Long-time Steelers owner, Art Rooney paid a $2500 franchise fee, in 1933 during the height of the Depression, to the NFL for the rights to establish a team in Pittsburgh. There is some doubt about the truth of the matter, but no one ever discounted the story. Legend has it Art made the money from a winning parlay bet at the track. His betting endeavors do not simply end there either! During these early years owning a football team was not quite as profitable as today, he used the $160,000 payout from another winning parlay to continue funding his team.
From Humble Beginnings to Super Bowl Champions-How the Steelers Were Made
