After my visceral reaction less than 100 days ago seeing the Colorado Avalance donning the Quebec Nordiques jerseys,
I asked myself: why don’t human beings appreciate what they have?
Then it struck me: it’s much easier to keep something than to get it back after you lose it.
Which led me to another conclusion: bringing the Expos back is not impossible. It may be improbable. But the real question is: how do you make it inevitable?
I’m not someone interested in playing the hero. What I genuinely enjoy is solving complex problems. Looking at the challenge, I felt that my education, experiences, skills, network, temperament, and drive could help sequence, package, and match-make the ingredients needed to nail the recipe for bringing baseball back to Montreal.
But none of that matters if there is no fan interest — let alone a desire from MLB to see the Expos return.
So the first order of business was simple: measure fan interest.
To do that, I ran two polls on social media — one in English and one in French — which you can see below.
Some people might keep this kind of information private to gain leverage with investors or other cities competing for a franchise. But the reality is that I’m less concerned about the “who” and more focused on the “what.”
And the what is straightforward:
• bring the Expos back
• strengthen Montreal through the 4C Creative, Cultural, Commercial Campus vision
• make things right with MLB (I can presume they left the city with a bad taste, but that was just the end of the chapter and I’m happy to help write a new one) and help the league continue becoming more global and competitive versus the NFL and NBA.
And, admittedly, there is also a small selfish motivation: ensuring that the next time I offer to help solve a problem like this, people recognize that I might actually be of service — if we share the same goal.
A quick note: the colors in the charts below don’t match because the English and French polls were conducted separately.
As someone with a finance and analytical background, I’ve always tried to balance instinct with empirical data. So, in the interest of intellectual honesty, I should note that this survey is not a statistically randomized poll. It focused primarily on Expos fans and Montrealers active on social media.
However, the large sample size (~4,000 responses) still provides strong directional evidence of continued interest in MLB baseball across the Montreal region.
Finally, my plan does not require taxpayer money, and some 90 days in, capital was “addressed,” and is now being “aligned.” As I have upcoming meetings with landowners to narrow a location for the new stadium & 4C and continue to receive submissions to my RFP for the stadium, I wanted to share this since key stakeholders will ask: is fan interest there? Yes.
In any case, without further ado: what stands out to you?
- Strong Desire for the Expos’ Return: There is overwhelming support and fervent desire to bring back the Expos, often referred to as “Nos Amours,” with many fans expressing deep nostalgia, a commitment to attending games, and a belief that the team’s return would revitalize the city.
- Stadium Location and Features are Critical: A new stadium is considered necessary, with many respondents insisting it be located downtown or in accessible areas like Peel Basin/Goose Village or RoyalMount, and must be closely linked to public transit (Metro/REM). There is a frequent demand for a retractable or permanent roof due to the weather.
- Focus on the Name, Logo, and Competitiveness: A majority of fans want the team to retain the original “Expos” name, logo, and color scheme. They also stress the importance of having stable, deep-pocketed ownership to ensure a competitive team with a sufficient payroll, arguing the team should not be run like a farm system.
- No Public Funding for the Stadium: Several respondents adamantly oppose the use of public funds for the stadium, citing the legacy issues of the Olympic Stadium, and insist the project be fully or predominantly privately funded.
- Widespread Fan Base and Potential Involvement: Support extends beyond Montreal to all of Quebec, the Maritimes, Eastern Ontario, and the Northeastern USA (especially Vermont and New York). Many professionals offered their specific expertise (marketing, urban planning, legal, media) and willingness to invest or help with the project.
- Enthusiastic Support for the Expos’ Return: The overwhelming sentiment is a strong desire for the return of the Expos (“Nos amours!”), with many respondents expressing that their summers “are not the same” since the team left in 2004. Several lifelong fans who followed the team in the past (including those who attended 15-20 games annually or had season tickets) plan to be assiduous attendees or even purchase season tickets upon the team’s return, often hoping to share the experience with their children.
- Stadium Requirements and Location: A new stadium is considered crucial, with strong preference for a retractable roof to accommodate early/late season weather and rain, as well as to maximize the venue’s use year-round (e.g., for concerts, other sports). Accessibility is paramount, requiring easy access via public transit (Metro or REM). Suggested sites for a new stadium include the Bassin Peel, Molson brewery sector, Hippodrome site, or La Ronde, while some noted that the Stade Olympique could be exploited.
- Financing and Business Model: Concerns were raised about using public funds, with several respondents insisting that the return must be backed only by private investors. Some respondents offered professional assistance in business planning, budgeting, or marketing, and there was interest in a crowdsourced/publicly owned franchise model or involving Bell Media to compete with Rogers (Blue Jays).
- Team Identity and Nostalgia: The preference is to keep the name Expos and revive one of the original uniform designs. The return of MLB is viewed as an important step for Montreal to regain its status as a major sports city, benefiting the economy and the province.
- Offers to Help and Personal Investment: Numerous respondents offered their professional or voluntary help, including in HR, budgetary management, communications, and translation. One person expressed intent to become a minor investor within the next 10 years, and another suggested contacting the producer of the documentary, Nos Amours, who is close to Stephen Bronfman’s former group.