The Capitales of Quebec and the Aigles of Trois-Rivières will open their new season next week in the Professional Baseball Frontier League, but the day may not be so far away when a club from this circuit could be added to the Greater Montreal area.
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“If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, in my opinion, we would have played against Montreal this year, even suggests Michel Laplante, president of the Capitals, in the podcast The goals fulfilled, Wednesday. Now, in the last three months, there are three different groups of investors who have come forward again.” Listen to the full episode here:
The objective is therefore to set up a team in the metropolitan area, either on the North Shore or on the South Shore. In either case, however, a new stadium will have to be built. The problem also exists on the island, where no current infrastructure would accommodate a professional club.
“We can’t even start from a base right now,” regrets Laplante, explaining that certain discussions surrounding the dezoning of a potential site must often take place for the advancement of such a project.
“The problem is finding land, but there are supposedly things that would come, notes for his part René Martin, president of the Eagles of Trois-Rivières. Of course, for the Frontier League, having a team in the Montreal area would eventually create a division with Quebec, Trois-Rivières and Ottawa. In the medium term, it would be something very, very good.”
From 2025?
Realistically, Laplante mentions that the time is running out to have a Montreal Frontier League club next season or even in 2024. We are talking more about 2025.
“We know that there will be other teams, we have meetings with the league during the winter, Michel and me, adds René Martin about his counterpart from the Capitals. The league is very structured and we are growing in the right way. We could have been 18 clubs faster, but we want everyone who joins the league to stick to the plan. The fact that we are associated with major league baseball is more prestigious and the standards are higher.”
“The Capitals, the Eagles and the Titans are fun, but the Montreal market would take it,” considers the president of the Trois-Rivières club enthusiastically.
Both Laplante and Martin let it be known that the Greater Toronto Area could also host a team in the coming years.
While waiting for the Expos…
Obviously, it goes without saying that many baseball fans in the Montreal region dream first and foremost of the return of the Expos.
“Even if there was a major league baseball team in Montreal, that wouldn’t harm the presence of another club in the Frontier League,” Laplante assures, however, repeating that he would find himself outside the league. ‘Isle.
Over the years, discussions have already taken place for a project near Quartier DIX30, in Brossard, while the Mascouche, Terrebonne and Repentigny sector certainly represents a possible solution.
“Me too, I dream of the return of the Expos, but when we see that it is not on the verge of happening, I tell myself that it would be so pleasant to have a club [de la Ligue Frontière] in the Montreal region, reacts Martin. It would be amazing! After that, they will arrive, the Expos…”
– The Capitales de Québec and the Aigles de Trois-Rivières will begin their respective seasons abroad on Friday, May 13, in the United States. The two teams play their first local match on Tuesday, May 24.
