The Houston Aeros were a powerhouse club in the World Hockey Association, a 1970’s-era rival to the NHL. The Aeros are best remembered for luring pro hockey’s all-time leading scorer, Gordie Howe, out of retirement in 1973 and signing him to play alongside his sons Mark and Marty Howe. There was little rust on the 45-year old star. Mr. Hockey won league MVP honors in 1974 as the Aeros won the first of two straight AVCO Cup championships that spring.
The Houston Hurricane languished in a nearly empty Astrodome for three summers before being euthanized in the autumn of 1980. Houston was the sixth and final new club added to the North American Soccer League during a euphoric expansion orgy during the winter of 1977-78. The addition of Houston brought the NASL membership to an all-time peak of 24 clubs. However, none of the six clubs added in 1978 would survive beyond 1980. The expansion misfires of 1978 would later be cited by NASL observers and insiders as a factor in the league downward spiral in the early 1980’s and eventual closure in 1985.
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