A New Competitor in Coleco
Tudor’s success with Electric Football enticed a third toy maker onto the vibrating gridiron in 1970. That company was Coleco, who was no stranger to the sports toy market thanks to their successful line of NHL table hockey games.
Coleco came to the 1970 Toy Fair touting their “World Of Sports” which would include promises of print and television advertising. Tudor might have finally left Gotham sprawled in the dust, but another very accomplished opponent had just buckled its chinstrap.
Tudor was up for Coleco’s Challenge
With this being the year the NFL and AFL officially merged into a single league, Tudor had completely redesigned its Electric Football line. It included some stunning games, including one that would recreate – accidentally it turned out – the first ABC Monday Night Football game. Tudor was also giving Sears a beautiful Super Bowl game with the Vikings and Chiefs.
Ward a special model that included three NFL teams. Tudor would have three Electric Football games in the Sears Wishbook. Gotham would have none. And the Super Bowl game sold out completely.
More to come in our 1970 Timeline post Part II!
Earl & Roddy
To learn more about Electric Football, please check out The Unforgettable Buzz, Electric Football Wishbook, and Full Color Electric Football!