Montreal Loses Grand Prix

I am really sad about Montreal losing the Grand Prix, but not in the way most people think. Really, the only reason I am sad is the loss of revenue for the merchants and workers who rely on this summer "bonus" check. It's another major event Montreal loses. Other than that if you never were concerned or worried about the Expos leaving, I don't want to hear you complain about the Grand Prix. Major League Baseball was by far a greater sporting event, and brought in/had more potential then any race could have. Everyone with power just sat still and let the Expos go. If people had half the passion to save the Expos the way people are crying and fawning over F1, we might be watching "Nos Amours" in the Baseball Playoffs right now. The real reason I think people are so upset about the Grand Prix leaving is the reminder another "major" event is leaving a city that was once "the place" to be for an event. All we have left now is Hockey and Nascar. I love my Habs, and I am starting to like Nascar, but the loss of Baseball still makes me sad. And when people talk about tax money to repair the track or redo the track to woo back the Grand Prix, I want to know where was this money to keep the Expos? Where was the local government and mayor to help build the downtown stadium? Where were the people to show up and support our team in the streets? Montreal could (and was) a great baseball city. It can support a team. The problem was the venue. Always was the reason, no matter what revisionists tell you. There were people lined up ready to buy tickets at the downtown stadium (pictured above). There was no doubt in my mind. And while Jeffery Loria wasn't a saint, I still think he wasn't the devil many made him out to be. The reality is, he got no support, and stepped in when no one else cared to run the franchise. We collectively got what we deserved. So lets do what we need to save the Grand Prix. It's an important event for this city. I just hope if ever we get another chance at a MLB franchise, these same people show up and work at getting the same kind of support.