O/T: One for baseball fans - especially Canadians

[US Seagull]

I know there a couple of baseball fans on here:

Expos move to D.C.

 

[Simster]

Not suprised. They've been getting 8-13,000 for years at Montreal, and the Olympic stadium is shit. No investment, no fans and 35 years of mostly dismal fair. No surprise really.

Besides which, no-one is interested in professional sport in Montreal unless they're called the Habitants/Canadiens.

 

[US Seagull]

Not suprised. They've been getting 8-13,000 for years at Montreal

I think they've been lucky to get even that in recent years.

 

[Simster]

Incidentally, did the Baltimore Orioles sanction this move? They're probably going to lose fans with a new team 2 hours down the road.

Then again, maybe it's like a Leyton Orient franchise being moved to Shoreham.

 

[US Seagull]

Incidentally, did the Baltimore Orioles sanction this move? They're probably going to lose fans with a new team 2 hours down the road.

Then again, maybe it's like a Leyton Orient franchise being moved to Shoreham.

They needed some bribing:

On Tuesday, baseball sources told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that MLB offered Angelos [owner of the Orioles] two incentives:

Baseball is willing to guarantee that the Orioles will earn a still-to-be-negotiated minimum in annual revenues. If their revenues fall below that figure, MLB would make up the difference.

Baseball also is willing to guarantee a minimum franchise value for the Orioles. So if Angelos attempts to sell the team and can't find a buyer willing to pay that amount, MLB also would make up that difference.

 

[Gully]

Phew, that's a relief, I was talking to someone the other day who thought that the Blue Jays were moving to DC, found that pretty hard to believe and somewhat disappointing for Toronto.

I went to see the Olympic stadium in Montreal a few years back, as far as I can remember it was a really weird place, I think the roof looked like a large plastic cushion, but my mind may have been playing tricks on me.

 

[Bwian]

Phew, that's a relief, I was talking to someone the other day who thought that the Blue Jays were moving to DC, found that pretty hard to believe and somewhat disappointing for Toronto.

I went to see the Olympic stadium in Montreal a few years back, as far as I can remember it was a really weird place, I think the roof looked like a large plastic cushion, but my mind may have been playing tricks on me.

Your mind is definitely playing tricks on you...the roof wasn't finished in time for the Olympics. It wasn't even finished in time for the next three Olympics either-such is the way of Quebec and its workforce/unions/politicians.

The stadium itself looks like one of those 'Oyster Ice Cream' things which is not unlike a cushion I guess

Thank goodness it is only the Expos and not the Jays although I suspect they'll be next. Sadly, it's the exchange rate that's killing or seriously hurting Canadian teams. Pay teams in US dollars whilst collecting $CDN at the ticket window=an immediate deficit of 25%. Sadly, the NHL teams are sufering too-all the players want US dollar paycheques-forgetting that they are living and working in Canada.

 

[US Seagull]

Well the NHL situation is pretty well f**ked right now anyway as it looks like the new season isn't going to start.

 

[Raphael Meade]

not a surprising move for the expos... be interesting to see how they perform and the crowds they get in washington.

can't really see the jays moving for a good while whatever the money situation maybe.

it'd have to be a middle of the night job like the nfl team whose identity i forget!!

 

[driddles]

The Expos were doomed from the players stike. Hell they were looking at going to the 'World Series' and then the whole damn plug was pulled on the playofs. I have never been to a game (Jays) since the players strike. I used to go about 15 - 20 times a year.

As far as the NHL goes it will take a lot for me to drop hockey ... but it is not beyond comprehension. For what a good night out in Toronto and a NHL game costs I can almost get a flight to Gatwick. Might be more cost effective to just go and watch the Albion play once a year instead of the Leafs??

 

[Bwian]

The Expos were doomed from the players stike. Hell they were looking at going to the 'World Series' and then the whole damn plug was pulled on the playofs. I have never been to a game (Jays) since the players strike. I used to go about 15 - 20 times a year.

As far as the NHL goes it will take a lot for me to drop hockey ... but it is not beyond comprehension. For what a good night out in Toronto and a NHL game costs I can almost get a flight to Gatwick. Might be more cost effective to just go and watch the Albion play once a year instead of the Leafs??

I used to be able to get Leafs tickets quite easily but then things changed! On my last visit 'home' I couldn't get a ticket for less than a small mortgage

Bring back the Toronto Toros and inject some competition into the Toronto hockey scene

 

[driddles]

Actually the 'baby' Leafs are back in Toronto. The farm club has come back this year from Newfoundland. I suspect it will be hard to get farm club tickets if the NHL does not smarten up...

 

[Bwian]

The Marlies used to be the Leaf's farm team when I were a lad...who are these Newfie infidels of whom you speak?

 

[driddles]

St John's Maple Leafs http://www.sjmapleleafs.ca/
Leafs farm club. Actually moving back to Toronto for 2005/2006

 

[Bwian]

St John's Maple Leafs http://www.sjmapleleafs.ca/
Leafs farm club. Actually moving back to Toronto for 2005/2006

I knows that Lannie McDonald comes from them parts but Newfie Leafs don't sound right to me....

 

[Juan Albion]

There is loads of hockey. Junior A is just as much fun to watch once you've 'got behind' the team. And I would pay about $8 a game if I had to pay (which I don't as I'm on the staff).

Come and see the lads play instead of the prima donna NHLers... In one game last season we racked up over 410 minutes in penalties

 

[Bwian]

There is loads of hockey. Junior A is just as much fun to watch once you've 'got behind' the team. And I would pay about $8 a game if I had to pay (which I don't as I'm on the staff).

Come and see the lads play instead of the prima donna NHLers... In one game last season we racked up over 410 minutes in penalties

I went to a fight once and a Hockey game broke out

 

[Raphael Meade]

whats the lastest situ on the hockey? i read nhl.com but don't have sky so can't keep right up to date.

i was reading maybe a january start if they get things sorted??

have put my next trip over on hold... no point coming over with no leafs to watch!!

 

[Juan Albion]

Who knows? At the moment they seem miles apart. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if the whole season is lost. Which would be a shame as the Senators were obviously going to win everything.

 

[driddles]

Looks ugly. However they could tour England in December!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=100309