Should Montreal Get a Major League Baseball Team?

Montreal, a city rich in sports history and cultural diversity, has long been a enthusiasm spot for baseball fans. Despite the Montreal Expos' departure, the local fan base has coalesced around the Toronto Blue Jays, a testament to the city's enduring love for the game. The question now is whether Montreal would be a suitable host for a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in today's climate.

Potential for a Baseball Team in Montreal

From a purely demographic standpoint, Montreal is a strong candidate for hosting an MLB team. It is the largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in North America without a professional baseball team, and it is also the second most populous MSA in Canada. Combining the US and Canadian populations, Montreal's MSA would rank around 11th or 12th, making it one of the largest potential markets for a new franchise.

The city's economic and cultural significance does position it favorably to support a major league team. However, the feasibility of establishing a new MLB team is not as simple as it may seem. Factors such as stadium funding, local ownership, and fan engagement must all be addressed before considering a potential franchise.

Challenges in Atlasizing a Montreal MLB Team

One of the primary concerns is the stadiums and the overall infrastructure. Montreal has a long-standing issue with stadium funding, having been seeking a new venue as early as 1999-2000. The city faced significant roadblocks in securing public funding, with estimates ranging from 150 to 200 million dollars. However, new stadiums now routinely cost 4 to 5 times that amount. This raises the question of whether Montreal could or would be able to finance such a project today.

The location of the stadium is another critical issue. Building a new facility would require not only financial resources but also community support and a suitable location within or near the city. Given Montreal's past reluctance to finance such projects, the city's willingness to invest in a new stadium now is questionable.

Another challenge is the fanbase's engagement. Montrealeans showed strong support for the Expos, but their enthusiasm waned as attendance figures dropped. Over the last seven seasons, Montreal consistently ranked in the bottom half of teams in terms of attendance. Even in the team's best year (1993, when they won 94 games), they were still only in the bottom half of the league in attendance. This indicates a significant lack of sustained fan interest and engagement.

The RSN (Regional Sports Network) deal is another critical factor. Given that Montreal couldn't negotiate its own RSN deal, the financial importance of such deals to MLB teams is clear. Without a viable local TV presence, it is difficult to see how the city could suddenly generate a significant fan base that would support a new MLB team.

Lastly, the search for local ownership has been challenging. When the Montreal Expos were sold to an outgoing team (the current Washington Nationals), the search for local owners was unsuccessful. The idea that someone would now be willing to invest billions of dollars to purchase a franchise and bring baseball back to Montreal seems unrealistic without addressing these underlying issues.

Conclusion

While Montreal has the potential to support an MLB team given its size, economic importance, and historic love for baseball, it also faces significant challenges. Stadium funding, local ownership, and fan engagement are the major hurdles that must be overcome. Without substantial investment and a clear plan to build a passionate fan base, bringing baseball back to Montreal is an ambitious and remote prospect.

If and when these issues can be resolved, Montreal could once again become an attractive location for a major league baseball team. However, it would likely be a process spanning many years and involving substantial investment. Until then, the allure of Montreal as a potential MLB arena remains more theoretical than practical.