CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — World Hockey Association officials Monday awarded a franchise to Cincinnati and indicated three more franchises are pending.

WHA President Gary L. Davidson, who departed for the West Coast immediately after the franchise announcement, said two of the cities under consideration were Miami, Fla. and Vancouver, B.C.
He said the WHA was “delighted” to come to Cincinnati because of the city's past support “of big league teams.”

Steve Arnold, WHA personnel director, said the Cincinnati franchise will begin operation in 1974-75.
Brian Heekin, president of the Cincinnati Hockey Club Inc., said his group decided to accept the WHA offer six weeks ago after the National Hockey League confirmed a franchise for Kansas City.

“That was the turning point,” said Heekin, CHC said the NHL board of governors had promised it a future franchise.

In Montreal, the NHL said Cincinnati had never been promised a franchise. The NHL said it had promised to keep them under consideration, an official said.

Need Stadium

CHC, meanwhile, is working out details with Cincinnati city officials to build a $20 million, 17,500-seat arena adjacent to Riverfront Stadium. Heekin said completion date must be in October, 1974.

He reopened negotiations recently when the city reacted to his plan to build an arena 28 miles north of here at Kings Island Amusement Park.

Heekin said “we are now looking for people to set up the franchise and build the team.” They will draft 13th in the May 19 junior player draft.

Heekin said the younger players will be sent to other WHA minor league teams until the franchise is ready here. He said he had no plans to draft players from the NHL. Rules will allow Cincinnati to draft 20 players from other WHA clubs for the opening season.

Heekin said he had “no idea at this time,” what CHC will do with major league players signed before 1974. He said he did not think they, would be assigned to minor league clubs.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL said they plan to continue operating their American Hockey League franchise — the Cincinnati Swords here. They play in the 14,000-seat Cincinnati Gardens.
The Swords are in the playoffs with Nova Scotia for the Calder Cup championship.

A Sabres spokesman said no problems or conflicts are foreseen since the NHL and WHA are separate. Had Cincinnati been awarded an NHL franchise, the Swords were to be withdrawn but for compensation, the Sabres said earlier.

Price of the WHA franchise was $2 million, Heekin said. The proposed NHL franchise would have been $6 million.