A Quebec group wants to bring an NBA team to Montreal even though the league has no current plans to expand.
The business group is led by former federal cabinet minister and senator Michael Fortier. He said Wednesday he has spoken with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, saying his group has “taken the decision to prepare for when expansion does take place.”
Quebec business team – with @GardaWorld CEO Stephan Cretier as key investor – and with support of Chamber of Commerce of Greater Montreal – looking to bring @NBA team to Montreal. #basketball @chambremontreal pic.twitter.com/K1QNuJK5Dg
— Richard Dagenais (@Dagenator) October 10, 2018
The group has been meeting with potential Canadian and foreign investors.
Fortier estimated a franchise would cost $1.5 billion to $2 billion, but no public funding would be required. He says Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson is open to an NBA team playing at the NHL club’s Bell Centre.
The favorite for an NBA expansion team is Seattle, which lost the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Montreal — and Vancouver — should absolutely have an NBA franchise. These cities are better than 99% of U.S. cities; everybody knows this.
(Yes, Seattle should be first.)
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) October 12, 2018
Why not? The more the merrier.
