In 1969, the Bisons played some home games in Niagara Falls and finished next-to-last in the eight-team IL both in the standings (56-78) and at the box office (only 77,808 found their way through the turnstiles).
The following year, after a 10–35 start, even worse attendance and the player's locker room at the aging War Memorial Stadium being robbed, the Expos had had enough and relocated the franchise to Winnipeg.
Things got even worse in 1971 -- the third-year Expos barely had enough quality players at the major league level, let alone for their minor-league affiliates -- as the Whips only won 44 of its 140 games, and only 17 of its final 74.
[5] Skyrocketing costs and continued poor attendance figures (they drew only 88,438 in 1971, again next-to-last in the IL) coupled with the failed bid to join the American Association, forced the Expos to give up on Winnipeg and move the team to Hampton, Virginia after the 1971 season.
In 1972, the team became the Peninsula Whips and played two seasons out of Hampton War Memorial Stadium, located just 19 miles from the IL's Tidewater Tides.