The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has paid for a presence on a huge billboard in Florida to oppose any public investment in the plan to return baseball to Montreal.
The organization has decided to display near Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The team is exploring the possibility of spending half of its season in Montreal in the medium term, because its activities in Florida are not profitable.
“Dear Rays, Montreal will not pay for your new stadium,” says the advertisement, which opened on Monday morning. It is an electronic panel on which various rotating messages appear.
“The Rays are welcome if they wish to come and play in Montreal, but Quebec taxpayers will not pay for their new stadium,” said Renaud Brossard, spokesperson for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, via press release. “Quebec’s economic recovery remains fragile, our health care system is in difficulty and we are still the most taxed jurisdiction in North America. ”
The launch of the ad was covered by local media. the Tampa bay times called the sign a “harsh message against the Rays.”
“Gone are the days when taxpayers paid for sports stadiums, but we are keeping an open mind awaiting more information from the Rays,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor in a statement relayed by the daily. . “We definitely want to keep the team in the region. ”