Montreal Expos Need a Home

VegasView · April 11th, 2004, 02:43 PM

The Montreal Expos opened up their "home schedule" in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they'll play 22 games this season. In a matter of years, the team has gone from having a stud lineup and the best record in baseball during the strike-shortened 1997 season, to a traveling sideshow. An absolute...
Full Article

jtg33 · April 11th, 2004, 05:54 PM

I'd personally put money on the even line, but I wouldn't bet against Washington at 10 to 1 either. The city of Washington recently set forth a proposal to Selig and the MBL head honchos that would have Washington building a 100% public-financed stadium for the Expos (or whatever they would be called when they move there, hopefully NOT the Senators) to play in. Washington has thus far put forth the most cohesive and all-inclusive plan to the MLB, so right now they're probably the top candidate in Selig's mind.

bcorrigall · April 13th, 2004, 05:34 PM

two teams from the same city can be so different. Look at the passion and excitement that the Habs bring to Montreal and then look at the pitiful Spos. I think at least part of the reason for this is National pride (or hatred for Americans depending on your viewpoint). Hockey is Canadian. Baseball is American. If you need any more proof, just watch B's/Habs matchup tonight and listen to the boos when they sing our national anthem.

Mike · April 13th, 2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcorrigall

two teams from the same city can be so different. Look at the passion and excitement that the Habs bring to Montreal and then look at the pitiful Spos. I think at least part of the reason for this is National pride (or hatred for Americans depending on your viewpoint). Hockey is Canadian. Baseball is American. If you need any more proof, just watch B's/Habs matchup tonight and listen to the boos when they sing our national anthem.

So you are saying that the expos are hated becuase baseball is an American sport? If that is the feeling in Montreal then they need to move this team ASAP. I do not agree with your statements at all. I think that it is ludicrious(Spelling) that you or anyone else thinks like this. Montreal has been in baseball since I was a little kid, shit I cannot even remember when they became a team. Is there a same feeling towards the Blue Jays, if so, get baseball out of Canada all together.das

jtg33 · April 13th, 2004, 11:12 PM

I'm not sure I agree either. The Expos have been around for many years, so the Canadians would have gotten over any hatred for the team or the sport decades ago. There may be a few crotchity old men, out ice fishing somewhere, complaining about the sport and about how the Americans were jackasses for bringing it to the Great White North, but last time I checked a couple old Canadians didn't make a damned bit of difference outside their shacks.

I think the biggest difference between the passion for the Expos and the Canadiens is consistency. The 'Spos haven't been to the playoffs since 1981, and they had very long stretches of inconsistency where they dwelled near the bottom of the NL for years and years. Tha Canadiens, however, are pretty much the symbol of Canada (much like the Yankees, unfortunately, are for the United States): They represent the pinnacle of success, the best you can be. They've been competitive for decades, they've had some of the greatest players ever to play the game, and they've won 23 Stanley Cups - more than any other team, ever.

The Canadiens have played in Montreal since the 1920's; the Expos haven't been in Canada nearly as long. The Canadiens are simply imbedded in the history of Canada, and their franchise history will make them impossible to forget. Faced with this sort of history and tradition, the Expos simply can't compete. From the MLB's standpoint, it will be more profitable to move an underappreciated team to a region that will be glad to have them in town. That's not to say there aren't true Expo fans, but there simply aren't enough.

On a side note, I doubt the booing of the American national anthem at hockey playoff games has anything to do with Canadians hating the United States. Perhaps it does for some people, but the fans are more likely just trying to find another excuse to boo the Bruins when they're on the ice.

jtg33 · April 13th, 2004, 11:14 PM

As a side note, I did not intend to offend any crochity old Canadian ice fishers. You too are a part of Canadian history and lore, useless as that history and lore may be.

boner26 · April 14th, 2004, 02:17 AM

The baseball strike in the 90's (1994 I believe) is a large part of the reason why the Expos are "lost". The attendance is down and has been on a steady decline since then. The shitty teams they put together doesn't help either, fans get tired of seeing them lose. I live an hour from Montreal and have attended games where only 2 or 3 thousand show up. Then again, I've been to games where there's 35+ thousand. That only happens on opening day and maybe on $1 hotdog days (no joke, they really have $1 hotdog days as a promotion).

The only reason hockey is bigger than baseball in Montreal is because hockey is the peoples sport of choice. If you asked 10 Canadians whether they prefered hockey of baseball, 9 of 10, and maybe 10 of 10 would tell you hockey.

Plain and simple, baseball was new to the Canadian people when they first got a team. Everyone wanted to see their new franchise play. It was exciting. Years later, the newness finally wore off, with the help of the numerous labor strikes, and people stopped watching. Plain and simple.

boner26 · April 14th, 2004, 02:22 AM

And yes, I was at the Habs game last night and heard the boo's from the crowd when they played our National Anthem. It pissed me off, but I couldn't really say anthing since I was in someone else's house.

Just wait and see what in store for the Canadiens when they play in Boston on Thursday. I don't support the booing of anyone's National Anthem, but that's what's gonna happen in Boston, wait and see.

Dan · April 14th, 2004, 08:10 AM

Good story!! You are definitely right, the Expos saga is like that annoying relative who keeps coming back. I don't understand why it has taken so long, except for the fact that Selig is involved. The whole story is a mess!

I think that Las Vegas would be the best bet to support the team, money wise and with the fan base, but I don't think that professional sports will ever exist in Las Vegas, it just won't happen. Too many temptations and we all know how ball players deal with those.... And with the type of person Angelos is, I don't think he will allow them in DC even with a balloon payment for allowing it.

My guess? They will end up in San Juan, PR and the announcement will come somewhere within the timing of the announcement of the USA being involved in the World Cup for baseball (after they decide to drug test all MLB involved in it). This will be Bud's way of 'expanding the game'.

boner26 · April 14th, 2004, 10:48 PM

Yeah, it's a sad story, but I still like to root for them. I'm going to see the home opener on April 23rd in Montreal, the real home park. San Juan seems like the place of choice right now. The've already played there, and they are selling more tickets there than here. That spells bad news for Montreal.

April 11th, 2004, 02:43 PM	#1
VegasView Join Date: 04-09-2004 Posts: 7	Montreal Expos Need a Home The Montreal Expos opened up their "home schedule" in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they'll play 22 games this season. In a matter of years, the team has gone from having a stud lineup and the best record in baseball during the strike-shortened 1997 season, to a traveling sideshow. An absolute... Full Article

April 13th, 2004, 05:34 PM	#3
bcorrigall Join Date: 04-13-2004 Posts: 1	It's amazing that... two teams from the same city can be so different. Look at the passion and excitement that the Habs bring to Montreal and then look at the pitiful Spos. I think at least part of the reason for this is National pride (or hatred for Americans depending on your viewpoint). Hockey is Canadian. Baseball is American. If you need any more proof, just watch B's/Habs matchup tonight and listen to the boos when they sing our national anthem.

April 14th, 2004, 08:10 AM	#9
Dan Join Date: 04-14-2004 Posts: 1	Expos need to leave Good story!! You are definitely right, the Expos saga is like that annoying relative who keeps coming back. I don't understand why it has taken so long, except for the fact that Selig is involved. The whole story is a mess! I think that Las Vegas would be the best bet to support the team, money wise and with the fan base, but I don't think that professional sports will ever exist in Las Vegas, it just won't happen. Too many temptations and we all know how ball players deal with those.... And with the type of person Angelos is, I don't think he will allow them in DC even with a balloon payment for allowing it. My guess? They will end up in San Juan, PR and the announcement will come somewhere within the timing of the announcement of the USA being involved in the World Cup for baseball (after they decide to drug test all MLB involved in it). This will be Bud's way of 'expanding the game'.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

April 11th, 2004, 05:54 PM	#2
jtg33 Join Date: 03-17-2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,487	I'd personally put money on the even line, but I wouldn't bet against Washington at 10 to 1 either. The city of Washington recently set forth a proposal to Selig and the MBL head honchos that would have Washington building a 100% public-financed stadium for the Expos (or whatever they would be called when they move there, hopefully NOT the Senators) to play in. Washington has thus far put forth the most cohesive and all-inclusive plan to the MLB, so right now they're probably the top candidate in Selig's mind.

April 13th, 2004, 11:12 PM	#5
jtg33 Join Date: 03-17-2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,487	I'm not sure I agree either. The Expos have been around for many years, so the Canadians would have gotten over any hatred for the team or the sport decades ago. There may be a few crotchity old men, out ice fishing somewhere, complaining about the sport and about how the Americans were jackasses for bringing it to the Great White North, but last time I checked a couple old Canadians didn't make a damned bit of difference outside their shacks. I think the biggest difference between the passion for the Expos and the Canadiens is consistency. The 'Spos haven't been to the playoffs since 1981, and they had very long stretches of inconsistency where they dwelled near the bottom of the NL for years and years. Tha Canadiens, however, are pretty much the symbol of Canada (much like the Yankees, unfortunately, are for the United States): They represent the pinnacle of success, the best you can be. They've been competitive for decades, they've had some of the greatest players ever to play the game, and they've won 23 Stanley Cups - more than any other team, ever. The Canadiens have played in Montreal since the 1920's; the Expos haven't been in Canada nearly as long. The Canadiens are simply imbedded in the history of Canada, and their franchise history will make them impossible to forget. Faced with this sort of history and tradition, the Expos simply can't compete. From the MLB's standpoint, it will be more profitable to move an underappreciated team to a region that will be glad to have them in town. That's not to say there aren't true Expo fans, but there simply aren't enough. On a side note, I doubt the booing of the American national anthem at hockey playoff games has anything to do with Canadians hating the United States. Perhaps it does for some people, but the fans are more likely just trying to find another excuse to boo the Bruins when they're on the ice.

April 13th, 2004, 11:14 PM	#6
jtg33 Join Date: 03-17-2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,487	As a side note, I did not intend to offend any crochity old Canadian ice fishers. You too are a part of Canadian history and lore, useless as that history and lore may be.

April 14th, 2004, 02:17 AM	#7
boner26 Join Date: 09-01-2003 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,667	The baseball strike in the 90's (1994 I believe) is a large part of the reason why the Expos are "lost". The attendance is down and has been on a steady decline since then. The shitty teams they put together doesn't help either, fans get tired of seeing them lose. I live an hour from Montreal and have attended games where only 2 or 3 thousand show up. Then again, I've been to games where there's 35+ thousand. That only happens on opening day and maybe on $1 hotdog days (no joke, they really have $1 hotdog days as a promotion). The only reason hockey is bigger than baseball in Montreal is because hockey is the peoples sport of choice. If you asked 10 Canadians whether they prefered hockey of baseball, 9 of 10, and maybe 10 of 10 would tell you hockey. Plain and simple, baseball was new to the Canadian people when they first got a team. Everyone wanted to see their new franchise play. It was exciting. Years later, the newness finally wore off, with the help of the numerous labor strikes, and people stopped watching. Plain and simple.

April 14th, 2004, 02:22 AM	#8
boner26 Join Date: 09-01-2003 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,667	And yes, I was at the Habs game last night and heard the boo's from the crowd when they played our National Anthem. It pissed me off, but I couldn't really say anthing since I was in someone else's house. Just wait and see what in store for the Canadiens when they play in Boston on Thursday. I don't support the booing of anyone's National Anthem, but that's what's gonna happen in Boston, wait and see.

April 14th, 2004, 10:48 PM	#10
boner26 Join Date: 09-01-2003 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,667	Yeah, it's a sad story, but I still like to root for them. I'm going to see the home opener on April 23rd in Montreal, the real home park. San Juan seems like the place of choice right now. The've already played there, and they are selling more tickets there than here. That spells bad news for Montreal.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)