One day after Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard's
government announced it "was ready to pay the interest on a"
C$100M loan to build a new Expos ballpark, team President
Claude Brochu called it "a step in the right direction,"
according to Sean Gordon of the CANADIAN PRESS. Bouchard:
"The managers of the Expos have undertaken a lot of
commitments, it's a heavy load of commitments they have to
fulfill now. ... Their proposal is a real business proposal,
quite different from the one we had to deal with last year."
But the Expos consortium still needs to buy out Brochu,
raise "several million dollars" to put toward construction
costs and bring in new investors. Brochu said that
questions on municipal taxes on the new park, estimated at
C$12-13M per year, and about C$2M in annual health-insurance
costs remain unanswered. Brochu: "If it works, I'm still
ready to step aside" (CP/Montreal GAZETTE, 3/26).
CREDIT FOR CLAUDE: In Montreal, Jack Todd writes that
Brochu came across yesterday "as sincere, a quality he
doesn't usually project." Brochu, who failed to win
government assistance last year, "had to be embarrassed,
after telling [MLB] for months that government help would
not be forthcoming." On his hope that the team's future be
guaranteed in Montreal before he accepts a buyout, Brochu
said, "I know I'm being a pain in the ass." Todd writes
that with government aid, the seat-license sales and the
"guarantee" of new investment, the consortium now has C$200M
in place. Brochu's departure "will bring more investment
and at least double" the C$35M in seat-license sales. Todd:
"Things have reached the point where Brochu might be able to
delay the process, but he can no longer stop it" (Montreal
GAZETTE, 3/26). In Toronto, Stephen Brunt calls the
financing plan "just enough to give the Expos hope, but by
itself not nearly enough to keep them in business. In the
blame-game propaganda war, it's a perfect volley. There's
little or no political risk. There's the appearance of
doing a lot without doing very much at all. ... Over to you,
Mr. Selig and Mr. Beeston" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/26).
IN HIS MIND, THEY'RE GOING TO CAROLINA: USA TODAY's Hal
Bodley writes, "All things equal, owners prefer the Montreal
Expos' move to Charlotte. That would avoid a suit by
[Orioles Owner] Peter Angelos" (USA TODAY, 3/26).
