Revenge of the Birds
Back in 1949, Violet Bidwill had remarried after her husband, Charlie Bidwill, passed away in 1947. It was just months before his Chicago Cardinals captured the 1947 NFL Championship title.
Violet wed Walter Wolfner, who was then named the franchise’s managing director, but Violet was the sole owner of the Cardinals club and made all team decisions. She did not stay home and bake pies, but was present for the owner’s meetings, and after some time, she volunteered and was placed on various league committees.
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Wolfner simply wanted to make money from owning their NFL franchise. He wanted lots of fans and to finally be in the black at the end of each season. Discussions between him and Violet determined that, instead of relocating to a whole new city and state, the Cardinals could remain in the Chicagoland area, where Violet’s entire world had evolved, and Wolfner could please his wife.
By playing their home games at Dyche Stadium, located on the campus of Northwestern University, the venue was much nicer than their current stadium, Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, and located in a much better part of Chicago. The thought process was that the Cardinals could perhaps finally build a decent fanbase and regain their financial stability.
The move was brought up and discussed at the January 1959 league meeting with the other owners. During the discussion regarding the move, Chicago Bears’ owner George Halas pulled out a contract.
It was identified as the “Madison Street Agreement.”
This was a document dated 1931 and signed by Halas and Dr. David Jones, owner of the Chicago Cardinals. It stated the two clubs would adhere to strict boundaries regarding the City of Chicago.
The agreement was put in place so that the Bears would have control and access to the northern portions of the City of Chicago, and the Cardinals would have control and access to the southern portions of Chicago; and they wouldn’t infringe upon the other team’s ability to gather fans, attend grand openings of new businesses, sell sponsorships and ads, and basically get in each other’s way.
The dividing line was Madison Street, which runs along a long stretch that travels east and west. The Cardinals had every opportunity regarding the southside, while the Bears could go after anything in the northern portion. This prevented the other team from stealing clients who might buy program ads or offer sponsorships. The agreement also prevented the other from playing home games in each other’s protected area.
It was later renewed and signed by Charlie Bidwill after he purchased the Cardinals.
Does this sound like something mobsters would do? Of course it does. Claiming territories and setting boundaries. Chicago is famous for this type of self-regulation. According to Halas, with this signed contract, the Cardinals were prevented from moving their home games north into Evanston, Illinois, and begin play at Dyche Stadium.
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