8 5 , ▁the ▁league ' s ▁own ers ▁voted ▁ 1 3 – 2 ▁to ▁re aff irm ▁their ▁decision ▁to ▁begin ▁playing ▁a ▁fall ▁season ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁T ampa ▁Bay ▁Band its ▁owner ▁John ▁F . ▁Bass ett , ▁who ▁had ▁registered ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁two ▁" n ay " ▁votes , ▁declared ▁his ▁intention ▁to ▁pull ▁his ▁team ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁US FL ▁and ▁organ ize ▁a ▁new ▁spring ▁football ▁league . ▁ ▁However , ▁failing ▁health ▁( he ▁died ▁from ▁cancer ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 8 6 ) ▁forced ▁Bass ett ▁to ▁abandon ▁his ▁plans ▁and ▁sell ▁the ▁Band its ▁to ▁minor ▁partner ▁Lee ▁Sc arf one , ▁who ▁agreed ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁franch ise ▁in ▁the ▁US FL .< ref >[ https :// news . google . com / new sp apers ? id = nb x O AAAA I BA J & s j id = z vs D AAAA I BA J & d q = b ass ett % 2 0 band its % 2 0 scar f one & pg = 2 8 7 4 % 2 C 1 6 1 2 1 7 ▁Lak eland ▁Led ger ] ▁via ▁Google ▁News ▁Archive ▁Search </ ref > ▁The ▁spring ▁advoc ates ▁had ▁lost , ▁and ▁the ▁fall ▁advoc ates ▁now ▁set ▁their ▁s ights ▁on ▁forcing ▁a ▁mer ger ▁with ▁the ▁NFL , ▁or ▁at ▁the ▁very ▁least ▁winning ▁a ▁s izable ▁settlement ▁and ▁se cur ing ▁a