Rays Owner Stu Sternberg has "had discussions with wealthy Wall Street associates about moving the Rays to Montreal," according to sources cited by Bill Madden of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. One MLB exec said, “Say what you will about Montreal, but the Expos drew well over two million fans four times there in their heyday, while the Rays did that only once, their first year" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/25). Industry chatter has intensified regarding Montreal as a possible relocation destination, particularly with the Blue Jays slated to return to Olympic Stadium next year for two more exhibition games after a successful trip there this past March. But there is no concrete plan for a new ballpark there, and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said Sternberg has not indicated to him any interest in relocation. “I give (Montreal) a lot of credit,” Selig said. “I told them I was proud of them last spring when they put 95,000 people in there for two games. There’s a lot of work to be done (there). But I am hopeful for them" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). In L.A., Bill Shaikin wrote, "For now, Montreal has the same problem as Tampa Bay: no new ballpark, and no plan for financing one." However, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre "visited Dodger Stadium last month and met" with Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten, who "oversaw new or renovated sports facilities" in L.A., Atlanta and DC. Montreal is a city "in search of a second chance after being abandoned by the league a decade ago," and MLB officials were "intrigued by the crowded houses" at Olympic Stadium during Spring Training (L.A. TIMES, 10/26).
EMPTY THREAT? In Toronto, Richard Griffin noted this "strategy of threatening to move a sports franchise has repeated itself in major professional sports time after time, team after team, throughout history." But the threats are "most often smokescreens never intended to reach fruition." Griffin: "Here is the pessimist’s view of the current situation: Montreal is being used, and Expos fans should disregard and ignore so as not to be disappointed." Clearly, attendance at the two exhibition games "made a big impression on MLB." However, what makes this Rays-to-Montreal "rumour somewhat possible, even if it is not Sternberg’s present intention, is that the current situation of the Rays in Tampa/St. Pete is dire." Griffin: "Nobody sees light at the end of the Sunshine Skyway" (THESTAR.com, 10/26).
REACHING THE END OF THE ROAD? The Rays since the end of the regular season have lost both GM Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon, and ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said, "What I take out of this is I’m concerned about baseball in Tampa in general. No new stadium, the fan base just isn't really strong there. It’s kind of similar to Miami in terms of fan base. Unless you're electrically good, you're not going to sell out that stadium. Unless the owner has a lot sort of in his sleeve in terms of a next GM, next manager, I'm not sure they will survive there” (“Around the Horn,” ESPN, 10/24).
