Montreal Mayor Plante ready to play ball?

MONTREAL — Mayor Valerie Plante will meet with the potential investors who hope to bring major league baseball back to Montreal.

Plante said this week she will sit down with businessmen Stephen Bronfman and Mitch Garber on Friday to gather information on the project and see what role the city may play in getting a team. Montreal has been without a franchise since the Expos were moved to Washington D.C., and renamed the Nationals after the 2004 season.

Bringing back the Expos was a pet project of former mayor Denis Coderre, but Plante vowed during her successful election campaign last fall not to commit any money to a baseball team without a referendum.

Plante’s stance may have softened after Bronfman said last week they were not seeking money from city hall but need its support in other areas.

“Already it’s a better deal,” Plante said after an executive committee meeting this week.

Bringing back baseball would be a major investment, not only in paying for a team but also building a stadium.

Major League Baseball is considering expansion, while teams that may be contemplating relocation include Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Robert Beaudry, the executive committee member responsible for economic development, said the city would also be open to a National Basketball Association team if investors are found.

An NBA franchise could play at the Bell Centre, saving the cost of building another venue, but several cities are reportedly interested in landing a team, while expansion fees would likely be steep.