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OT:Cromartie begins efforts to bring baseball back to Montreal
Montreal has almost 4 million people and seeing how horribly MLB treated the Expos should have another chance. However, I wonder if any North American city, that doesn't have a baseball ready stadium, would be willing to pay, 500 million for an expansion team (I bet that's what they would be looking for, MLB) and almost that much if done on the cheap for a new ballpark. With that in mind, doesn't look good realistically for Montreal, even though I commend what Cro's trying to do.
With that point, Vancouver, is more of a likely bet, since they have a stadium that could be at least a temp venue, in Canada, than Montreal is.
I'm shocked I've read through 2 pages of this and the Canadian dollar hasn't been mentioned once.
1995 = CAD to USD .75
2012 = CAD to USD 1.00
Canada is a much more viable market economically today than it has been in the past. If they can drum up the attendance, why not?
I do however think there will be US Cities put in front of the line before Canada gets a team - maybe for the only reason that Montreal had's their shot already.
I can see a team in the Carolinas, Portland or Vancouver. It'd be a more regional team like my Rockies are (who do just fine in attendance because they pull from a 500 mile radius).
There's no chance at all of MLB contracting by the way. I think that was pretty evident by what happened to the Expos/Nationals already. The players union would revolt and you'd see labor dissent for the next 50 years. The union would never let them live it down.
Triple A and Double A baseball is not the NHL. Taking a bus from Vancouver to Texas or a place that's a similar distance isn't something teams want their players doing. Customs is a hassle for a group of around 35 people especially when you're not flying, and for a Canadian team it would be happening every few days.
It's widely agreed that the Expo's had the worst fallout after the strike. They lost their best season in their existence, the fans punished the team but not going, the city lost all interest in building a new ballpark. Without the '94 strike, the Expos may have had a world series title, they may have had a new stadium, baseball would have still been a popular sport. People litterally stopped watching baseball all together in Montreal after the strike. There's a reason why many of people under 22 in Montreal (Born 1990 or later) don't watch baseball.
true about the border. i thought you were talking about the mlb for some reason and not minor league ball
but when i read your point about the strike, all i'm thinking is exuses exuses exuses......
If a salary cap was implemented, then Montreal could get its baseball team back. Poor ownership cost Montreal its baseball team. Added bonus: we'd get an instant rivalry with Washington.
The NBA is a joke. For what it's worth, you guys can have the Raptors if you want them.
Speak for yourself, ignoramus. There are many dedicated Raptors fans in Toronto and the team itself contributes to NBA's revenue sharing. It's the tenth most valuable NBA franchise and has healthy attendance and ratings. The team is loved despite its consistent poor performance -- but that's nothing new for sports in Toronto.
Speak for yourself, ignoramus. There are many dedicated Raptors fans in Toronto and the team itself contributes to NBA's revenue sharing. It's the tenth most valuable NBA franchise and has healthy attendance and ratings. The team is loved despite its consistent poor performance -- but that's nothing new for sports in Toronto.
Question... what happens if you get through the long waiting list to Toronto Maple Leafs season ticksts, and want to buy one?
If a salary cap was implemented, then Montreal could get its baseball team back. Poor ownership cost Montreal its baseball team. Added bonus: we'd get an instant rivalry with Washington.
That's if we end up in the National. We could very well be in the American.
You sell your soul to the devil, then write a cheque.
This was in answer to the post about the Raptors being popular. My point, in case it was too subtle, is that new purchasers of Leafs season tickets are required to buy Raptors season tickets. That's why the Raptors are so "stable".
This was in answer to the post about the Raptors being popular. My point, in case it was too subtle, is that new purchasers of Leafs season tickets are required to buy Raptors season tickets. That's why the Raptors are so "stable".
And kk what is wrong with that? That is called good business.
This was in answer to the post about the Raptors being popular. My point, in case it was too subtle, is that new purchasers of Leafs season tickets are required to buy Raptors season tickets. That's why the Raptors are so "stable".
Well it may be only true for lower bowl seats and I believe it is less than 10 that become available every season
This was in answer to the post about the Raptors being popular. My point, in case it was too subtle, is that new purchasers of Leafs season tickets are required to buy Raptors season tickets. That's why the Raptors are so "stable".
Ahhhh yes... seat licensing... FOR PREMIUM SEATS AND BOXES. This arguement has been used by fanatical puck heads and the media as leverage against the Raptors and their "quest to meddle in a hockey nation." Does anyone ever mention the fact that these are season seat licenses that give businesses/seat holders not only the leafs/raptors games but concerts, wwe, monster truck, and other events? As melrose said it's good business.. the suits don't even care about what's being played in front of them most of the time. Another factor why the Raptors are stable is that they get TV revenue from the NBA's deal in the US which trumps the NHL and whatever it gets in Canada and the US.
With Houston to the AL... you have to wonder if the MLB has expansion plans in there near future (one new to both NL and AL) and move to 8 divisions of four...
With Houston to the AL... you have to wonder if the MLB has expansion plans in there near future (one new to both NL and AL) and move to 8 divisions of four...
Honestly doubt it. The NHL's been widely rumored to be considering such an expansion, especially as it was the only thing that made sense with their blatantly unbalanced realignment plan, but MLB seems to be happy where they are right now at 30. Plus, four team divisions would never happen, as it'd kill the wild card and the chances of the Yankees and Red Sox making the playoffs, and likely result breaking more then a few divisional rivalries, which baseball is far more interested in then the NHL.
Six division of five teams each, with 15 teams per league is just perfect for MLB right now, and I don't see them moving from that any time in the near future beyond the A's and Rays moving somewhere else.
I saw one guy here in TN wearing an old Expos t-shirt today. It made me upset the team and history no longer exists. I loved Gary Carter in both Montreal and NY he was alway one of my favorite players. Sad that MLB abandoned the market and fans. FYI this thread is reverse of the normal X sunbelt city does not deserve a team thread. I have always hated Donald Fehr for what he did to Baseball in 1994 and how the Expos never got to build a team that season and that is responsible for them leaving. Now he plans to do to the same thing to hockey and it's small markets.
Last edited by Gnashville: 04-07-2012 at 09:11 PM.
Actually, a Toronto-Montreal rivalry would be amazing. Why didn't they do that originally?
In the past the AL and NL were more segregated than they are now. They really functioned more as 2 different leagues. Now they are more like different conferences like the NFL. Until the 93 expansion, when one league expanded it was done without the other league participating in the expansion draft or getting the cut of the fees.
That being said we almost had Toronto-Montreal in the NL because the San Francisco Giants almost moved to Toronto before a last minute sale kept them in San Fran.
In the past the AL and NL were more segregated than they are now. They really functioned more as 2 different leagues. Now they are more like different conferences like the NFL. Until the 93 expansion, when one league expanded it was done without the other league participating in the expansion draft or getting the cut of the fees.
That being said we almost had Toronto-Montreal in the NL because the San Francisco Giants almost moved to Toronto before a last minute sale kept them in San Fran.
Really? So even the KC Royals expansion St Louis didn't get compensation.
If a salary cap was implemented, then Montreal could get its baseball team back. Poor ownership cost Montreal its baseball team. Added bonus: we'd get an instant rivalry with Washington.
I don't know, there's gotta be some real doubts if a non-traditional baseball market like Montreal can really support a team. Heck, a town like Dothan, Alabama probably makes a better market. Yeah sure it's just 20,000 people but boy do they love baseball and they could draw from like three states over too.
you need to brush up on your baseball history and fast. Google Jackie Robinson and Montreal Royals. you can start there. knowledge is your friend.
I don't think the Nords coming back will help the MLB issue at all.
Frankly I'll be surprised if MLB comes back to Montreal 30 years from now.
Mr. Fehr deserves respect. It was the crooked owners who forced the players to stand up for themselves and strike.
What happened to the Expos is too bad. Stuff happens sometimes in life, people need to get over it. If baseball comes back to Montreal, great. I would not hold my breath though... And for those who would like to see a salary cap implemented so a potential Montreal team can 'compete', that is definitely not happening.
Question... what happens if you get through the long waiting list to Toronto Maple Leafs season ticksts, and want to buy one?
You buy Maple Leafs season tickets.
The Raptors-Leafs joint stuff only happens if you want to purchase Air Canada Club Seat Licenses -- something entirely different. In that case, you get tickets to everything that happens in the ACC; Leafs season tix, Raptors season tix, shows, concerts, etc. It's targeted to businesses with enough clientele to need that many events for their client care packages.
What is your point, anyways? Do you think the Raptors could not survive otherwise? They don't need the Leafs to survive. Heck, the ACC was built FOR the Raptors and the Leafs came into the picture while that was in progress.
The Raptors are the 10th most valuable NBA franchise despite horrendous performance on the court. If they made the playoffs with some regularity and went deep, it would easily climb further up the NBA echelons.
Read that again. 10th most valuable. And there's zero bandwagon effect taking place, because the Raptors are playing as poorly as the Leafs (i.e. they're both easily the worst teams in their respective leagues). You might not like it, but basketball is big in Toronto. Walk around any neighborhood in Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, and tell me how many basketball nets and Raptors jerseys you see.
And just look at how many GTA kids were playing in the NCAA March Madness.
The Leafs are undoubtedly number one, but Toronto FC, the Blue Jays and the Raptors are all well supported by the public. The Argos, not so much.
