Report: Montreal Expos Announcement Coming This Fall

A report has been circulated out of Montreal that the long-rumored "team-sharing" arrangement between the Tampa Bay Rays and the city of Montreal will be announced this fall, likely after the World Series. 

Announcement about the return of the Montreal Expos to be made this fall https://t.co/YxQaceiqxB

— Montreal Expos ⚾️ (@Montreal_Expos) September 25, 2021

Le Journal de Montreal reported that sources indicated that "an announcement could take place after the municipal elections of November 7". The political timing of this report raises some red flags, and suggests the possibility that this leak could be politically motivated. 

It goes on to say that "the marriage of the (Montreal) Expos and the (Tampa Bay) Rays" would come after an upcoming meeting in Tampa. The team would play half its games in Florida and half in Montreal. 

This also comes amidst on-going negotiations around a new stadium in the city; the former Montreal Expos played in the much-maligned Olympic Stadium until their departure for Washington, D.C. to become the Nationals after the 2004 season.

Le Journal report says that the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), Michel Leblanc, has been working with Tampa. 

“I had discussions with my counterparts in Florida to see how we could create better synergies between our two business bases," said Leblanc. "We ask ourselves the question, how we could go beyond a shared baseball team and possibly have an economic relationship."

This wouldn't be the first time Montrealers have been teased about a return of major league baseball over the last 15+ years, so Expos fans are, understandably, still taking a wait-and-see attitude.