Report: Bronfman's Montreal group to assume minority share in Rays

According to Canadian Baseball Network reporter, Danny Gallagher, there has been a movement in Montreal’s quest for the return of Major League Baseball to the city.

February 15, 2020

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

A report indicates that there has been a major movement in Montreal’s quest for the return of Major League Baseball to the city.

According to veteran Montreal French language reporter Rejéan Tremblay, prospective Montreal owner Stephen Bronfman told him his group of investors will assume partial ownership of the Tampa Bay Rays within a few months. But Rays majority owner Stu Sternberg denied this report on Saturday.

“It isn’t true,’’ Sternberg told the Tampa Bay Times on Saturday. “Eventually, at a point, I would expect and believe they could and would become minority partners. ... I need some representation up there. But there’s nothing happening in months. No way.’’

In advance of a story that was published in Le Journal de Montréal on Saturday, Tremblay told a French radio station on Feb. 14 that Bronfman has already begun negotiations with Rays majority owner Stuart Sternberg.

According to the report, Sternberg would continue to hold the majority of shares in the team and remain as the managing general partner. Bronfman has said that being a minority owner doesn't faze his group at all.

Tampa Bay has long been rumored to be heading to Montreal and until this latest report surfaced, the Rays were planning to play a number of regular-season games in Montreal a few years down the road in a somewhat complex arrangement.

What his development means is unclear. It’s possible that Rays regular-season games could be played in Montreal in several years, instead of four-to-eight years, if Bronfman assumes some ownership status but there is no guarantee.

The Rays are bound to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through a lease agreement until 2028 or so.

“Right now, the (Bronfman group) are in a public relations campaign. It’s obvious,’’ said Montreal radio reporter Jeremy Filosa, who has been following this saga for several years.

So a “public relations campaign’’ involves doing some interviews with the media. Filosa figures Bronfman has clearance from the major leagues to open up with the media.