Baseball's New Commissioner: "A return to Montreal is possible."

[EagerBeaver]

Also not sure how a ferry would work in the wintertime

Apparently you have never seen or taken the ferry from Plattsburgh to Burlington over Lake Champlaigne which operates 365 days a year. The ice on Lake Champlaigne is a whole lot thicker than the St. Lawrence River. They have ice choppers. This is 2017 easy going, not 1865. A little bit of ice does not stop the progress and evolution of man.

This is NOT an issue whatsoever. I am sure even Rumples is familiar with the Grand Isle Ferry and they can show the folks in Montreal how it done. I daresay that if they read your post, they would be laughing. Ice is nothing to them.

 

[GaryH]

Is there any reason why they couldn't tear down the old Olympic Stadium and just build a new ballpark there? Is it used that much anymore? The crowds seemed to be down this year at the exhibition games, which could be due to the weeknight games. But maybe some people are losing hope for a new team?

 

[EagerBeaver]

Is there any reason why they couldn't tear down the old Olympic Stadium and just build a new ballpark there?

Because the location sucks. It's too far east. If you can't have a stadium closer to downtown, where the corporate money is, it is pointless. There does not seem to be the necessary real estate. Same issue when the Yankees considered (briefly) moving to Manhattan, which would have been wonderful. No real estate. Theoretically you could have built new Yankee Stadium on a part of Central Park, but nobody would stand for that.

In Montreal, I feel like Griffintown might have been the ideal location for a stadium at one time. Picture a stadium on the south side of the Canal, where a home run over the left field stands goes into the Canal. In a perfect world it would happen, but all that real estate is occupied now.

 

[jalimon]

In Montreal, I feel like Griffintown might have been the ideal location for a stadium at one time. Picture a stadium on the south side of the Canal, where a home run over the left field stands goes into the Canal. In a perfect world it would happen, but all that real estate is occupied now.

True. But there is still a perfect spot just east of Griffintown called Bassin Peel. Still walking distance from downtown and with home runs going down the bassin

cheers,

 

[GaryH]

Agreed that walking distance from downtown is the ideal location. But if there was a new franchise and new stadium in the old location, wouldn't this be better than no stadium? Is the South Bronx an ideal location for a stadium? When the Yankees were having less than a million people showing up, everyone said that no one wanted to go to the South Bronx. But now the Yankees will easily draw 3 million fans this year. It is not walking distance from downtown. Didn't someone once say - "If you build it, they will come"?

 

[EagerBeaver]

A few things changed for the Yankees other than winning. The most significant is Metro North’s creation of a Yankee stadium train line. I have taken that train to Yankee Stadium many times and it is far more preferable to driving.

Olympic Stadium is connected to the Pie IX Metro and one can walk from the Metro underground to the Stadium. The train access isn’t the issue. It’s the distance. It’s too far for people to schlep out to on a weeknight.

Much better location would have been Griffintown or as Jalimon suggests the Peel Basin, situated on one side of the Canal or the other, so that home runs splash down into the Canal on unsuspecting boaters.

 

[jalimon]

or as Jalimon suggests the Peel Basin on one side of the Canal or the other, situated so that home runs splash down into the Canal on unsuspecting boaters.

Ho it's not my suggestion https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1025347/bassin-peel-stade-baseball-montreal

Montreal is not much of a baseball town. But enough to have a team. Close to downtown is the only option. It's true in many sports. Look at Ottawa in the NHL. They are stuck with a stupid arena built in the middle of nowhere... Many example like that.

Cheers,

 

[Doc Holliday]

Montreal is not much of a baseball town. But enough to have a team. Close to downtown is the only option. It's true in many sports. Look at Ottawa in the NHL. They are stuck with a stupid arena built in the middle of nowhere... Many example like that.

That argument is bullshit. Montreal IS a baseball town. It has always been. It used to pack the stands at the Big O back in the late 70's to the mid 90's so there's no reason why it can't still happen. The problem was that the team got fucked by the MLB and the so-called stadium itself. The distance is also a big factor. EB is right in that the train has never been the problem but distance was.

The Rogers Centre is packed for most of their games and most of the people get to the park by either walking or taking the various trains there. It's a short subway ride and not that far a walk from many of the more popular downtown hotels.

Most big-league stadiums are surrounded by many hotels. I can't recall a single big-name hotel chain even close to Olympic Stadium. That was a big problem. When i consider making a trip to an American city to watch some baseball i always google up the baseball park in order to figure out where i could stay and be close to the park. This was never possible when the Expos were in town. Which is why several times when i'd travel to Montreal to watch the Expos, i'd end up missing 1-2 games after attending the first game of a series since i simply didn't have the patience to put up with the long subway ride to the stadium.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Baseball in Montreal failed because of poor ownership of the franchise and a poor business plan insofar as using Olympic Stadium, which was not designed as a baseball stadium. All other MLB baseball stadiums are as Doc mentioned. Had the Expos had visionary ownership that built a stadium downtown or Griffintown/Peel Basin, making it accessible to fans, the Expos would still be in Montreal. Jalimon, I must agree with Doc that the notion that Montreal is not a baseball city is a fallacy and a false excuse for failed ownership and failed business plans. You are probably reading and believing nonsense in the French speaking media. Many people who work in baseball believe Montreal is a city that has unrealized potential due to the past issues mentioned above.

 

[Rinzler]

That argument is bullshit. Montreal IS a baseball town.

The Olympic stadium was packed when the team was doing well in the '90s. Was there when they played the Braves in '94 before the strike. The place was packed, the atmosphere was electric. People just couldn't stand afterwards seeing that amazing team being dismantled bit by bit. People just gave up. That's what happened.

Montreal hates losers and won't support them. Look at what's happening now with the Habs. Same with the Als'. Put a competitive team in the Stadium and people will be there even if the location isn't the best.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Rinzler,

The failures you mentioned were failures of a prior ownership group. If you have a different ownership group coupled with a viable plan for a stadium, the Field of Dreams maxim “build it and they will come” applies.

Regarding the issue of a downtown location, Griffintown just south of the canal would have been fine but there is now the problem that the real estate is occupied. I don’t know how you resolve the dilemma but had it been done a MLB team could easily be supported by Montreal. The team could play in the NL East with the Mets, Phillies, Nationals and Braves and you move Miami into another division or make it 6 teams.

 

[GaryH]

Easy going is correct that MLB has insisted that any new ballpark must be within walking distance of downtown and open air. But even if Montreal had such a plan, MLB would still have to resolve what they will do with the Oakland and Tampa Bay franchises before expansion is considered.
Doc - I take it you've never been to Yankee Stadium? No major hotel chains around Stadium and long subway or train ride to Stadium.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Just because MLB has insisted on something doesn’t mean it can’t be negotiated. MLB also insisted on a pitch clock rule this season but the Player’s Association wouldn’t accept it. The compromise was the exceedingly stupid 6 mound visit limit rule that was implemented. Similar compromise can be reached on a viable Montreal stadium plan. None seems forthcoming so far. Frankly if the money was there from a new ownership group nothing else would matter. Miami Marlins new group is the classic example of this. Show Manfred the cash and it gets done.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Doc - I take it you've never been to Yankee Stadium? No major hotel chains around Stadium and long subway or train ride to Stadium.

Yankee Stadium is an unusual and very limited exception to the general rule Doc mentioned. From Manhattan Yankee Stadium is easily accessible via Grand Central Station and the 125th Street Station. It’s not that far. I take the train from CT and it’s no big deal. The Yankees are a historically well established franchise that caters mostly to a fan base in Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island and points north and west (Westchester County, CT and NJ) whereas the New York Mets dominant fan base is Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Also, historically, Italian Americans in all boroughs are Yankees fans because the franchise embraced and developed iconic Italian American hero Joe DiMaggio. He was the first Italian MLB star. Go to the San Gennaro Festival in Manhattan and you will only see Yankees kiosks and no Mets kiosks. It’s because The Yankees are the team of NYC Italians mostly due to Joe D.

MLB did at one point lobby for a stadium on the west side of Manhattan but the Yankees’ ownership ponied up the dough and kept the team in the Bronx. I don’t believe any team starting anew would be able to pull off what the Yankees do with location and no hotels around the stadium. But like I said fans are to a significant extent coming from populous areas just west and north and the train service has improved in the last 10 years since the new Stadium was built. Many fans do not have a problem leaving work early to take the train and this is because of a lifetime allegiance. New teams do not have this.

 

[tiga]

I think you should read the story of Labatt Park.
It would have been just south of the Bell Centre.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.the...-forgotten-story-baseball-stadium-never-built

 

[tiga]

I would love to go see MLB as I did with my Dad and friends.
I have great memories of the Expos and miss them every opening day.

They left for many reasons, most were stated here and need not be told again.

What i enjoy every Sumner Is to go to a few games in Québec City to a 70 year old stadium where the farm team used to play.

Not a boring moment with youth in the stadium and a good team on the field.

http://capitalesdequebec.com

 

[EagerBeaver]

I think you should read the story of Labatt Park.
It would have been just south of the Bell Centre.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.the...-forgotten-story-baseball-stadium-never-built

So what was built where Labatt Park would have been? Condos? Is it too late to bring out the wrecking ball?

 

[tiga]

Condos and la 3ieme Tour du Canadien.
And part of ETS.
That space Is gone.

But to have MLB come back will take much more than downtown space.

 

[jalimon]

Wait Easy!! Expropriate would mean a few incall location gone, noooooo!!!!!

I have walked this area at length (I am already on the lookout for a montreal location when I will move out of my northern suburb house in a few years) and really I do not think Peel Bassin is too far. This whole area is still a mix of a big mess and construction but wait. And it would be on the path to the ile notre dame and casino.

Cheers,

 

[tiga]

Hey I love nostalgia as much as the next guy...

But I just don't think MLB is the way to go, financially and politically.

Don't see how a stadium at half a billion then a team at over a billion could ever exist in this city. Add players salaries in the hundreds of millions...all in US$
It makes no sense on so many levels.

I would in fact love to have a farm team like once were the Mtl Royals, where you get to see up close pro ball with even some future hall of famers in their youth.

I have no doubt Montreal baseball fans could sustain such a team.

Montrealers love the novelty but soon that wares off and the only way to keep them interested is with a winning club.

A Good farm team with a winning culture in a nice realistic stadium would work.

my 2 ceints