Baseball in Montreal

[Herk]

since the relocation of the expos has there been any talks about bringing a minor league or independant league team to Montreal?

[E5]

Is there even a viable ballpark in Montreal?

[HeadFirst]

"since the relocation of the expos has there been any talks about bringing a minor league or independant league team to Montreal?"

Not that I know of.

"Is there even a viable ballpark in Montreal?"

Not that I know of.

On the independent side, the Can-Am League would be ideal for Montreal, but a park would have to be built, and it would cost around $20M, and I don't know how the taxpayers would feel about that considering they're STILL paying on the Big Owe, and baseball in general doesn't have a good rep there. And, though I don't know this for a fact and am merely speculating, I would imagine that those people who want baseball in Montreal would rather shoot for a Triple-A franchise rather than downgrading all the way to an independent league -- but still, the ballpark problem rears its head.

[oldfatguy]

You'd also run into the same basic problem pro sports teams in Canada face - taking in Canadian dollars and paying out player salaries in American dollars. As tight as budgets are with a minor league team, I can't imagine any smart owner putting a team anywhere in Canada.

On the other hand, player salaries for an indy team are less of the percentage of budget than in higher levels. You could hire Canadian staffers, who are used to being paid in Canadian dollars, and you'd use Canadian vendors - same thing there.

So, you never know.