OT: All-Purpose Expos Return Speculation Topic -- Part Deux

[HuGort]

???

79-89 Expos had one of the leagues top payrolls , in 77 signing Reggie Jackson came down to NYY vs Expos, 1980 Nolan Ryan was hometown Houston vs Expos. Gary Carter signed the most lucrative contract in MLB history in 1982.

The issue was Expos couldn’t lure UFAs - Jackson, Ryan, Don Sutton, Kirk Gibson etc..

Yup, hard to believe we could fall so far so quickly. From almost signing Reggie Jackson to financially forced trade of stars just few years later

 

[salbutera]

Yup, hard to believe we could fall so far so quickly. From almost signing Reggie Jackson to financially forced trade of stars just few years later

ownership wherewithal & commitment is everything in pro sports - once Bronfman bailed it was all downhill.

There would never have been Mtl Expos team to begin with had Bronfman not stepped in back in 1967 @ the last minute - Quebec businessmen have always been all talk and no action to back it up… see Habs sale back in 2000-2001 season

 

[HuGort]

ownership wherewithal & commitment is everything in pro sports - once Bronfman bailed it was all downhill.

There would never have been Mtl Expos team to begin with had Bronfman not stepped in back in 1967 @ the last minute - Quebec businessmen have always been all talk and no action to back it up… see Habs sale back in 2000-2001 season

Bronfman bailed because he seen what was coming. He is not stupid. Montreal is not a baseball city and baseball in general is declining.

 

[LeHab]

Montreal is not a baseball city and baseball in general is declining.

Not even an AAA or AA affiliate since Expos left to keep some baseball connection.

 

[HuGort]

Not even an AAA or AA affiliate since Expos left to keep some baseball connection.

Kind of insult to put minor league team there. I wish Expos back. But know I will never see it

 

[BLONG7]

Kind of insult to put minor league team there. I wish Expos back. But know I will never see it

The TV money now, as compared to back in the day is huge.............they could make it now, but as you say, they can't because there is no one interested in bringing them back....
It has always seemed that Montreal is a habs town, not a sports town........nothing seems to survive but the habs.

 

[LeHab]

Kind of insult to put minor league team there. I wish Expos back. But know I will never see it

Why insult? Royals were apparently quite popular way back. If there is interest in baseball, which I doubt, people would come. Also a chance to promote local talent.

At the moment there is nothing.

 

[HuGort]

Why insult? Royals were apparently quite popular way back. If there is interest in baseball, which I doubt, people would come. Also a chance to promote local talent.

At the moment there is nothing.

After having major league team for 35 years quite a step down to minor league team

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

If someone in Quebec, would have been smart enough to buy the Expos, for dirt cheap back then, he would have made a lot of money, just by today's value of a major league franchise.

 

[Chet Manley]

I don't think I have it in me to ever cheer for another small market MLB team. I can't imagine a new Expos could ever afford to assemble a team like the 94'-95' squad.

 

[JianYang]

The TV money now, as compared to back in the day is huge.............they could make it now, but as you say, they can't because there is no one interested in bringing them back....
It has always seemed that Montreal is a habs town, not a sports town........nothing seems to survive but the habs.

It kind of reminds me of Vancouver. Aside from the Canucks, Vancouver is an event town more than a sports town.

They get behind some event which only comes by once in a while. In Montreal's case, the best example is the F1 race.

 

[JianYang]

If someone in Quebec, would have been smart enough to buy the Expos, for dirt cheap back then, he would have made a lot of money, just by today's value of a major league franchise.

Nobody in Quebec was touching the Habs at the time, let alone the expos.

The mid 90s to early 2000s were really lean years for Canadian teams. 1 baseball team, 1 basketball team, and 2 hockey teams were lost, with many other teams threatening to move as well.

 

[LeHab]

After having major league team for 35 years quite a step down to minor league team

Sure but once again something is better than nothing, if there is interest in the sport as some claim. Winnipeg lost the Jets yet hosted an AHL team from 2001 until Jets came back. Quebec had Citadelles for a while + Remparts in Juniors. Heck Quebec city has a higher baseball caliber than Montreal.

 

[SpeedyPotato]

Nobody in Quebec was touching the Habs at the time, let alone the expos.

The mid 90s to early 2000s were really lean years for Canadian teams. 1 baseball team, 1 basketball team, and 2 hockey teams were lost, with many other teams threatening to move as well.

Yup, and that's why it was an American who made a shit ton of money but buying and then selling the habs. Business people in Quebec had 0 vision and no balls.

 

[HuGort]

Sure but once again something is better than nothing, if there is interest in the sport as some claim. Winnipeg lost the Jets yet hosted an AHL team from 2001 until Jets came back. Quebec had Citadelles for a while + Remparts in Juniors. Heck Quebec city has a higher baseball caliber than Montreal.

I think you are comparing apples to oranges Winnipeg bleeds hockey. Montreal doesn't have the passion for baseball

 

[Cournoyer12]

Why insult? Royals were apparently quite popular way back. If there is interest in baseball, which I doubt, people would come. Also a chance to promote local talent.

At the moment there is nothing.

The Royals, Dodgers farm team I’m pretty sure had a lot of pizzazz, from Jackie Robinson to the Rifleman Chuck Conners. My dad used to tell me stories about them. Sad to say baseball just isn’t what it used to be. I see lots of barely half full stadiums now and when is the last time you saw kids playing on the sandlot. I know the game is slow but to me still magnificent! People want home runs and strikeouts, I think it takes away from the beauty of the game! Hope the Expos can come back someday, I will always remember those early games at Jarry Park!

 

[RealityHurts]

The Royals, Dodgers farm team I’m pretty sure had a lot of pizzazz, from Jackie Robinson to the Rifleman Chuck Conners. My dad used to tell me stories about them. Sad to say baseball just isn’t what it used to be. I see lots of barely half full stadiums now and when is the last time you saw kids playing on the sandlot. I know the game is slow but to me still magnificent! People want home runs and strikeouts, I think it takes away from the beauty of the game! Hope the Expos can come back someday, I will always remember those early games at Jarry Park!

Agreed! Baseball is very fun to watch.. I hope it comes back.

 

[HuGort]

The Royals, Dodgers farm team I’m pretty sure had a lot of pizzazz, from Jackie Robinson to the Rifleman Chuck Conners. My dad used to tell me stories about them. Sad to say baseball just isn’t what it used to be. I see lots of barely half full stadiums now and when is the last time you saw kids playing on the sandlot. I know the game is slow but to me still magnificent! People want home runs and strikeouts, I think it takes away from the beauty of the game! Hope the Expos can come back someday, I will always remember those early games at Jarry Park!

Were you season ticket holder to Expos games?

 

[Cournoyer12]

Were you season ticket holder to Expos games?

No bud used to watch the games on the UHF band on my old black and white. Just loved the feel of that old ballpark!

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Yup, and that's why it was an American who made a shit ton of money but buying and then selling the habs. Business people in Quebec had 0 vision and no balls.

I even think the caisse de depot, lend him the money, how stupid is that, they could have found a Quebecer at least.

 

[LeHab]

I even think the caisse de depot, lend him the money, how stupid is that, they could have found a Quebecer at least.

No Canadian buyer made a bid. Canadian loonie was in the toilet, Habs were bleeding money pre-cap while missing playoffs mixed with typical Canadian risk aversion. Conditions later improved but also big props to Boivin for turning finances around.

 

[HuGort]

No bud used to watch the games on the UHF band on my old black and white. Just loved the feel of that old ballpark!

Same here, I never went to a game. Big fan of Expos just not the type to go to games. Duke Snider, Dave Van Horne Wednesday night CBC

 

[Kojo]

I'm against it. They don't even have a venue where they could play. Nobody wants to go to the Olympic Stadium, that place is depressing. The other thing is that they're never going to be able to retain talents unless they pay mucho dineros. We can't afford to pay a baseball star 30 millions a year in Montreal.

 

[eklund the clown]

And then there's this.Looks like the boss wants Tampa to shit or get off the pot.

Manfred says Rays, A's need new ballpark deals soon - TSN.ca

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics need to reach new ballpark deals soon and left open the strong possibility of considering relocation if agreements are not struck.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Habs 4 Life]

And then there's this.Looks like the boss wants Tampa to shit or get off the pot.

Manfred says Rays, A's need new ballpark deals soon - TSN.ca

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics need to reach new ballpark deals soon and left open the strong possibility of considering relocation if agreements are not struck.

www.tsn.ca

Putting pressure on both cities, not surprised. Montreal is not getting a team back!! Morons didn't even want to spend money to possibly host some world cup games in 2026, would have generated so much cash!!!