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Do you think Montreal will get another MLB team? I never thought it would happen until recently, on Facebook, I noticed that there is a growing movement to bring the Expos back. Former Expo Warren Cromartie is also head of a group that is trying to bring a team back. Speculation I have heard is that should it happen, the team would be an existing franchise that relocates.
The two ML teams suffering the most from poor attendance are the Marlins and Rays. However, at their worst they have done a better job of filling baseball stadiums than did Montreal.
The last four Expo seasons...average fans per game.
'04
Fla..22,091
TB..16, 139
Mon..9,356
'03
Fla..16,290
TB..13,070
Mon..12,602
'02
Fla..10,138
TB..13.157
Mon..9048
'01
Fla..15,765
TB..16,029
Mon..7,647
Montreal is clearly not the attendance solution for any existing club.
Well, the Expos did have the worst stadium in baseball, isolated away from the center of the city, while fielding a perennial loser. Still, Montreal is not a place which would immediately embrace baseball again (unlike DC), despite its notable baseball history (including Jackie Robinson). There's too much to do there, entertainment-wise, besides watching sports, and the language/culture barrier is also a factor. I think there would be just as much chance of success in Vancouver, which is English-speaking and has a significant Japanese/Korean population.
There is talk in Montreal about a franchise in one of the independent leagues. The Can-Am League currently has five teams, in New Jersey, Newark, Rockland NY, Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres QC. At the present time, it is regarded that Montreal does not have a stadium suitable for league play at that level.
There are currently 9 Independent Leagues, with a total of 66 teams.
In addition, there are 60 Collegiate Leagues with about 400 teams, using players who still have college eligibility, most of them using wooden bats.
Montreal has had its chance with baseball. They used to have some great players and had a few decent teams (including the one in 1994 that was in first place at the time of the dreaded strike), but the fans simply got to where they could not support it. I don't see them going back. It was a National League city and I don't see any prospects moving there. And, no, the Rays are not going there.
Montreal has had its chance with baseball. They used to have some great players and had a few decent teams (including the one in 1994 that was in first place at the time of the dreaded strike), but the fans simply got to where they could not support it. I don't see them going back. It was a National League city and I don't see any prospects moving there. And, no, the Rays are not going there.
The opposite is more true. Baseball had its chance with Montreal. Baseball screwed Montreal. Everything about baseball went into decline with the strike, and Montreal, which should have had a World Series, was hit the hardest and most unfairly.
Also, the TV networks hate Canadian teams. Look at NHL regular season coverage on TV networks. Not a single game, all year, involving a Canadian franchise. How often is a Blue Jays game n Fox or NBC or ESPN?
Keep in mind the Expos' downfall (early to mid-90s) happened to occur during one of the most depressing periods in that city's modern era. EVERYONE was leaving Montreal in the 90s, not just sports franchises. Add to that the bevy of unfortunate circumstances, from Jeffrey Loria owning the team, to the Olympic stadium's failed nature, and it's not surprise baseball failed THEN.
Today, Montreal - especially as it pertains to urban revitalization - is doing terrific. People are moving back into the city, not just from out-of-province, but also from the suburbs and nearby towns. Not to much mention most sports franchise owners in Montreal are making money hand over first. The MLS expansion has been a resounding success, our CFL team frequently sells out its' regular-season games and the Montreal Canadiens are just on another level (even on a north American scale). Mad revenues for an arena sport.
Fix the big O, or put a stadium in one of the recently re-vitalized areas of the South-West (Griffintown, Point-Saint-Charles, other) and imo MTL will be ready for a solid MLB franchise.
People seem to forget... this is a city with a fairly huge metro population (4 million) and a bona fide, authentic baseball culture. We play among friends, most large city park have fields. Baseball is honestly a part of Quebecois culture, just often overlooked.
Why not? I think with a good, competitive team, a brand new downtown 35,000 to 42,000 seat stadium and reasonable TV deal Montreal WILL support a team.
-Cheers!
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