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​By Sports Desk | December 24, 2025

Let’s just put it out there: the call to Bring Back Montreal Expos is getting louder. Baseball has a gaping hole in its soul, and it’s shaped like a tricolor “elb” logo.

​If you spend any time on baseball social media, you have seen it. Every few months, a viral post pops up showing an old photo of Vladimir Guerrero launching a home run at Olympic Stadium, or an image of Max Scherzer decked out in that iconic powder blue uniform. While many assume that Scherzer photo is a Photoshop creation, it is actually real—he wore the throwback jersey in 2019 while playing for the Nationals (the franchise that used to be the Expos). The caption on these posts is always the same variation of a desperate plea: “Bring them back.”

​Recently, the chatter has gotten louder. With MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred openly discussing expansion to 32 teams in the near future, the dream of the Montreal Expos returning is no longer just nostalgic daydreaming. It’s becoming a genuine movement. But why? Why are fans—many of whom are too young to remember the team leaving in 2004—so obsessed with a franchise that hasn’t existed in two decades?

​As someone who watched them play, I can tell you: it’s not just about baseball. It’s about righting a historic wrong.

Why We Must Bring Back Montreal Expos: The Trauma of 1994

To understand the passionate movement to bring back Montreal Expos, you have to understand the heartbreak of 1994.

​That year, the Expos weren’t just good; they were a juggernaut. They had the best record in baseball (74-40). They had incredible talent like Larry Walker, Moises Alou, and Pedro Martinez. They were practically destined for the World Series. And then, the players’ strike happened. The season was canceled. There was no World Series.

​The Expos didn’t just lose a season; they lost their momentum forever. Following that strike, ownership held a fire sale, trading away the stars because they claimed they couldn’t afford them. The fans were crushed. The demand to bring them back today is largely rooted in the feeling that Montreal was robbed of its glory moment, and they deserve a second chance to finish the story.

​It’s About the “Vibe,” Not Just Market Size

​When business analysts talk about MLB expansion, they talk about boring stuff like “media markets” and “corporate sponsorship.” Cities like Nashville and Salt Lake City have great proposals on paper.

​But baseball isn’t played on paper. The Expos brought something unique to the league that has been missing ever since. It was the international flair. Hearing the announcements in French and English at “The Big O.” The sheer fun of their branding. Even their mascot, Youppi! (who was sadly adopted by the NHL’s Canadiens), was legendary.

The plan to bring back Montreal Expos isn’t just plonking a franchise into another city.

​Debunking the “Fans Didn’t Care” Myth

​Critics always point to the end. They point to the pathetic attendance numbers from 2001 to 2004 right before the team moved to Washington D.C. to become the Nationals. They say, “If Montreal loved them so much, why didn’t they show up?”

​This argument always infuriates me. By the end, the team was owned by the league itself. They were playing home games in Puerto Rico to make extra cash. The stadium was literally falling apart. The fans didn’t abandon the Expos; baseball abandoned the fans first.

 We have seen proof that the hunger to bring back Montreal Expos is still alive and well. In recent years, before the current stadium issues with the Rays and A’s took center stage, the Toronto Blue Jays played preseason exhibition games at Olympic Stadium. The place was packed. 50,000 people showed up just for a practice game. That tells you everything you need to know.

The Road to Bring Back Montreal Expos: It Has to Be Downtown

 Of course, the campaign to bring back Montreal Expos needs more than nostalgia to pay the bills. If this rumor is ever going to become reality, one massive thing needs to happen: a new stadium.

​Nobody wants to go back to Olympic Stadium full-time. It’s a concrete cavern with terrible turf. The dream scenario, the one that keeps getting floated by business groups in Montreal, is an open-air, downtown ballpark. Imagine a beautiful summer night in Montreal, watching baseball right in the city center. That environment would rival anything in places like Denver or Pittsburgh.

​The Final Verdict

​Will it happen? The competition is fierce. Nashville has a very organized group. Other cities are throwing huge money around.

​But if MLB wants to make a decision with its heart—and frankly, a smart business decision that leans into the sport’s rich history—Montreal has to be the pick. The constant online clamoring isn’t just noise. It is a passionate plea to Bring Back Montreal Expos to where they belong.

​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

​1. Why did the Montreal Expos leave in the first place?

It was a combination of factors: poor ownership that sold off star players, a terrible stadium situation at Olympic Stadium, and declining revenues. MLB eventually bought the team and relocated them to Washington D.C. after the 2004 season.

​2. Is MLB officially bringing the Expos back?

No, there is no official announcement. Currently, these are strong rumors and fan demands based on MLB’s plan to expand to 32 teams in the coming years.

​3. Which cities are competing with Montreal for an expansion team?

The strongest competitors appear to be Nashville (Tennessee) and Salt Lake City (Utah). Both cities have motivated ownership groups and plans for stadiums. Portland and Charlotte are also mentioned occasionally.

“Do you support the movement to Bring Back Montreal Expos? Let us know in the comments!”