Thursday, March 31, 2016

A Pre-emptive Splash of Cold Water for Montreal Rays Fans

With the Jays and Red Sox kicking off a 2-game exhibition in Montreal, you can expect another round of defeaning "we have 106,000 fans here, so move the Rays to Canada!" rhetoric, just like last year.

No doubt, Tampa Bay's radio waves will be filled with fearmongering (whatever drives listeners).  And Montreal will ride the momentum into a newly-released plan to land an MLB team.

But will that plan include how the city plans to pay for a brand-new stadium?  Or how the city intends to make the logistical and legal hassle of a franchise relocation worth MLB's trouble?

Simply wanting a team isn't good enough.

I thank loyal Shadow of the Stadium reader Patrice Derome for keeping me in the loop on the French-Canadian media's reporting, which have been enough to keep Expos faithful and conspiracy theorists alike plenty busy:
But at the end of the day, my post from last year remains relevant - Tampa Bay has the Rays, and a contract binding them here until 2027.

Don't let that get in the way of your dreams this weekend though!

At least the Diamondbacks may give Montreal fans hope that the Rays aren't their only options...





FOLLOW: Shadow of the Stadium on Twitter
FOLLOW: Shadow of the Stadium on Facebook

23 comments:

  1. Just to clarify what is going on in Montreal.

    All the efforts are going towards expansion. I'm not saying that re-location is not possible, but re-location is not under Montreal control.

    MLB will do everything they can to make sure teams will stay in their city/region. Ultimately, if issues can't be resolved (attendance, funding, site for new stadium, ...), then, re-location will be on the table.

    At this time, the only thing Montreal can control (or act) is to help a second city in order to have two strong plans, and propose to MLB a turn-key proposal for two teams. Having a second solid city is Montreal biggest challenge.

    Mayor Coderre will meet Mexico City Mayor soon and I won't be surprised if Montreal (MBP, Homerun Project, ...) act as consultants to help Mexico City to prepare their baseball plan.

    Manfred confirms yesterday that MLB should have 32 teams in the next 6 to 10 years, not in Manfred first mandat but during his second mandate (or his third).

    http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/30/mlb-manfred-would-have-picked-sd-for-all-star-game/

    Stay Tuned (snowman or banker)!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another stupid blog post by Know-it-all Noah. Dude.. No one in Montreal is looking to steal your pathetic Rays. They would much rather have an expansion team if given the choice but if the Rays want to leave then that's ALL YOUR fault for not supporting them in person.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, Yes. 100K fans three years running means nothing. Manfred always mentioning expansion means nothing. The Rays have a lease, blah, blah, blah. As I have stated numerous times on this page, Montreal and Tampa Bay will be linked, until TB does SOMETHING about it.

    It's not fear mongering to report that Montreal stands a good chance of getting a team in the not too distant future. It's not fear mongering to think that Stu could tire of owning the lowest attended team with the, at best, second worst stadium, and cash out. And no matter how much you cling to the 2027 lease like a security blanket, we've already seen that it can be changed for a relatively low amount of money, so hold off on the cash register sound effects.

    Yeah, you can question if Montreal can afford building a new stadium, but let's not ignore the fact the nobody knows where TB will come up with the money for a new park either. And frankly, if I'm a private investor (like the magical ones who are going to pay for the park in TB, and not the taxpayers), why would I invest in a region that has never demonstrated ANY kind of consistent interest in the team?

    But since this is all moot, and basically just a clickbait article, I propose a new way to generate traffic on this site. Since another great MLB season is nearly upon us, let's hear from your loyal readers in the TB region. Let's hear their stories, ie the hardships they overcome (traffic/distance/whatever other excuse exclusive to the area) to come to Rays games each year. Take the best story, and throw a couple tickets their way. Hold the contest every time you write an article that ignores the elephant in the room, or when you demand that MLB pay for a stadium instead, knowing full well they won't.
    It'll be a great grassroots effort to show that the market is sound, and private investors should spend their money on a new park. Heck, it shouldn't cost you much, write it off as a business/promotional expense. Maybe it will legitimately bring locals to this site instead of just outsiders, myself included.

    And hey, maybe Cleveland can enjoy the 30th spot in the 2016 attendance rankings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It'd be clickbait if I made a single penny at some point on this site...but I don't. That also means my freebie ticket budget it zero :)

      And I'm not sure I have as many Tampa Bay fans reading the site as I do in Montreal!

      Just providing a public service to both regions!

      Delete
    2. Besides, it is almost impossible to get Rays tickerts:)

      Delete
  4. I'm not sure if licking your chops to be the first to downplay a return of MLB to Montreal, followed by referencing the fine work of Patrice Derome is really providing a public service for Montreal, but hey, I enjoy the site anyway. Obviously, there is a lot of work to do for both regions, but there is a difference between being "realistic" and being "objective" and it wouldn't hurt to recognize that even though the stadium saga in TB drags on at a snail's pace, the question in Montreal has changed from "if" to "when".

    A shame that this site doesn't make any money though. Not that it downplays the importance, but still. Just for fun, no judgement, how many Rays games are you attending on average?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As many as I can. But due to job constraints, only a few a year.

      Delete
    2. I've been hassling the guys at our Tampa office to attend more games every time they call. Well worth the drive.

      Delete
  5. Montreal will get a team when a snowman poops snowballs in hell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe by that time, Anonymous will get some new material too. Or at least figure out how to spell his name.

      Delete
    2. Good to hear from Snowman! Long to no read. How the hell are you doing? ;)

      In Montreal, our Snowman melted with rain and the warm weather. Good thing that we will hear about our Snowman when ... MBP and Coderre will disclose the plan with the funding and the investors.

      Delete
  6. The "Montreal Baseball" narrative is not only hilarious (because it will never happen), but sad at the same time. The city won't be getting a team. You can take that to the bank!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Banker, I was almost convinced until I saw the date! April Fool.

      You almost got me!

      Take care of the bank.

      Delete
  7. Aucune équipe MLB pour Montréal . Il ne se produira pas . Il ne suffit pas viability.You peut prendre cela à la banque !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Banker is now writing in french (at least, he's trying).

      The day you will be able to write in french as good as I'm writing in english, only then, I will take your comments seriously.

      But guess what? Montreal will have a new downtown stadium and the Expos back before you'll be able to accomplish such task!

      Delete
  8. The country of Quebec was going to be getting a NHL team remember? How'd that turn out? It's the same thing with MLB and the country of Montreal. It's not going to happen. The people of the country of Montreal need to learn to appreciate their country for it's simple charms. Appreciate the simple things of the fair city. NOSTALGIE DE LA BOUE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess you are privy to the ongoing NHL expansion process too. Even without a team, they can get an arena built and people to show up. Can Tampa Bay say the same with an MLB team already in town?

      But hey, why back up any of your cheap talk with any facts or new insight. And no, "No team is coming to Montreal" cause I said so isn't insight. It's pointless trolling. If you bought a ticket for every inane post that Anonymous seems to make, Cleveland would be a lock for the leagues worst attendance.

      Delete
    2. We have a TROLL that knows hockey!

      I'll give you a hint: Hurricanes are moving to Quebec City, soon. Very soon.

      Stay Tuned!

      Delete
    3. "There is “no chance” the Hurricanes relocate to Quebec City, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Mario Roy, the leader a group looking to bring the NHL back to Quebec."

      "Former player Georges Laraque told a Montreal radio station yesterday that the NHLPA has been informed that Quebec City is no longer under consideration for a new team, at least not in this round of expansion." Life must be tough in the country of Quebec and the country of Montreal.

      Delete
    4. and while we're quoting Bill Daly, he also released a statement moments after Georges Laraque dropped his "bombshell" that the reports were inaccurate. Ignoring things is fun. Perhaps we should try it with you.

      Delete
    5. @Anonymous, let us know where you studied. Your diploma may be expired!

      Starting with a quote about re-location and arguing with a quote about expansion.

      Expanding mindset, I guess!

      Delete
    6. Point was mental midget, that neither expansion or relocation will be occurring in the country of Quebec. AA baseball would be a good fit though. I have the perfect name for the team, the Molson Goldens! lol.

      Delete
    7. Blast from the past! Molson Golden was my preferred beer! No longer available.

      Thanks anonymous for sharing with us your understanding of the great Canadian products!

      Hope your Papa John pizza is as good as the Molson Golden!

      Cheers!

      Delete