The Montreal Expos RValue and Their Relocation to Washington D.C.

When exactly did the rumors start in Major League Baseball (MLB) that the Montreal Expos would likely move to Washington D.C.?

As time dragged on without any deal in place by late 1968, the National League owners had become increasingly concerned that Montreal wouldn’t be able to start on time for the 1969 season. There were rumors that the franchise would instead be awarded to Buffalo, New York, who had War Memorial Stadium ready to go. However, this scenario never materialized, and the Expos continued with their inaugural season in 1969 under expansion team status.

What Happened to the Montreal Expos?

The Expos didn’t last forever in their Canadian home. On September 29, 2004, MLB announced the franchise would relocate to Washington D.C. for the 2005 season, and the Expos played their final home game in Montreal. They are now in their 18th season as the Washington Nationals.

In August 2004, I was crossing the St. Lawrence River on foot and could see the lights from their stadium as the sun fell. For the only time in my life, I did not visit the MLB ballpark of the city I was visiting as a tourist. It was just too depressing to think that they were leaving.

The RValue of Relocation

The rumor for relocation to D.C. started right around the time MLB agreed to contract with two teams officially: Minnesota, but not necessarily Montreal. However, the governments in Minnesota went to court to block it. Thus, Jeffrey Loria stepped in, paying $12 million to acquire the Expos from the league and trading them to Florida, where he destroyed the Marlins for over a decade before selling the franchise for $1.2 billion. The league was looking for a local buyer or this convoluted plan to split time with San Juan, a plan that only lasted two seasons. Popular opinion, however, was that the Expos were headed to D.C.

The Biggest Obstacle: The Baltimore Orioles

The biggest obstacle was the Baltimore Orioles, which claimed rights to a National League market. This situation was different from when the American League (AL) and National League (NL) were independent, and the MLB did not give in due to the Baltimore Orioles' stance. However, MLB didn’t really have another viable option. Even to this day, there is no relocation target that meets the 30,000-seat requirement. Not even in NFL stadiums for a year or two, as the multipurpose stadiums are all but gone, except in Oakland.

The Toronto Blue Jays played at a 17,000-seat stadium in Buffalo, but nothing has a 30,000-seat temporary stadium at this point. If the Oakland Athletics were to move to Portland, they will have to play a "lame-duck" season in the Bay Area before a new stadium is constructed. However, the Mets, Blocked by Pinstripes, puncc, and the Yankees also have a problem with their current venue, Citi Field.

Thus, the relocation of the Montreal Expos to Washington D.C. was a significant event in MLB history, marked by both financial deals and significant challenges. The journey of the Expos to the Nationals exemplifies the complex nature of team relocation in sports.