With NL President Leonard Coleman looking on, Expos
President Claude Brochu said the team will not extend a
September 30 deadline to determine the status of its
ballpark initiative, nor are there any plans to downsize the
project, according to Myles & Johnston of the Montreal
GAZETTE. Brochu also said he would not step down as the
team's Managing Partner. Brochu said the team was still
hoping for some form of public assistance: "What we need by
[September] 30 is certainly an understanding from the
provincial government that they're there to contribute, and
from the federal government that they're there to
contribute." Brochu called reports that the team had not
made formal proposals to the federal government since last
December "not accurate," and said that presentations had
been made to both levels of government. Federal Cabinet
Minister Martin Cauchon also denied reports that the federal
government told the Expos they would not receive any public
funding, but he said that there is "not strong" support for
such funding. Brochu dismissed calls to downsize the
ballpark project: "It doesn't make sense. ... We're careful
with the costs" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/11). Coleman told
Montreal reporters: "We're concerned about this franchise.
A new stadium is paramount for them, because right now
they're 30th out of 30 teams in revenue. ... It will take
government support to get [the ballpark] done." In Toronto,
Jeff Blair reports that Coleman's appearance came amidst
rumors that Brochu's "leadership was under fire" (GLOBE &
MAIL, 9/11). Brochu: "We're not trying to kid anyone.
We're in very serious trouble" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/11).
CLAUDE STRIKING OUT? In Montreal, Jack Todd writes that
Brochu is "under attack from every side" -- including the
government, his own team partners and the city's media --
and he can "count his friends on the fingers of one hand."
Todd: "Rightly or wrongly, Brochu himself has become the
issue" (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/11). Also in Montreal, L. Ian
Macdonald writes that the ballpark project "is failing on
all fronts." Macdonald writes that the Expos "need to
clarify Brochu's role in the project" (GAZETTE, 9/11).
FOR SALE? In Toronto, William Houston notes sources
that say Brochu "will announce the club is for sale, perhaps
as early as the end of the month" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/11).
