A market study commissioned by a group of high profile businessmen and companies working on getting major league baseball back in Montreal suggests the project would be viable for the long term and that there is strong support for a new team.
The Montreal Group led by businessman Stephen Bronfman conducted public consultations last spring.
Their results suggest "that Montreal has the market characteristics to support an MLB team effectively over the long term."
The study also said that "the Montreal TV market ranks in the top half of all MLB TV markets" and "Montreal is the strongest market among potential expansion or relocation candidates - with regard to other expansion team or relocation candidate cities, Montreal ranks 1st in population, 1st in size of television market, 1st in size of corporate base and 2nd in median household income."
Both fans and business leaders indicated in the study that they want a downtown stadium; 80% of fans say they would bike, walk or take public transit to get there.
Frédéric Daigle, sports writer for La Presse Canadienne said it's no coincidence that the study comes out after the Tampa Bay Rays scrapped a new downtown stadium project since there's no political and financial support.
"(The study) says that the Montreal market is more than ready," said Daigle.
In a statement, businessman Stephen Bronfman said "the results show how excited people are about the return of Major League Baseball to Montreal."
"The data we've collected will greatly assist us with achieving our ultimate goal of bringing MLB back to Montreal in an exciting, successful and sustainable way."
Other findings: