Faith of Michael Fortier, do not rush to book tickets for a possible NBA team in Montreal.
On the show on 5 to 7 on RDS, the one who has been piloting the file of providing the metropolis with an expansion team for six years has shown himself to be realistic about the short-term chances for Montreal to welcome a team. “There is nothing to announce. »
An announcement could be made in 2024 or 2025 believes Mr. Fortier, but if ever the NBA embarks on an expansion, two American cities leave much more favorites and that will not surprise anyone.
“Seattle is a city that will have a place of choice. There’s a new amphitheater and the Kraken (NHL) is doing very well, but I think Vegas is muddying the waters. If we ever do a two-club expansion, Vegas has the wind in its sails. It could be Seattle and Vegas, so Montreal could be in another expansion later on. But when will it be? In seven years, in eight years? I do not know. »
The former federal minister and vice-president at RBC acknowledged that the Montreal file is stalling. “He’s not backing down, but he’s taking small steps because there was COVID-19. I think without the pandemic, we would have had discussions about an expansion in 2019 or 2020. Due to COVID-19, there was a delay in this project. »
According to Mr. Fortier, the conclusion of the next collective agreement with the players and the conclusion of a new television contract could be the next signal that the NBA is waiting for to set in motion an expansion project. “Before inviting people to pay top dollar for an expansion, the league will need to present a more precise financial perspective. »
Mr. Fortier estimates that an expansion team should cost between two and three billion dollars.
A team in Montreal should bring together a group of several deep-pocketed business people with American investors who could lead the file. “It will take us solid local foundations and we have them with people who will put hundreds of millions. But the turn of the NBA, there is a billionaire fauna just waiting for it. »
