2008 Woodie Awards
Expos Have a New Home
Kieran O'Shea
Issue date: 10/13/04 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The move is imminent. It has been in the works for the past 2 years, and the time has finally come for the Montreal Expos to flee Canada and return back to the states. Their plans to relocate the team came after nearly a decade of losing seasons and disappointing performances.
The Expos have been under the ownership of MLB for the past two seasons after the 29 other teams helped to purchase it in 2002. The Expos were on the verge of being exterminated back then, since they were not bringing in enough money to survive; they went bankrupt. In the race to attain the Expos, Washington D.C was the frontrunner. Other bidding cities for the team included Las Vegas, Nevada; Norfolk, Virginia; and Portland, Oregon. Washington clearly took the lead during negotiations over recent weeks, and was strengthened by the fact that it has a wealthy population base, and the city put together an irresistible financial package that would build the team's new stadium with taxpayer's money.
Now the only problem remaining before the deal is closed is to get approval from the Baltimore Oriole's owner Peter Angelos. Angelos' team is only located 40 miles down the road in Camden Yards, and due to zoning laws set by MLB, he must give his approval before a team can move into his rightful area. The problem is that another team being so close may take away a certain amount of fans that may usually have traveled to Camden Yards, therefore costing Angelos big money. But the Oriole's owner seems willing to negotiate. MLB has offered to guarantee that the Orioles will earn a minimum in annual revenues, and if the set revenue falls below that figure, MLB would make up the difference. Baseball is also willing to guarantee a minimum franchise value for the Orioles. If Angelos attempts to sell the team and can't find a buyer willing to pay that amount, MLB also would also make up that difference. That's the icing on top of the cake. In about 4 or 5 seasons when the Oriole's stocks rise, fans will see them on the market for a hefty ticket price that probably will not be met, but that the league will have to pay to Angelo afterwards.
Whatever happens, it is going to be better than anything the Expos could have worked out in Montreal. This should help the Expos rebuild and leave their disparaging history behind them. Maybe the move is all they need. With a new city and a new fan base, the Expos will get the chance to be as good as they were before the 1994 Strike. This team was capable of many things then. They were in a race to go to the World Series, yet no one seems to remember that. Maybe in the near future people could see a Yankee's vs. Bandit's (Expos) World Series.
The Expos have been under the ownership of MLB for the past two seasons after the 29 other teams helped to purchase it in 2002. The Expos were on the verge of being exterminated back then, since they were not bringing in enough money to survive; they went bankrupt. In the race to attain the Expos, Washington D.C was the frontrunner. Other bidding cities for the team included Las Vegas, Nevada; Norfolk, Virginia; and Portland, Oregon. Washington clearly took the lead during negotiations over recent weeks, and was strengthened by the fact that it has a wealthy population base, and the city put together an irresistible financial package that would build the team's new stadium with taxpayer's money.
Now the only problem remaining before the deal is closed is to get approval from the Baltimore Oriole's owner Peter Angelos. Angelos' team is only located 40 miles down the road in Camden Yards, and due to zoning laws set by MLB, he must give his approval before a team can move into his rightful area. The problem is that another team being so close may take away a certain amount of fans that may usually have traveled to Camden Yards, therefore costing Angelos big money. But the Oriole's owner seems willing to negotiate. MLB has offered to guarantee that the Orioles will earn a minimum in annual revenues, and if the set revenue falls below that figure, MLB would make up the difference. Baseball is also willing to guarantee a minimum franchise value for the Orioles. If Angelos attempts to sell the team and can't find a buyer willing to pay that amount, MLB also would also make up that difference. That's the icing on top of the cake. In about 4 or 5 seasons when the Oriole's stocks rise, fans will see them on the market for a hefty ticket price that probably will not be met, but that the league will have to pay to Angelo afterwards.
Whatever happens, it is going to be better than anything the Expos could have worked out in Montreal. This should help the Expos rebuild and leave their disparaging history behind them. Maybe the move is all they need. With a new city and a new fan base, the Expos will get the chance to be as good as they were before the 1994 Strike. This team was capable of many things then. They were in a race to go to the World Series, yet no one seems to remember that. Maybe in the near future people could see a Yankee's vs. Bandit's (Expos) World Series.