Page "New York Giants" Paragraph 44

Although the Giants were successful on the field in their initial seasons, their financial status was a different story.

Overshadowed by baseball, boxing, and college football, professional football was not a popular sport in 1925.

The Giants were in dire financial straits until the 11th game of the season when Red Grange and the Chicago Bears came to town, attracting over 73, 000 fans.

This gave the Giants a much needed influx of revenue, and perhaps altered the history of the franchise.

The following year, Grange and his agent formed a rival league and stationed a competing team, led by Grange, in New York.

Though the Giants lost $ 50, 000 that season, the rival league folded and was subsumed into the NFL.

Following the 1930 season, Mara transferred ownership of the team over to his two sons to insulate the team from creditors, and by 1946, he had given over complete control of the team to them.

Jack, the older son, controlled the business aspects, while Wellington controlled the on-field operations.

After their initial struggles the Giants financial status stabilized, and they led the league in attendance several times in the 1930s and 1940s.