It has been a disastrous week for Stephen Bronfman and his group as they seek to bring Major League Baseball back to Montreal.
Last Tuesday, the headline of Press revealing that their request for a financial contribution from the Quebec government could reach “hundreds of millions” has rightly caused an outcry. Opposition parties, analysts and thousands of citizens have expressed healthy skepticism (I’m polite!) That the operation will come at no cost to taxpayers.
In this hot context, one would have thought that the Montreal Baseball Group would react publicly in order to defend its project. But no, even if the communications battle is on. If it was a baseball game, the promoters would already be 5-0 behind in the third inning.
Why this astonishing silence? My information, validated with people close to the case, tells me that this discretion is not guided by a desire for opacity.
On the contrary, Bronfman and his group are convinced that they will present, no doubt in the first quarter of 2022, a promising plan for the Bridge-Bonaventure sector, likely to create a “wow” effect in Montreal.
They hope that the needle of public opinion will then move on their side.
In their minds, however, it is essential not to bypass the current stages, marked by delicate discussions. First with the Government of Quebec, then with the City of Montreal.
The financial impact figures submitted by the Baseball Montreal Group are carefully analyzed by the Minister of the Economy Pierre Fitzgibbon and his specialists, who ask many questions and multiply the checks. And if Valérie Plante does not swim in the middle of the unknown as to Bronfman’s intentions, the crucial meeting where he will reveal his precise plan has not yet taken place. We know, however, that it is coming soon.
How will the mayoress react? On that, the bets are off. But one thing seems clear to me: the developers are perfectly aware of the policies and commitments of the Plante administration in terms of urban development, such as the number of social housing in real estate projects, access to quality green spaces and the harmonious integration of buildings, stadium or other, into the surrounding environment. Unless there is a huge surprise, their concept will respect these priorities.
Another factor to consider: as my colleague André Dubuc revealed last June, the Baseball Montreal Group is advised by urban architect Clément Demers, who has contributed to the development of the Quartier international de Montréal and the Quartier des spectacles. Its reputation is excellent.
In contrast, in such large-scale endeavors, the devil is often in the details. It should therefore not be assumed that the submitted plan will benefit from the necessary social acceptability.
The prudence of the Baseball Montreal Group in terms of communications can also be explained by a very simple reality: in this case, Montreal is trailing Tampa, and not the other way around.
The Rays also want a new stadium for the shared custody team. Their current home is in St. Petersburg, a suburb of Tampa. They now want to settle in the city-center and are in discussions with the mayoress Jane Castor, who welcomes the idea. According to Tampa bay times, it will soon present various scenarios of financial contribution to the Rays. The State of Florida will also be requested.
Before launching a real consultation process in Montreal, during which Bronfman and his team will present their project and the interested groups – supporters and opponents – will express their points of view, it must be almost certain that Tampa will embark on the adventure. Otherwise, it will be wasted time.
Major League Baseball must also give its consent for the case to take off. Analysts believed that approval would come at the end of last season. The triggering of a lockout delays things, however. Concluding a new collective agreement with the Players’ Association is, for now, the top priority for Commissioner Rob Manfred and the team owners.
The return of major league baseball to Montreal has been in the news for several years. We are finally at the time of decision. It is in 2022 that the Baseball Montreal Group will win or lose its bet.
Today, betting on his chances of victory would be daring. Taxpayers are mostly reluctant to have public funds finance a billionaire entertainment industry, even in a more comprehensive development framework.
Selling the project to the population will therefore be a gigantic task. But the promoters are well prepared.
For months I have heard that an astonishing amount of work is being done behind the scenes. After verifications, I can better appreciate the seriousness of this assertion. Advisory groups have been formed in economics, tourism and even innovation / eco-responsibility. Lots of people are contributing.
If Tampa Bay goes for it and if Major League Baseball agrees to joint custody, will the promoters of the Montreal Baseball Group convince the population to support their project?
For this, they will have to meet two essential conditions.
First, plan for economic spinoffs that are both prudent – the swelling would serve them very badly – and greater than the government’s contribution. And demonstrate unequivocally that these benefits will be real and verifiable.
We can therefore expect an update of the figures that have circulated, in particular with regard to the tax levied by Quebec on the salaries of players. To satisfy Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association, a team in shared custody would certainly have a much higher payroll than the Rays last season. With, consequently, more tax revenues for the government than the sum of 4 to 5 million hitherto mentioned.
Then, the promoters will have to convince the Plante administration that the development project will be modern and innovative, that it will benefit all Montrealers, especially those living in the targeted neighborhood, and that it will become a showcase for the city. .
All of this is possible. But let’s be clear: for Stephen Bronfman, the bar is high, very high.