The 100th anniversary of the first ever National Football League game was held this past Saturday, in Dayton.
On October 3rd, 1920, the Dayton Triangles faced off against the Columbus Panhandles in the first ever National Football League game. It was an unusually warm day, and 4,000 fans packed the stands at Triangle Park. Tickets were $1.75 a piece and players were paid $50.00 a game.
This past Saturday was another beautiful fall day, and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Dayton History CEO Brady Kress, and local football legend Keith Byars held a small centennial ceremony where Triangles field once stood.
Byars has a special connection to Dayton. He played high school football at Trotwood Madison, was a runner-up for the Heisman trophy at Ohio State, and had a long career as a fullback in the NFL. He even played in a Super Bowl.
“I'm sure that few could have ever imagined at that time way back in 1920, that it would inspire something in 2020, a hundred years later. That would be, you know, you can see an NFL game anywhere in the world.”
Mayor Whaley presented Mayor Ginther of Columbus with a ceremonial football signed by her and Byars — with the final score Triangles 14, Panhandles 0 displayed prominently on the side.