The Expos played their final home game of the season
against the Marlins last night in front of 11,689, and in
Montreal, Jack Todd writes that the future of the team
"won't hang in the balance much longer." Todd cites a
source who "confirmed earlier rumours that the entire
[refinancing] process is speeding up at last and that it
should be complete -- including approval from [MLB] --
within two weeks." Expos Chair Jacques Menard has said that
he could have a plan for the Expos "ready for presentation"
to the team's current partners and potential investor
Jeffrey Loria by next week and "hopes to have" MLB approval
before October 30. One "part of the entire complex process
that does appear to be complete" are the details of Labatt
Park, which is "no longer an issue" (GAZETTE, 9/30). Expos
President Claude Brochu: "Personally, I'm very optimistic
there will be baseball in Montreal next season, although I
can't speak for [MLB Commissioner Bud Selig] or baseball
owners. The step-by-step way they [a group of new limited
partners] has approached things is smart. ... The important
thing is that there are people prepared to put the money in
to make this thing work, or at least give it a shot."
Menard added that there are a few issues "that need to be
corrected and addressed, but I doubt any of them are major
deal breakers" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/30).
