Oft-speculated Expos investor Jeffrey Loria "met with
the members of the ownership group looking to keep the team
in Montreal, as well as with some civic leaders" yesterday,
according to Stephanie Myles of the Montreal GAZETTE, who
writes the move is a "major development, confirming" that
Loria is not just "the figment of an Expo fan's overactive
imagination." Loria and the "new" ownership group were said
to "have decided yesterday which of the three designs for
the proposed new downtown stadium would be selected, as well
as discussing some fine points of the revamped business
plan." Loria "is still keeping a low profile -- although
that could change today, when it's possible the group will
make some kind of public statement" (GAZETTE, 7/23). In
Toronto, Jeff Blair writes that "considering the way Loria
has avoided publicly linking himself with the group ... the
meeting is significant." Roger Samson, the marketing
consultant hired by the limited partners "attempting to
oust" Expos President Claude Brochu: "The fact this type of
meeting took place is a clear indication of everybody's
seriousness." But Blair adds that a formal partnership deal
"has not been signed" and Loria, who will "put in about"
C$75M, is "still doing due diligence on his would-be
partners new ballpark proposal" (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/23).
BANK ON IT: In DC, Thomas Heath writes the Charlotte
banking community is "key" in the city's competition with DC
and northern VA for an MLB team. Edward J. Brown III, head
of global capital markets for Charlotte-based Bank of
America: "Part of our grand vision was bringing a major
league baseball team to Charlotte at the appropriate time.
Charlotte is a maturing market, and one we felt at some
point in the future could be one of the cities that could
support major league baseball" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/23).
NO YIPPEE FOR YOUPPI? In Montreal, Stephanie Myles
writes that a "fair amount has been made about the Expos'
advertising" for a special promo around the team mascot
Youppi's birthday. The celebration falls on the same day as
Expos manager Felipe Alou passes Gene Mauch as the "longest-
tenured manager in Expos' history, with 1,127 games," and
Expos fans are wondering why a "bigger deal" isn't being
made about that. Expos Chair Jacques Menard: "The man who
leads the Montreal Expos is Claude Brochu, and it's the
current management which oversees the marketing. That's
coming to an end, let's hope. ... There are things I might
deplore personally, but I don't want to make a big deal
about that" (Montreal GAZETTE, 7/23).
