Rays owner has had discussions about moving to Montreal

[jaysfan2014]

What about Mexico City?

 

Not a safe area to place an MLB team.

[Jimcanuck]

Not a safe area to place an MLB team.

 

And Detroit is?

[nmrch]

And Detroit is?

yes, Detroit is a very safe city compared to MC, never mind the implications of what exactly people are referring to when they talk about "crime"

 

Besides, the main problem with Mexico City is economics, per capita income there is half of what it would be in the average MLB city.

[Jimcanuck]

yes, Detroit is a very safe city compared to MC, never mind the implications of what exactly people are referring to when they talk about "crime"

 

Besides, the main problem with Mexico City is economics, per capita income there is half of what it would be in the average MLB city.

 

Yes, Detroit is relatively safer...

 

Mexico City has hosted World Cup, Summer Olympics.... no reason it cannot host MLB team

 

There is enough money to support a MLB team in Mexico City, easily..... and no doubt the park built (or existing stadium modified) would hold 80,000+

 

Mexico City in the NL West would have huge rivalries given large latin American population of American southwest

[burlingtonbandit]

Yes, Detroit is relatively safer...

 

Mexico City has hosted World Cup, Summer Olympics.... no reason it cannot host MLB team

 

There is enough money to support a MLB team in Mexico City, easily..... and no doubt the park built (or existing stadium modified) would hold 80,000+

 

Mexico City in the NL West would have huge rivalries

 

Those are all short term events. I am not sure players living their for a full summer with their families would feel safe. A friend's grandparents live down there and they have to have a full time body guard with them when they go around. Not sure MLB players are going to want that.

[jaysfan2014]

laughing at the delusional montreal peeps in here

 

you arent getting a team, baseball was a disaster there

 

no sane man is approaching that city

almost as delusional as the habs fans that love to troll leafs fans when their franchise has won jack in 20 years either

 

MLB may not have a choice... they cannot continue to let the Rays rot in St. Pete with attendance expected to continue to decline to the point that the franchise can't operate. And all that talk about new TV money in 2016 shouldn't be taken with a grain of salt.. without a competing bidder for their TV rights(basically, it's Sun Sports likely bidding against themselves), they will not get an improvement in their TV money, along with the risk the cable rights bubble bursts (see Dodgers, Astros, Padres, where they are losing big with their new TV deals).

 

Plus, 29 other owners are getting tired of giving the Rays money and yet the Rays have made no progress on increasing attendance or getting a new stadium.

[jaysblue]

And Detroit is?

 

Compared to Mexico City, Detroit is a lot safer yes.

[ElNik2013]

What about Mexico City?

 

 

 

Too many illegals.

[Dick_Pole]

Other than a few contrarians in here, most people realize that baseball is good for Montreal and Montreal is good for baseball. Baseball always returns to past markets. Every city that has lost their only team since 1901 has eventually gotten one back, with the exception of Brooklyn but that's in name only. Whether Montreal gets a team in 2016 or 2020 or 2040 the city will eventually get one. There's a reason why TB's owner is going to Wall Street bigwigs to try to put a deal through. Montreal has it's issues with the stadium, culture and corporate interest, but no market with an open territory can match the size and potential of Montreal. The upside is very high. I'm not saying they'll get on right away but within the lifetime of most people on this board there will be MLB in Montreal again.

[kgm1]

Christ I can just imagine what a new stadium would cost in Montreal what with all the graf and kickbacks that would have to be paid . Course Quebecers wouldn't have to pay for it as they get all their money from the Ontario and Alberta taxpayers.

 

As A long time Expo fan that City does NOT deserve a team.

 

Moot point as right now the Rays have a lease agreement that runs thru 2027.

 

ST. PETERSBURG — Talks between the Tampa Bay Rays and city officials about the team's lease at Tropicana Field have stalled, largely because team officials say they won't pay the city any compensation if the Rays leave the stadium before the contract expires in 2027, according to two City Council members.

 

That hardline stance was the Rays' response to a city offer allowing the team to move to a new stadium if it agrees to pay an undisclosed amount for every year remaining on its lease and to pay for demolition costs of the Trop and any outstanding debt on the stadium, said City Council Member Bill Dudley.

[KingKat]

C

 

That hardline stance was the Rays' response to a city offer allowing the team to move to a new stadium if it agrees to pay an undisclosed amount for every year remaining on its lease and to pay for demolition costs of the Trop and any outstanding debt on the stadium, said City Council Member Bill Dudley.

 

The cities demands seem perfectly reasonable but sports team are never reasonable when dealing with Governments. Governments are just marks for them. The Rays are obviously just using Montreal for leverage in this negotiation.

[TDotttt2005]

If Bell falls too far behind Rogers in terms of media and programming content, they may feel forced into paying heavily for a stadium in montreal and a stake in the Rays. I could see it happening, and probably the only way it happens. Either that, or Bell cuts bait and gives up on TSN/sells the network, since there is basically no content that Canadians care about that isn't owned by Rogers at this point.

[KingKat]

If Bell falls too far behind Rogers in terms of media and programming content, they may feel forced into paying heavily for a stadium in montreal and a stake in the Rays. I could see it happening, and probably the only way it happens. Either that, or Bell cuts bait and gives up on TSN/sells the network, since there is basically no content that Canadians care about that isn't owned by Rogers at this point.

 

That would be one hell of a Hail Mary for Bell. Would it be worth it to buy a MLB team and build a stadium for a broadcasting property that probably wouldn't out-perform the much cheaper CFL? I'd say no.

[TDotttt2005]

That would be one hell of a Hail Mary for Bell. Would it be worth it to buy a MLB team and build a stadium for a broadcasting property that probably wouldn't out-perform the much cheaper CFL? I'd say no.

 

They may need a hailmary. But its not a terrible investment. 162 nights of 'free' content plus some preseason on French and English TV (RDS, TSN, TSN2) and Radio. Then the synergies with Bell/CTV branding, mobile streaming, cell phone plans, data plans, free kiosks in said new stadium.

[KingKat]

They may need a hailmary. But its not a terrible investment. 162 nights of 'free' content plus some preseason on French and English TV (RDS, TSN, TSN2) and Radio. Then the synergies with Bell/CTV branding, mobile streaming, cell phone plans, data plans, free kiosks in said new stadium.

 

I don't really see it but there are people here with a much better understanding of how the financial sector operates who could do a much better job than me at breaking down the pros and cons.

[xposbrad]

Christ I can just imagine what a new stadium would cost in Montreal what with all the graf and kickbacks that would have to be paid . Course Quebecers wouldn't have to pay for it as they get all their money from the Ontario and Alberta taxpayers.

 

As A long time Expo fan that City does NOT deserve a team.

 

Moot point as right now the Rays have a lease agreement that runs thru 2027.

 

ST. PETERSBURG — Talks between the Tampa Bay Rays and city officials about the team's lease at Tropicana Field have stalled, largely because team officials say they won't pay the city any compensation if the Rays leave the stadium before the contract expires in 2027, according to two City Council members.

 

That hardline stance was the Rays' response to a city offer allowing the team to move to a new stadium if it agrees to pay an undisclosed amount for every year remaining on its lease and to pay for demolition costs of the Trop and any outstanding debt on the stadium, said City Council Member Bill Dudley.

 

Any lease is really breakable, there's just a consequence. It could be a lawsuit, or a settlement, etc..Just because they have a lease through 2027, doesn't mean they will necessarily abide to it.

[burlingtonbandit]

They may need a hailmary. But its not a terrible investment. 162 nights of 'free' content plus some preseason on French and English TV (RDS, TSN, TSN2) and Radio. Then the synergies with Bell/CTV branding, mobile streaming, cell phone plans, data plans, free kiosks in said new stadium.

 

TSN isn't as starved for content as you think. First of all MLB doesn't run at the same time as the NHL for the most part. They also have CFL and NFL rights which put up very good TV ratings.

 

Lastly, the Blue Jays have the national rights for Canada west of Eastern Ontario. They aren't going to give that to TSN, so its not like TSN will be showing Expos games nationally on all of their channels. However, they still would get pretty good ratings from Ottawa to the Maritimes but I am not sure that justifies building a stadium in Montreal.

[TDotttt2005]

TSN isn't as starved for content as you think. First of all MLB doesn't run at the same time as the NHL for the most part. They also have CFL and NFL rights which put up very good TV ratings.

 

Lastly, the Blue Jays have the national rights for Canada west of Eastern Ontario. They aren't going to give that to TSN, so its not like TSN will be showing Expos games nationally on all of their channels. However, they still would get pretty good ratings from Ottawa to the Maritimes but I am not sure that justifies building a stadium in Montreal.

 

I'm pretty sure that Rogers owns rights to broadcast Blue Jays games across canada. I don't believe they have exclusive rights to show MLB games nationally. So, if BCE were to buy the Rays and relocate them to Montreal, they'd presumable own rights to broadcast Rays games across canada as well. Not 100% on this, so if you can find an article supporting that Rogers owns exclusive MLB rights nationwide, i'd love to see it.

[Jimcanuck]

I'm pretty sure that Rogers owns rights to broadcast Blue Jays games across canada. I don't believe they have exclusive rights to show MLB games nationally. So, if BCE were to buy the Rays and relocate them to Montreal, they'd presumable own rights to broadcast Rays games across canada as well. Not 100% on this, so if you can find an article supporting that Rogers owns exclusive MLB rights nationwide, i'd love to see it.

 

Must be protections otherwise Tigers games would be broadcast throughout southwestern Ontario where there are many Tigers fans?

[KingKat]

I'm pretty sure that Rogers owns rights to broadcast Blue Jays games across canada. I don't believe they have exclusive rights to show MLB games nationally. So, if BCE were to buy the Rays and relocate them to Montreal, they'd presumable own rights to broadcast Rays games across canada as well. Not 100% on this, so if you can find an article supporting that Rogers owns exclusive MLB rights nationwide, i'd love to see it.

 

TSN already carries Sunday Night Baseball across the country. They can broadcast baseball.

[saskjayfan]

laughing at the delusional montreal peeps in here

 

you arent getting a team, baseball was a disaster there

 

no sane man is approaching that city

almost as delusional as the habs fans that love to troll leafs fans when their franchise has won jack in 20 years either

 

Baseball lasted 35 years there. When the team won they were supported. A failing dollar and poor financial support for the team lead to fewer and fewer people attending the games. I would hardly call 35 years of baseball being played a disaster. Baseball in Montreal has a long history that goes back to the days of Jackie Robinson.

[OBPlover]

The problem with Baseball returning to Montreal is that thousands of English speaking people have migrated away from the city. Also, The downtown area has felt the sting of economic depression for years. Their politicians would have to justify spending on a new stadium depsite a downtown that badly needs new investment.

[kgm1]

Any lease is really breakable, there's just a consequence. It could be a lawsuit, or a settlement, etc..Just because they have a lease through 2027, doesn't mean they will necessarily abide to it.

 

Of course they can break the lease which is what they were talking to the city about . If they go to court they will have to pay the full amount.

[Rafters]

The problem with Baseball returning to Montreal is that thousands of English speaking people have migrated away from the city. Also, The downtown area has felt the sting of economic depression for years. Their politicians would have to justify spending on a new stadium depsite a downtown that badly needs new investment.

 

Although it can also create a lot of new investment as well, if done right...much like all the additional infrastructure being built Around the new Oilers stadium...something like 5 billion around the new Edm areana district in downtown EDM.......

 

http://www.rogersplace.com/gallery/