The Blue Jays played two Spring Training contests at Montreal's Olympic Stadium this MarchGETTY IMAGES
The concept about the Rays splitting time between Tampa-St. Pete and Montreal is the "clearest step that MLB has made toward a return" to the city since the Expos left for DC in '05 and the "strongest possible signal that baseball considers Montreal an entirely viable 21st century venue," according to Jack Todd of the MONTREAL GAZETTE. It would also "appear that this could simply be the beginning of a two-step process that would eventually lead to the club playing all 81 home games in Montreal." If Montreal is "successful in building a new ballpark and Tampa is not, then the obvious thing would be for the team to leave Florida entirely after its lease" at Tropicana Field ends (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 6/21). In Montreal, Pat Hickey noted a "majority of Quebecers would be happy to see the Expos return to Montreal," but a recent public opinion poll conducted before Thursday's news became public shows a "majority of those polled have no interest in watching a game live or on TV and they don't want taxpayers' money used to bring baseball back." Among the 1,471 randomly selected Quebec voters, 42% said that they would "attend Expos games in person." Meanwhile, a "majority (59%) would disapprove if the government spent public funds to bring baseball back to Montreal," while 25% "would approve" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 6/20).
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON JAYS: SPORTSNET.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith notes the possible "return of baseball to Montreal would also have the potential to impact" the Blue Jays and their travel schedule, "brand and bottom line." As a result, Blue Jays execs were "immediately intrigued" by the Rays seeking permission to split games between Tampa and Montreal. This situation would be "especially intriguing if the shared team played in the AL East." The Expos played in the NL for all 36 seasons of their existence, so there was "never the possibility of a Montreal-Toronto pennant race." Since the Expos left in '04, the Blue Jays have "filled the void for baseball fans coast to coast, embarking on cross-country fan-engagement tours and using the phrase 'Canada's Team' in branding efforts." Thanks in part to the Blue Jays' recent playoff run, support for the team "exists nation-wide." MLB returning to Montreal would "mean the Blue Jays no longer have such a complete hold on Canadian fans' attention, TV viewership and, ultimately, dollars" (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/20).
