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

[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.

 

[Easy going]

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

That space is gone. This was the indication for me and for MLB that the city is not serious in getting baseball back in the city. MLB has repeatedly stated that a downtown stadium is essential and yet the city acts like it’s no big deal. No big deal = No baseball team.

The only option would be to undo the damage and expropriate the land which was initially intended for Labatt Park. This would be an indication to MLB that the city is serious in getting baseball back in town. Otherwise, we should stop discussing it since it will not happen.

 

[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,

 

[Easy going]

You’re right, Jalimon. Condos would have to be torn down if the city were to expropriate land that was initially intended for Labatt Park. However when it involves a project the magnitude of a ball stadium which benefits the entire community, anything is possible including expropriation.

Yeah, this would impact some of the incall locations...but think of how it would benefit the hotels in the erea. Lack of incall locations equals more bookings for hotels which equals more work for hotel employees which equals more jobs for the community which equals a better economy ..

I guess I’m a little biased since I’m part of the Outcaller’s Club ...

 

[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

 

[sambuca]

I'm sure Major League baseball could foolishly be lured back some time in the future, but probably during a currency cycle where the CAD is at or above parity with the USD.

 

[CaptRenault]

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

...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...

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

Tiga, I agree. Though Montreal is a major league city in just about any sense, that does not mean that it must have a major league baseball team. It would be great to see major league baseball return to Montreal with a beautiful downtown stadium with a moveable roof and all the amenities. But the costs of acquiring a team and building such a stadium (even if a good site could be found) are prohibitive. And the political and financial situation of the city and the province means that there is no support for spending public money on the project.

But just because Montreal is a major league city does not mean it can't have minor league baseball. After all, Montreal already supports two minor league sports teams-the Alouettes of the CFL and the Impact of the MSL. Please don't try to argue that those two teams are "major league." The CFL and the MSL are definitely minor league when compared to their big brothers, the NFL in American football and the big European leagues in soccer (football).

Nevertheless, Montrealers and visitors to the city enjoy going to Alouettes and Impact games and they support both franchises pretty well, especially when they put decent teams on the field. I've been to an Alouettes game. It's a really fun thing to do on a summer or fall night. And a lot cheaper than going to an NFL game.

A minor league baseball franchise at the AA or AAA level could be established (or should I say reestablisheed given the proud history of minor league ball in Montreal) for a fraction of the cost of a major league team. It might even be possible to get the public to support spending a little public money on the project.

Right now Montreal is a baseball wilderness and I think it will remain so for the foreseeable future. The money, whether from private or public sources, is just not there. But finding the money to build a nice minor league stadium somewhere near a metro stop and not far from downtown is a realistic possibility.

Ramener le baseball des ligues mineures à Montréal!

 

[jalimon]

Average attendance of MLS is already ahead of the NHL and the NBA. Still a minor league compared to American football or baseball but look out in 10 years.

The wise choice was to get an MLS team in Montreal as this is the one that will be of importance as the league will grow and other league decline.

Cheers,

 

[tiga]

A baseball movie I enjoyed and a good story of what it Is to have minor league sports in a city such as Portland: The Battered Bastards of Baseball.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RA76b5Hhvxg

The story of Bing Russell who bought the team for 500$, who absolutly loved the game and what it means to deal with MLB (dont see why we would again get in bed with those guys)

 

[sambuca]

Average attendance of MLS is already ahead of the NHL and the NBA. Still a minor league compared to American football or baseball but look out in 10 years.

The wise choice was to get an MLS team in Montreal as this is the one that will be of importance as the league will grow and other league decline.

Cheers,

The MLS is not more successful than the NBA. There are almost 2.5 more games. The ticket prices are very high. The NBA TV ratings are very good. Just look at how many NBA players make $20 million/year.

 

[tiga]

I don't know Jalimon, I was told the NBA are so successful they will be as big as the NFL in ten years.

 

[EagerBeaver]

NBA players are making sick amount of money. I read stats which say that LeBron James makes like $90 million annually with endorsements and Steph Curry is second with around $80 million. NBA China has doubled in value the last few years and the endorsement income from the Chinese market is what is partly driving up the revenue. I watch all sports but baseball and basketball are my two favorites.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I watch all sports but baseball and basketball are my two favorites.

Go Raptors!!!! :smile:

On another note, how about those Blue Jays?? They've surprised the hell out of me this season and only the Red Sox have been better!

Nice seeing the Grandyman hitting a grandslam yesterday when the Jays destroyed the Royals...again!

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Nice seeing the Grandyman hitting a grandslam yesterday when the Jays destroyed the Royals...again!

Jays are indeed looking quite good, while the slipping Yankees are looking more like a .500 club every day. Super lineup 1-6, but three dead spots at the bottom and as for the rotation, yuck. Severino and what?

And as for the Sox, sure its been a struggle playing without their starting middle infield, but once Bogaerts and Pedroia are back this team will start rolling.

As for the Expos, Montreal is a major league city and nothing but. Never a minor league club in this town.

 

[tiga]

Then it will be nothing!
I guess you're not a baseball fan but a MLB fan!

I enjoy watching even Little League Ball.

I had more fun this year going to see Rockets than Habs games, even if they both suck.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Then it will be nothing!
I guess you're not a baseball fan but a MLB fan!

Actually, my misinformed friend, I've lived most of my life in a town with minor league ball and have been for years a season ticket holder at both the AA and short season a level. On top of that, I coached both Little League and Babe Ruth League for nearly 10 years.

The problem with a minor league team in Montreal is that it will be a trap. Should we accept a minor league team, that's all we will ever get.

The commish is already out there that Montreal is top of the list for the return of the Expos once the Rays and Athletics get their stadium situations squared away. Just a few years. We've waited this long, we can wait a bit more.