The Expos Coming Back Talk Begins

I don't know if baseball will ever come back. Certainly Montreal is a "big" enough city with a solid history in the game to support a team in theory.

In theory.

As I wrote back in 2004 when the Expos left (still have the newspaper clipping from The National Post who published my letter) and again not too long ago, Montreal sports fans are lousy when it comes to the grind of supporting anything outside the Canadiens - Alouettes included - and outside a one-day event.

Forgive me if I suspend that part of me that dreams for the sections that give into pragmatism or realism.

Love the Als story because it's so Canadian. No doubt the best run pro team in town but, to me, Montreal is a mature enough city to be able to pack a 50 000 seat stadium. As it stands, it barely gets to 24 000. It always blows my mind to not see CFL games sold out every single game in any part of the country. For a country that blathers on about our institutions, we barely get up to actually support them fanatically. Toronto, a city with NFL aspirations (and by all accounts more feasible than Montreal), is an embarrassment. What, five million Ontarians living around the GTA can't find enough time or interest to go to Argonauts games?  Are they just sitting around waiting for NFL inc. to come in and make them "big time?" This is the wealthiest part of the nation? Average 21 000 per game? Seriously?

Small leagues.

It is rather amusing to hear people claim Montreal is an NFL city. So what we have "many" NFL fans. I see enough Dolphins, Eagles, Steelers, Patriots, Colts and Giants jerseys (curiously no Browns or Bengals. I'm sure that would change with a Super Bowl win or two) around town to know NFL football is popular here. Or back in the day 49ers and Redskins. Or whatever team is winning. But does or can it translate into supporting an NFL team - even if it is for just eight games?

Eight games in the NFL is probably equal if not more (probably substantially more) to having to support 41 games in hockey in terms of financial burden. This ain't Quebec Inc. This is the BIG time. The NFL is the best pro league BAR NONE. They do things American. Not Canadian. It's not just the cash that's needed, but the mentality too.

Sometimes you need to crawl before you can walk and then run. With what happened to the Expos (excuses notwithstanding) and with the plateau of the Als, explain to me how it's possible to have an NFL team here?

Then there's this from The Gazette:

"Montreal ranks eighth among Canadian cities in per-capita disposal income. But we are inclined to spend our hard-earned money on entertainment, bolstering Montreal's rep as the country's No. 1 party town.

Montreal is home to 98 of Canada's 800 largest corporations, ranking the city third behind Toronto and Calgary."

Bold mine.

In a country with 3 1/2 major cities (Calgary being one half on its way to a whole), these are not exactly exciting numbers. Eighth in per capita disposable income? Only 98 out of 800? That's pathetic for a city of our stature. I'm sure 1976 and the cult of the PQ had nothing - NOTHING! - to do with that.

Montreal gave away its position of power on its own accord for culture and politics and high taxes.

Deal with it.

Anyway. Never say never. I suppose we can have MLB return. Maybe even get an NFL team - which I highly doubt.

Let's see how we do with MLS and then let's talk.