Although the NFL formally desegregated in 1946, many teams were slow to allow black athletes to compete even after the formal barrier had fallen. None were less willing to desegregate than the Washington Redskins, who sought to be the "home team" for a vast Southern market. The Redskins would remain the last bastion of racial segregation in the NFL, refusing to include a single black player on their roster until 1962.[1]
Tickets for individual games for the 1950 season went on sale simultaneously one week before the start of the season.[9] Seats in the grandstands, field stands, and lower boxes were available for $3.60 per game, with premium seats in the upper boxes, sideline boxes, and field boxes priced at $5.00, amusement tax included.[9] Season ticket booklets for the six game package were priced at $19.80 and $25.20 for the two price tiers and gave the purchaser best available seats for the 1950 season and a first chance at upgrading location in 1951.[9]
The 1950 season saw the admission of three new teams into the NFL from the defunct All-America Football Conference — the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and San Francisco 49ers.[10] This necessitated a restructuring of the league into an American and National Conference, consisting of 6 and 7 teams, respectively. Twelve of these teams played a 12-game slate featuring five home-and-home contests with conference opponents, with the Colts the odd-team out playing one game against each of the other 12 teams in the league.[10] In an effort to build local rivalries, the Redskins gave up their game with the Chicago Cardinals and the Colts gave up their game with the Chicago Bears so that the two Chicago teams could play home-and-home games while the neighboring Redskins and Colts could do likewise.[10]
^ abcWalter Collier (ed.), "The Where, When and How About Redskins Tickets," in Redskins 1950: Official Press, Radio, and Television Guide. Washington, DC: Pro Football Inc., 1950, p. 3.
^ abcWalter Collier (ed.), "Browns, Colts, 49ers Join NFL," in Redskins 1950: Official Press, Radio, and Television Guide. Washington, DC: Pro Football Inc., 1950, p. 5.
^Pro Football Reference has this crowd at a round 29,000.