Could Expos return to Montreal?

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by telyou

I always wondered what is it with Canadians and their obsession with this regional war of words. You even here people on the street and on patios bashing other Canadian cities.

And if it's not that we're bashing Americans. We're an insecure bunch, n'est-ce pas?

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

toronto has it no worse than quebec, and even calgary is becoming a target. it's just how we are, unfortunately. vaillant doesn't like canada for separatist-y issues, so you're right on that one, but rico and martin always seem to say they like and admire what's going on in toronto...

yeppers.

The "big three" targets on Canadian SSP forums, no doubt, are (in order):


1. Montreal/QUEBEC: French, Separatism, No. 2 city, lagging tarana on population/tall-buildings, equalization payments, crumbling infrastructure.

2. Toronto: Centre of the universe, the Marble Loafs, Rob Ford, supposed lack of sophistication/night-life (vis a vis Montreal), Scarborough, Missingsausage

3. Calgary: Yeehaw, oil, tar-sands, scooping up HQs, sprawlsburg, completely supporting Canada's economy, Nickelback, Conservativism, Crazy-Uncle-land

[kool maudit]

[Ramako]

As a Torontonian, I see some things that Montreal has or does well, and I am inspired by those things, but at no point do I feel jealously or bitterness because at the end of the day I can conveniently hop on a bus/train and, a couple hours later, be enjoying those things myself!

I haven't been to Calgary, but Toronto and Montreal, while similar in a lot of ways, each offer something unique and are both really amazing cities. Torontonians and Montrealers should be thanking their lucky stars that they live within a 5 hour drive of each other. I can't speak for Montrealers, but I know that Torontonians hang out in Montreal all the time.

Antagonism between Toronto and Montreal is like being pissed at your neighbour for having a pool despite the fact that he gave you the keys to his yard so that you could go swim whenever you want.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Antagonism between Toronto and Montreal is like being pissed at your neighbour for having a pool despite the fact that he gave you the keys to his yard so that you could go swim whenever you want.

And that was after he sent you tens of thousands of his best paying jobs!

As much as I would love to see them back, I don't really see the Expos returning to Montreal. My guess is that MLB wouldn't be that keen on having another Canadian franchise -- not to mention that Quebec labour laws complicate lockouts.

[osmo]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

I really don't think the Skydome is as bad as you say. The sightlines are decent for baseball (shitty for football however), the stadium is clean, has plenty of amenities, food etc. Not the worst in the MLB but it is very sterile, and lacks the atmosphere that the parks built recently have. The area around the Rogers Centre also lacks the character that you find around good ballparks. I think that you would see a bump in attendance with a new, smaller "retro -style" park, but I don't think a replacement for the Skydome is necessary in the near future.



Yup, it's just a part of the continuing pansification of society.

A Retro Stadium would not work in Toronto. The trend has out lived itself and become quite tacky. Cities with rich baseball history or solid plans and designs made it work.

Skydome for being a old relic is great for baseball. Its only issue is its size but when the team is playing good and the place is packed its in the top end of parks league wide. Simple renovations over time will make the place great, the new aesthetics they improved upon such as the blue trimming throughout the stadium and the new branding and turf make the stadium look great on TV and in person. I would rather have Rogers Center then the empty holes in Houston, Cincinnati or Miami.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by osmo

A Retro Stadium would not work in Toronto. The trend has out lived itself and become quite tacky. Cities with rich baseball history or solid plans and designs made it work.

Toronto has an extremely rich baseball history. Maybe not an MLB history, but a rich baseball history nonetheless.

[kool maudit]

a retro stadium by the distillery district would be awesome.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

a retro stadium by the distillery district would be awesome.

Indeed, even the Portlands.

I wish that they could rebuild Maple Leaf Stadium, but expand it by building an upper deck and giving us a Wrigley/Fenway style stadium.
That being said, I actually do enjoy the Skydome, and like that we have a unique stadium for our team. I probably couldn't tell the difference between PNC Park, Progressive Park, AT&T Park, Petco Field, Comerica Park, etc. if it wasn't for the signs/backdrop. When you see a picture of the Skydome, you know it's the Skydome. (Though you could say the same about Tropicana Field for the wrong reasons)

[Gerrard]

Considering our climate of the last few years, a domed stadium seems like a quaint throwback to the last ice age.

Until the BJs begin winning world series' again, no one is going to throw 800 million at a new stadium.

[MTLskyline]

Good times.


La maigre foule du stade, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le champ droit Vladimir Guerrero au bâton, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le lanceur Mike Johnson au bâton, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le receveur Michael Barrett au bâton, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le premier-but Fernando Seguignol, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le deuxième-but Jose Vidro au bâton, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Les Diamondbacks au bâton, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr


Le lanceur Felipe Lira, 30 août 2000 by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr