At the moment, to say that the Expos comeback file is causing a lot of noise is a huge understatement. A hail of rumors hovered over an announcement about it in November, the Rays thought about promoting the shared-custody plan to the playoffs (before retracting) and the stadium at Peel Basin returned to the fore- plan.
And precisely, let’s talk about this stage.
THE big question that had been hovering for a long time was how it would be financed. It’s all well and good to have a project, but you still have to find the funds to carry it out.
In short, we wondered if it was going to go through taxpayers’ money. However, earlier today, Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon was very clear: Quebec will not fund another stadium.
Basically, he’s pretty categorical: there won’t be a penny of public money going into the stadium. That does not mean that he could not help Stephen Bronfman’s consortium, but it will have to be profitable for Quebeckers.
Logic.
Does this put the brakes on the plan to bring baseball back to Montreal? Not necessarily, no. In fact, we will have the answer in about forty days, that is to say when the famous announcement will be made.
If ever Mr. Bronfman’s group is not ready to finance the entire stadium, then it will be problematic.
Speaking of the stadium, Jeremy Filosa has published an excellent text on the subject in which he defends the idea of putting a roof over the next stadium. Whether it is a permanent roof or a retractable roof, there will have to be a project to put one eventually.
Because if the shared custody project goes ahead, the roof is not necessarily urgent given that it will take place during the summer in Montreal.
However, as Filosa points out, a long-term vision goes through this plan to add a roof. He recalls the example of the Milwaukee Brewers, who have welcomed more fans since the arrival of the roof, and that of the Capitals of Quebec, which can now allow young people to enjoy the facilities during the winter with a roof.
In short, things continue to move on the file, and we can expect the pace to remain as intense between now and November.
And as they say, there is no smoke without fire …
- Three-game suspension for Tim Anderson.
- Zack Scott file: a conclusion will come at the earliest next month.
- The return of Javier Baez with the Mets is not impossible.
- For all your questions related to the free agent market.
