The abandonment of the sister city project involving Tampa and Montreal by Major League Baseball leaves very few options for a possible return of the Expos one day.
• Read also: Shared custody of rays between Tampa and Montreal dropped: ‘A slap in the face,’ says Stephen Bronfman
Moving? An extension ? For now, businessman Stephen Bronfman is still feeling the slap he just received.
“We believed in this plan so much, we really don’t have a plan B,” Bronfman first said via video call Thursday, later making it known that his phone remained open. You have to allow time for the dust to settle. We put a lot of effort, a lot of heart, a lot of passion into this project.
“I’m a bit tired,” he admitted. It’s been a bit overwhelming, the last 72 hours. »
Chapter closed
For now, Bronfman needs to take a step back, continue running his business, but most importantly spend time with his family.
“Life is long, there is a lot of talk of expansion, but I don’t know what will happen,” he added. In baseball and other professional sports, things move very slowly. But anything can happen. »
“This chapter is closed, but we have done an incredible job, continued the businessman, thanking in particular his associates William Jegher, Richard Epstein and Pierre Boivin. Major League Baseball has certainly taken notice.
Sternberg is taken
In Florida, the situation is no rosier than in Montreal. After repeating that it was impossible for the Tampa area to support a full-time Major League Baseball club for the past year, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg inevitably finds himself in an awkward spot.
“I have no intention of selling or moving the team out of the region, however, argued the owner on Thursday. We will explore our options in the area. Our goal has always been to stay in Tampa for future generations.
“It’s tough for us, that’s for sure, because we were excited for our market and for the return of baseball to Montreal. But so is Stuart in Tampa, Bronfman noted. What will he do now? I have no idea and I think neither does he. He’s taken and it’s hard for everyone.
lose sleep
Concretely, the Rays must now examine the options of building a stadium likely to accommodate their team in the Tampa area full-time. The roster’s current lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg will end at the end of the 2027 season, but plans for a new home for the club are expected by 2023. total blur!
“Maybe it was a matter of timing, if it had all been done in the last year, maybe it would be sorted out,” Bronfman said of Major League Baseball’s decision to scrap the concept. sister cities.
“I’m not going to lose sleep over this,” added the businessman, before immediately retracting. Actually, yeah, maybe I’ll lose some sleep. »
Despite the circumstances, Bronfman at least retains his sense of humor.
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