The city of Montreal has "ruled out" keeping an
ownership share in the Expos after other Canadian
shareholders "sell out" to Managing General Partner Jeffrey
Loria, according to David Johnston of the Montreal GAZETTE.
Montreal Exec Committee Chair Jean Fortier said that the
city "has decided" to take C$13M cash "up front" for their
non-voting, Class B shares in the team, "essentially
recouping its 1991 investment in the club." Fortier said
that Loria "was prepared" to offer $16M "if the city stayed
in for another three years." Johnston: "But the prospect of
incurring heavy operating losses alone with Loria in the
poorly attended Olympic Stadium as Loria builds the player
payroll was too daunting for the city" (Montreal GAZETTE,
11/24). After conducting a telephone interview with Loria
and Expos Exec VP David Samson, the GAZETTE's Jack Todd
wrote, "Loria and Samson appear to recognize that they have
made some mistakes, particularly in dealing with the media
-- and they appear determined to correct those mistakes."
Samson: "We hold this team in trust for the community. From
now on, if we're misunderstood again, we're going to be out
there to correct those misunderstandings." Todd wrote that
Loria and Samson have been "making personal calls" to season
ticket holders because they are "optimistic" about the
Expos' chances next season (Montreal GAZETTE, 11/23).
