All jokes aside, it is really a tough one for Betteman and his southern delocation plan. A few years back Betteman even thought about a team in Las Vegas. I don't know what's next for team like Columbus, Phoenix, but it is really the start of something here. People who are willing to buy a team and move it will take True North as an exemple now. Where the **** is Jim Balsilie???? He must be jealous now !
All jokes aside, it is really a tough one for Betteman and his southern delocation plan. A few years back Betteman even thought about a team in Las Vegas. I don't know what's next for team like Columbus, Phoenix, but it is really the start of something here. People who are willing to buy a team and move it will take True North as an exemple now. Where the **** is Jim Balsilie???? He must be jealous now !
Well I don't think Columbus suffers from the same syndrome as the southern teams do. They're just a newer franchise trying to build up a fan base in a decent area. (Close to Detroit if I recall)
I doubt they're moved before a team like Phoenix or even Florida. (FLA doesn't need two teams and the fans have chosen!)
That being said I could see Columbus being moved to the East, but I think we'll see another team moved prior to any changes happening.
Jim Balsille wanted to buy a team for dirt cheap and move it into Ontario though.
I think Nashville is the most likely to replace Atl in the southeast division next year, or Columbus. Detroit creates revenue for a lot of western conference teams when they come to town and Columus and Nashville could afford to save on travel more than Detroit.
The expos at least had exciting teams, Washington is horribly mismanaged, I used to watch them, but now they are just a complete mess with really really bad hitting. I'd love for the team to be back here with an owner with deep pockets. They are also adding another team for the playoffs next year as well and the Expos were always borderline making it.
Contracting the NHL to 24 teams would cut payrolls because the pool of unemployed players would be 20% larger and there'd be more competition for jobs among the non-superstars. It would also make the draft more productive even for the playoff teams. It would also ease the revenue sharing burden because the six most financially shaky teams would be eliminated.
You think it's bad around here with Gomez and his contract, just think what it would be like if the Nationals came back and the fans had to put up with Werth's 126M contract
As much as many of us were Expos fans, played little league, even higher levels and (not me) realllly loved baseball, I think the result would be the same -- pathetic attendance. We've had great success with the Als and I may be hasty in drawing this conclusion, but for a city who revolves around a team in a fast-paced sport, I just can't see the big-O getting even half filled for a decent portion of the season to make it profitable.
Growing up I went to a lot of 'spos games, but even I lost the desire to go and even moreso in baseball at all. This is obviously just my opinion, but I'm trying to paint it against what the true facts were about attendance in the years prior to them leaving and on a team with the league's best hitter and really not to shabby a lineup. Now that I temporarily (plz) live in the TO area, I see that Jays fans are numerous and actually do have a huge contingent that care. Maybe it's their more American nature, who knows? It WOULD be great to have the Expos back (god knows they've sold more merchandise since they left, and probably in cities that didn't even know the expos existed...odd no?...the power of "vintage"), but I don't think it would make sense for the owners financially.
Maybe I'm wrong and there would be a resurgence. I for one cannot watch baseball anymore. I'd care about the Expos, but I wouldn't watch. Habs...every practice I scrutinize.
Also, doesn't a return necessitate either an expansion or a failing MLB team? Is that the case?
Just so we're clear: I think there are LOTS of baseball fans in MTL. Just not enough.
Montreal as a baseball market, despite its history, is no doubt perceived as equivalent to Atlanta as a hockey market.
I seriously doubt MLB will ever pursue Montreal again.
That's a joke! 36 years of Expos History, 2 hall of farmers, the Royals, Jackie Robinson. As if,... It's a great baseball market, just needs stable ownership & a ballpark!!!!
Soccer took Baseball spot as the summer sport during the summer. No kids play that game anymore. Baseball died in the province the same day the Expos died. They'll never be back.
It's a great baseball market, just needs stable ownership & a ballpark!!!!
