Mayor Denis Coderre is a big fan of major league baseball, and he’s doing his best to bring back a team to the city that once hosted the Montreal Expos.
So today’s news that Major League Baseball Commissioner, Rob Manfred told an American radio show he wants the league to expand by two teams, from 30 to 32, is just what Montreal’s mayor has been waiting to hear.
“I’m delighted to see that major league baseball is looking for expansion. Of course, there are the other issues to move a team but we’re not there…but there is a will from the commissioner himself to raise the amount of teams,” Coderre said.
Mayor Coderre has been championing a baseball team for Montreal for months. Initially many people didn’t take it seriously, but the Toronto Blue Jays, now heading into the play-offs at the top of their game, thrilling the city with their performance this year,have more Montrealers warming to the idea of a team of their own.
“It’s going well. We have a baseball commissioner who wants to expand…He already said Canada is a market for him — and Montreal. So he’s done his homework.” Coderre met with Commissioner Manfred in May.
“We had to show it was not about nostalgia — this is a baseball city,” Coderre told reporters this afternoon at Montreal City Hall. “We are sending a message that it’s working well, and it’s progressing.”
In April, the first pre-season game, between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cincinnati Reds took place in Montreal with more than 46,000 fans showing their apetite for the game. The following day, more than 50,000 fans showed up to watch the teams play again.
“I think we can even do better for those games because you have a lot of people supporting the Red Sox — not the Bruins, rightfully — but the Red Sox is OK for now,” Coderre said, clarifying he will not discuss negotiations between the city and the MLB in the public domain.
“It’s a step-by-step approach. I will not negotiate publicly, but I think our strategy is working pretty well, and I think Montreal is back on track in terms of baseball.”
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