1976-77

During the summer of 1976, John Y. Brown, the former owner of the ABA's Kentucky Colonels, bought a 50-percent stake in the Braves from owner Paul Snyder, then subsequently purchased Snyder's remaining stake in the club. Altogether, Brown spent $6.2 million to purchase the team. The transaction included a provision stating that if Brown sold any of the Braves' players, the money would go to Snyder and the purchase price would be reduced. Brown did exactly that. Partway into the 1976-77 season the new owner sold McAdoo to the New York Knicks for $3 million. He then sold half interest in the franchise to Harry Mangurian for a reported $3 million. From a business standpoint it may have been a shrewd deal-Brown came away owning 50 percent of an NBA franchise for approximately $200,000. But on the court the results were disastrous. Buffalo used up three head coaches during the year and fell to 30-52 for a fourth-place finish in the Atlantic Division. Only a fine rookie year by 6-5 Notre Dame product Adrian Dantley, who averaged 20.3 points, offered a ray of hope. The poor showing led to a sharp drop in attendance. After drawing more than 400,000 fans per season during the previous three years, the Braves attracted only 318,398 spectators during the 1976-77 campaign. Owner Brown renegotiated his lease on Buffalo Memorial Coliseum to include an escape clause that would allow him to move the club if the Braves couldn't sell at least 4,500 season tickets for the upcoming campaign. When ticket sales fell short of the mark, he began looking for a new city for the franchise.