
+-January 23-
+Tyrrell, along with members of the board, announced that the Philadelphia Arena corporation was planning to construct a new arena next to the existing facility at the cost of $1.5 million. He added that they would then seek a National Hockey League franchise to play in the new building.
+-January 29-
+After saying the Arena corporation would pursue an NHL franchise, Tyrrell backtracked, saying they would instead restart their team in the American Hockey League. The corporation still planned to build a new, larger facility next to the old one.
+-February 13-
+In an ironic twist, Tyrrell filed suit to prevent the establishment of a National Hockey League franchise in Philadelphia. Named in the suit was Montreal businessman Leonard Peto, who was heading the effort to get the new franchise, along with the top executives of the NHL. Tyrrell argued that his employer, the Philadelphia Arena corporation, held territorial rights to professional hockey in the area with their American Hockey League franchise. The franchise had been suspended during the war years, but the rights had not been surrendered, according to Tyrrell. No mention was made in the story of the Arena corporation's plan to seek an NHL franchise for themselves.
+-Feburary 15-
+The //Inquirer//'s Art Morrow penned a column suggesting that Tyrrell was "trying to keep big league hockey out" of Philadelphia and peppered the piece with Tyrrell quotes.
+A denial: "We have never attempted and are not now attempting to deprive Philadelphia of major league hockey."
+Morrow brought up the suit against Peto and the NHL then pointed out the area hadn't had an NHL team since the Quakers in 1931-32: "Yes, and he (Quakers executive Benny Leonard) lost $100,000 in a season."
+Morrow then brought up the AHL's Arrows that played in the same year: "They did all right under Fitz-Eugene Dixon, but they won more games. And don't forget that player salaries are somewhat lower in the American League than in the National. But American League hockey is practically on a par with National League hockey."
+"We have been going along with the National League for ten years. There has never been any trouble between the American and the National on territory. Why should there be any now?"
+On the NHL's contention that the AHL franchise's suspension of operations during the war constituted an abandonment of the territory: "We couldn't get any players. Besides, the American League is backing us on this deal. It's all been gone over. I talked to Red Dutton while I was in Canada. He's the president of the National League. It has never been National League policy to grant a franchise to anyone except groups with arenas already in operation. In other words, not to permit the franchise to be used as an inducement to prospective stockholders in a rink not even under construction."
+On whether the Arena corporation has considered pursuing an NHL franchise: "How could we? To make money with a big league club you've got to have an arena with a capacity of at least 10,000. And note, too, that the new $1.5 million arena annex at 45th and Market streets will accommodate 10,000 ice hockey fans. And we have something solid to go on, not just plans."
+-March 31-
+Tyrrell discounted a statement by Maple Leaf Gardens executive Conn Smythe saying the Leonard Peto group would be able to get an NHL franchise up and running for the 1946-47 season: "The Arena will be the only place a team can play since there's practically no chance for the erection of the proposed North Philadelphia plant."
+-May 6-
+Tyrrell announced that the American Hockey League's Philadelphia franchise would resume play for the 1946-47 after being on hiatus during the war.
+Said Tyrrell: "We will spare no expense in putting a team into action that will be a threat in the American League race."
+-June 6-
+The new Basketball Association of America awarded a franchise to the Philadelphia Arena corporation with Tyrrell as general manager.
+===1973===
+-May 8-
+Died in Philadelphia at the age of 77.
+=====Sources=====
+====1920====
+Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, Mar 5, p8
+====1925====
+"Fans Agog Over Old Benny-Danny Issue," Gordon MacKay, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 19, p25