Quebec investors are interested in the project to house a Frontier Baseball League team in the greater Montreal area. The south coast has been talked about for a long time, but now we’re talking about the north crown, according to various sources protocol.
• Also read: Michel Laplante, the man who last played baseball in Quebec
“This is the first time that there has been a stronger interest,” estimates Michel Laplante, president of Quebec capitals, without wanting to confirm that the city or cities have shown interest. The pandemic and possible return of the Expos have delayed the file, but since the announcement of the end of the joint custody project [avec les Rays de Tampa Bay], it went boom! Over the past year there have been several calls from people expressing interest in a frontier league club in the greater Montreal area.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
It’s all well and good to dream of the Expos and Major League Baseball returning to Montreal, but nearly two decades after the team’s departure, it might be time to consider a middle ground. Perhaps.
“If a 4,000-seat or 5,000-seat stadium had been built in 2006, 2007, or 2008, I would be convinced that there would be a great baseball team in Montreal right now,” says Laplante, who works to spread baseball culture around the world lives on province.
A game at Gary Carter Stadium
Laplante, who was himself a part of the Expos organization as a AAA-level pitcher in 2000, is working hard in partnership with the Frontier Baseball League to ensure the circuit has a Greater Montreal team in the near future. Maybe in 2026… It is also the President of the Capitals who had both hands on the steering wheel to enable a regular season game to be played next June 3 in Montreal between the Eagles of Trois-Rivières and the Boomers of Schaumburg. This is an initiative of the circuit.
1,200 spectators are expected for the next game at the newly renovated Gary Carter Stadium in Ahuntsic Park.
Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montreal / QMI Agency
“If we don’t have the 1,200 tickets sold, we’re going to be disappointed,” said Eagles general manager Jerome Duchesneau. We dare to believe it will go away quickly.”
This is a great opportunity to test the market. Until then, the Eagles should start their season at home in front of around 2,000 fans on Tuesday night in Trois-Rivières.
A more realistic option?
One reality remains: many Montrealers who knew the famous Expos era have nothing to do with Frontier League baseball. Some say they love the sport but get nostalgic because they don’t go to Quebec stadiums to watch games in the summer, preferring to travel to Toronto, Boston or New York once or twice a year. For some, it’s major league baseball or nothing.
“There are 48 local games in the Frontier League and tickets are cheaper,” argues Duchesneau. We don’t have to pay players who make millions… For Montreal, perhaps in the short term, it’s a more realistic and logical option than thinking about hosting 81 major league baseball games a year.
Build a stadium
While we wait for the rest, there’s going to be this game between the Eagles and the Boomers in ten days at Gary Carter Stadium.
“It’s not made for a professional team,” Laplante agrees about Montreal Stadium, while emphasizing that the work that’s been done in renovating those facilities is great.
“There are stadiums that can be built quickly,” he also mentioned of a future location that could host a Frontier League club in the Montreal area.
Lower costs
For the Capitals and the Eagles, of course, we’re dreaming of four aces in the Northeast with Quebec, Trois-Rivières, Ottawa and… Montreal. We envision the creation of rivalries, greater media visibility but also geographic interest to reduce costs and simplify logistics in terms of transport.
The Frontier League is working in that direction. By then, word had it that as early as 2024, a 16th regular team was due to appear in this independent baseball circle, while the Empire State Grays, a traveling team, will not be returning.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were 18 or 20 teams by 2025,” Laplante said, noting that Major League Baseball’s goal is to further reduce the number of teams in the minor leagues. This inevitably allows the Frontier League to reclaim certain markets, as was the case with the ValleyCats of Tri-City.
As for Montreal, we need to think more about 2026. Or beyond. Or never… Because the 1,200 tickets for the game on June 3rd are far from sold.
“The Montreal market is tempting,” admits Laplante.
Photo courtesy of the Trois-Rivières Eagles
Jesen Therrien
- Quebec Phillies pitcher Jesen Therrien is wearing the colors of the Aigles de Trois-Rivières this season. He could take part in the game scheduled for June 3 at Gary Carter Stadium.