Blue Jays World Series run has sparked talks of a second team coming to Canada
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays making it all the way to the World Series, has gotten many people talking about bringing back the Expos to Montreal who relocated to become the Washington Nationals in 2004, but with Rob Manfred's expansion aspirations that could all change.
The lack of attendance for the Tampa Bay Rays could also suggest a relocation to regain two baseball teams in Canada
Blue Jays success could bring baseball back to Montreal.
Jake Ferraro of Jays Journal suggested the possibility of the Expos returning to Montreal due to the Blue Jays success, but also their fan interaction.
It is one thing to make the World Series, but when a whole country tunes in to support them, it presents an untapped market for the MLB.
"2025 may have been the start of a potential return of the Expos. The Tampa Bay Rays were playing their games at Steinbrenner Stadium due to Tropicana Field being damaged by Hurricane Milton in 2024. The Rays still averaged under 10,000 fans per game. While it is a minor league stadium, not selling out games consistently isn't a good thing either for the team's fan base, especially one that was struggling to get fans into their old building."-Ferraro
The biggest problem with the Expos has always been their stadium, but the Olympic Stadium is undergoing renovations and expected to be completed by 2028. A fully renovated stadium is really the only thing that was standing in their way originally. Due to a struggling team in Tampa, it's the perfect timing to bring a second team to Canada.
"On the positive side, if both teams are competitive and playing in the same division, they should see revenue gains at the gate when the two teams play each other. It's been over two decades since the Blue Jays and Expos played against each other and if the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens have proved anything, it's that a Toronto vs Montreal on ice (field) battle is always prime viewership."-Ferraro
This presents an incredible opportunity for the MLB, and for the networks, creating a Canadian rivalry which is bound to happen. Rogers will jump at the opportunity to market both teams, and it'll create even more buzz during the regular season, which is where viewership is always the shakiest.
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