The Expos current financial situation, and what it will take
to club the team in Montreal, is examined by Marty York of the
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Expos President Claude Brochu the team is
negotiating a new lease arrangement at Olympic Stadium which will
give the club control of parking and concessions next season in
an effort to increase revenue. Brochu also said the Expos are
doing a feasibility study on a new downtown ballpark and whether
it "makes financial sense." Brochu: "If it does, we could see it
built in four or five years. ... If there won't be a new
facility, then it will be up to the partners of the Expos to
assess the future and decide how they want to proceed." Brochu
adds the team is making plans to become the first MLB club to run
its own TV network, where the team would produce games itself and
then offer them to private stations throughout Canada. Brochu:
"There's a lot of interest. ... We've gone too long without the
type of national coverage we think we need on English
television." York notes TSN has broadcast about 25 games per
season over the past few years, however, CBC or CTV have not
shown any (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/16).
GARAGE DOOR STUCK? The Canucks are averaging 15,611 fans
after the club's first four home games at the 18,422-seat GM
Place, down 2,184 a game compared to '95's final average of
17,795, according to the Vancouver PROVINCE. Season tickets
sales are "just under" 12,000, slightly less than '95. Orca Bay
Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arthur Griffiths says the team
is "disappointed" with the crowd of 15,142 for a game against the
Bruins Monday, but said, "The first eight to ten games seem to be
lower, typically." Griffiths added, "Advanced sales for the
Christmas period are going well" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 10/16).
