Photo Credit: CBS Sports
0
0
Major League Baseball has plenty of reasons to look at Montreal again. The city already understands baseball. It also has a history that few expansion markets can match. Most importantly, Montreal still has a passionate baseball culture. The Montreal Expos played in the city from 1969 through 2004. The franchise produced stars such as Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero. The Expos also gave Montreal fans decades of memorable baseball. Now, more than two decades have passed since the Expos left. However, the interest in bringing MLB back has not disappeared. That alone makes Montreal worth another serious look.
Montreal Already Has a Baseball Foundation
First, Montreal would not start from scratch. Baseball has deep roots throughout the city. The Montreal Royals began playing there in 1897. The Royals later became part of baseball history through their connection with Jackie Robinson. Then came the Expos in 1969. They became MLB’s first franchise outside the United States. That history gives Montreal something many expansion cities cannot offer. Furthermore, the Montreal Baseball Project continues to campaign for MLB’s return. The organization says the metropolitan area has nearly four million people. It also calls Montreal the largest North American city without an MLB franchise. That creates an intriguing opportunity for MLB. The league could return to a market with an established baseball identity.
The Market Deserves Another Chance
Montreal also has the population and corporate base to support professional baseball. A previous feasibility study reached a positive conclusion about the city’s potential. The study projected average attendance around 28,500 fans per game. Another market study backed Montreal’s potential as well. That study came from investors led by Stephen Bronfman. It ranked Montreal among the strongest potential expansion markets. The study also highlighted Montreal’s television market. It ranked 12th among 27 existing MLB television markets in that analysis. The report also pointed to the city’s corporate strength. Those numbers do not guarantee success. Still, they give MLB a strong foundation for further investigation.
Montreal Fans Have Already Shown Their Passion
Next, MLB knows Montreal can generate serious excitement around baseball. The Expos developed a loyal following during their 36 seasons. Players such as Carter, Dawson, and Raines became icons in Quebec. The city also demonstrated its baseball appetite during the Rays’ proposed two-city plan. Tampa Bay explored splitting its home schedule between Tampa Bay and Montreal. MLB granted the Rays permission to study the idea in 2019. The Rays eventually abandoned the proposal after MLB rejected the plan in 2022. The concept never became a reality. Still, the effort showed that MLB seriously considered Montreal’s potential. That history matters when MLB evaluates future expansion.
The Expos Brand Gives Montreal an Advantage
Another major advantage involves branding. Montreal does not need to invent a baseball identity. The Expos name still carries emotional weight among many fans. The franchise’s history remains connected to the city. That connection could help a future ownership group build excitement quickly. A returning franchise could also reconnect generations. Older fans remember the original Expos. Younger fans could discover that history through a new team. That creates an opportunity for MLB to market baseball across generations.
A New Ballpark Would Be Important
Of course, Montreal would need a modern MLB-quality stadium. Olympic Stadium cannot simply serve as the long-term answer. The stadium remains under major renovation work. Quebec approved another phase of interior modernization in July 2026. The province expects the facility to reopen in 2028. However, current modernization plans do not include a baseball configuration. That creates another hurdle for MLB’s return. Therefore, Montreal would likely need a purpose-built baseball stadium. That project could also create economic opportunities beyond baseball. A new downtown or centrally located ballpark could anchor development. It could also attract concerts, events, restaurants, and visitors.
MLB Could Strengthen Its Canadian Presence
Montreal would also give MLB another important Canadian market. The Toronto Blue Jays currently represent Canada’s only MLB franchise. Adding Montreal would create a natural national rivalry. Toronto and Montreal could develop one of baseball’s most interesting geographic rivalries. The two cities also have strong sports cultures. The Canadiens already make Montreal one of hockey’s biggest markets. CF Montréal adds professional soccer to the city’s sports landscape. Baseball could fit into that environment. Moreover, MLB could expand its Canadian television and sponsorship opportunities. Montreal would give the league another major market to develop.
Montreal Could Help MLB’s Expansion Strategy
MLB eventually wants to expand beyond its current 30 teams. Commissioner Rob Manfred has discussed expansion as part of the league’s long-term future. Several cities now hope to land franchises. Montreal deserves a place in that conversation. The city has population, history, corporate support, and baseball demand. It also has a recognizable sports identity. Those factors give Montreal a compelling case. Still, MLB must address the stadium question. The league must also determine how an ownership group would finance the franchise. Those challenges should not automatically eliminate Montreal. Instead, MLB should evaluate the market alongside other serious expansion candidates.
The Expos Deserve Another Chapter
Ultimately, bringing baseball back to Montreal makes sense because the city already knows what MLB means. The Expos did not leave because Montreal lacked baseball history. Their departure followed years of complicated ownership and business problems. The franchise eventually moved to Washington and became the Nationals. That history should not define Montreal’s future. Instead, MLB should view the city as an opportunity. Montreal can offer something special to Major League Baseball.
It can provide an established baseball culture, a major metropolitan market, and a passionate fan base. The city also offers MLB a chance to restore a historic franchise. A new Montreal team would not simply add another expansion market. It would bring back a piece of baseball history. For MLB, that could be one of the most compelling expansion stories imaginable. The Expos are gone. However, Montreal’s love for baseball clearly remains. Now, Major League Baseball should decide whether it is time to bring the game home again.
Author Profile
-
Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
Latest entries
BaseballAugust 21, 2026MLB Expansion: Why Baseball Should Return to Montreal
FootballAugust 21, 2026Vita Vea Lands $30 Million Extension With Buccaneers
BaseballAugust 20, 2026Brewers Make MLB History With 22-0 Rout of Mariners
BaseballAugust 20, 2026Clearwater Threshers Rally Past Dunedin Blue Jays in 8-4 Crosstown Win
About the Author
