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Denis Courville wants to move the Expos from …

September 16, 2021

Quebec Major League Baseball (LBMQ)

Denis Courville wants to move the Expos from Sherbrooke to Sorel-Tracy

By: Jean-Philippe Morin

Denis Courville’s desire to move a Quebec Major League Baseball (LBMQ) franchise to Sorel-Tracy could come true sooner rather than later. With the recent announcement of the sale of two franchises, it did not take more for the spark to light up at the Sorelois.

Mr. Courville went to Sherbrooke on September 2, when François Lécuyer announced that he was selling the two teams he owns, the Sherbrooke Expos and the Thetford Mines Blue Sox. The latter, who ran the Baseball in Motion company, will step down when new buyers have bought his two teams.

“I went to see him after his press conference and told him about Sorel-Tracy,” explains Denis Courville. the fit will be perfect. Most of the Expos players are from the Montreal area, which is closer to Sorel-Tracy, while the Blue Sox players are from the Quebec area. It is much more profitable a transfer than an expansion since we would already have a structure, that is to say a list of 30 players, uniforms, coaches and even a mascot. It would also be easy to attract players here since we are right in the middle of the 10 cities that host teams in the league. “

The baseball enthusiast, who is currently a supervisor for the LBMQ, has worked in baseball for 40 years. A resident of Sorel-Tracy for 15 years, he believes that high-level baseball would be followed in the region if a team were to set up there.

“The Sparrowhawks are followed and people go out for hockey, it will remain to bring them out for baseball. But I am convinced that Sorel-Tracy is a ball town, ”says Denis Courville.

However, he is aware that the challenge is great and that several steps must be taken before such a project materializes. “I know that Mr. Lécuyer wants to survey the Sherbrooke market to keep the team there before thinking about a move. And this is correct. I only went there to let him know that I would be there if it ever didn’t work in Sherbrooke, ”said Mr. Courville.

An NPO to manage the stadium

Another of Denis Courville’s projects is the renovation of the René-St-Germain stadium. The City has already planned, in its three-year capital plan (PTI) 2022-2023-2024, investments of nearly $ 500,000 to bring it up to date and up to date.

“I believe that with the current stadium in Sorel-Tracy, we are able to welcome a team tomorrow morning. This does not however slow down my project to renovate the stadium so that it can really be up to the baseball that will be played there, ”explains the 68-year-old man.

To manage the René-St-Germain stadium, Denis Courville plans to create a non-profit organization (NPO) called the Fondation du Club des Amis du Baseball whose mission is to promote the practice of amateur baseball, both at the minor level and major. This foundation, in addition to supporting minor baseball, would have the mission of operating the stadium and acquiring a franchise from the LBMQ in order to sell it to a local company wishing to get involved in baseball.

“By having a franchise of the LBMQ here, we will undoubtedly see a boost registrations among youth, minor baseball. These teams are often involved with the local community, this can only be positive. The more registrations we have from young people, the more chances we have of seeing them one day at the highest level, ”concludes Mr. Courville.

To read also on the subject:
– A baseball fan wants to bring a major team to Sorel-Tracy
– Major renovations to come to the René-St-Germain stadium in 2023

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