parking at olympic - help for a newbie

Park at the Stadium
Montreal is an incredably easy city to park in,but is a bit harder to
park in.

with a roof covering the stadium you don't have to worry about a
rainout
and you only other option rather than the Stadium is to get a room at
Auberge Universal hotel which is next door to the Stadium
do that and you can use the hotels lot.

The Stadium is at the far EAST end of the city at the corner of Rue
Sherbrooke and Blvd Pie IX.

be sure to check out the observation tower next door called Le
Funicular.
Have a pre-game dinner at the top of the tower.(or post game)

Montreal might get an independant team next season in the northeast
league
The league owned ACES......formerly the Allentown Pa Ambassaodors are
rumoured moving there.
hopefully they will build a minor league stadium next to the Bell
Centre
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie 

Greetings and felicitaitons,

Accoriding to the Expos site,

"Fan Appreciation Night - Tribute to 1994 Expos

20,000 commemorative posters of the 1994 edition of the Expos members of
the 1994 team in attendance: Ken Hill, Lou Frazier, Tim Scott, Gil
Heredia, Joey Eischen and Denis Boucher, as well as the Marlins' Wil
Cordero and bullpen coach Pierre Arseneault. "

To bad, we can't see active players like Larry, Walker or Marquis Grissom.

'tis a sad day for Baseball because I think Montreal is only the first
of many to leave (re: NHL)

Robertazimmerman wrote:
>
>
> Does anyone know which members of the '94 team are going to be there?
>
> Roberta
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie 

Thank you friend -- nice of you to respond so quickly. We're leaving now --
I'll post tomorrow with thoughts and observations.

st

PS -- Unlike my daughter, who must be insane, I am a Cubs fan and will be
doing some serious scoreboard watching. (Just kidding of course -- we are
BOTH insane baseball nuts.)

"Robertazimmerman" <bobdylan.TakeThisOut@iname.com> wrote in message
news:d3nll09qc1k3s292ubcsggfaa9d0asqupm@4ax.com...
> Park in the stadium. It's a bit pricey at $15 a pop, but very
> convenient. The entrance is on the south side of the stadium (one
> street south of Sherbrooke).
>
> Enjoy the game. Wish I could be there (with a big box of Kleenex).
>
> Does anyone know which members of the '94 team are going to be there?
>
> Roberta
>
>
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 15:44:53 GMT, "sammytaylor"
> <sammytaylor.TakeThisOut@thesellersplace.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Totally unfamiliar with Montreal, I am driving in tonight with my
>>daughter,
>>who is a die-hard Expos fan. Can somebody help me with info regarding
>>parking. I speak very little French. We are coming from Maine. Thanks and
>>go
>>Expos.
>>
>>st
>>
>
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie 

Well,

We drove 5 and a half hours to Montreal and it was well worth it. In answer
to the question about getting in, we had no problem. We crossed at I-91 in
Vermont, and although I had my passports we didn't need them. The Canadian
customs person, as well as just about every other Canadian we met, was
friendly and warm. She genuinely seemed to appreciate our trek to see the
final Expos game. I was travelling with my daughter, who has been a SERIOUS
'Spos fan ever since the arrival of Livan! And we did bring our passports,
because I feared we might need them -- not to get into Canada but to get
BACK! (More on that below).

But the hassle to get the passports from my safety deposit box meant we left
Portland a bit late, and as we pulled into the outskirts of Montreal it was
obvious we were going to miss the first inning or two. Plus, I speak no
French except a few basic phrases, and my Mapquest directions had about 5
turns in the final 2 miles. Anyway, frantically driving north toward the
stadium in somewhat heavy traffic, the guy next to me honks while we're
stopped at a redlight and when I roll down my window he asks if we're headed
for the game! How the heck did he know that, I wondered? They either spied
my daughter's Expos hat (but it was real dark) or it was the Cubs sticker on
the back bumper. Whatever, what a kind gesture as they gave me some pointers
about finding Olympic Stadium (but they said they themselves would be going
to the Metro because parking was so bad.) And sure enough, we had to park
illegally in a residential neighborhood next to a sign saying you needed a
sticker. I worried the whole game we'd come back with the car towed or at
least a ticket, but the city decided to give us a gift -- no ticket!

We got to our seats (40 $CDN each from a scalper for the lower boxes) just
before the disturbance in the 3rd inning. But the crowd was pretty mellow.
Except for the FUCK LORIA signs, people were mostly cheering through
held-back tears. But when the score became 5-1 my daughter said she wanted
to leave and that she just couldn't watch. I took her out to buy a $90 Expos
sweatshirt, where a really nice Canadian pleaded with me for my
Kerry/Edwards button, saying he knew ex-pats who might be persuaded to vote
absentee if he sported the button. At first I said no way, but the guy was
so friendly and appreciative of the anti-Bush movement that I finally
relented.

One oddity I noticed. The fans only chant "Let's Go Expos" when Montereal is
in the field. I'm used to this being a cheer for offense, but when I started
yelling it during the Expos turn at bat several people stared at me like I
was nuts.

I finally convinced my daughter that a true fan stays and supports the team
to the end, no matter what the score and went back and sat down. Probably
30,000 of the 32,000 there also stayed to the end. It was pretty weird, a
last-place team losing 9-1 having everybody stay until the final out! But it
was very emotional. A fan started yelling about free peanuts, and walking up
and down the aisle with an enormous bag of unshelled, giving handfulls to
whomever wanted some. When the 'Spos took the field for the final time the
place went nuts. Canadian flags being waved. People (including my daughter)
openly weeping, and it was probably the loudest I have EVER heard it at any
baseball game in my life. Then the inevitable final 3 outs in the bottom of
the ninth, and that was it. But nobody left, the score board started showing
35 years of highlights, and finally the entire team came out and started
tossing baseballs into the stands. People were screaming and the balls were
being thrown everywhere -- even the upper deck. The guy in front of my
caught one right out of my hands, and when he miraculously caught a SECOND
one (!!) I really urged him if he would give it to my daughter. He looked at
the tears streaming down her face, and handed it to her. I got a picture of
the two of them together, holding eachother. Then a stage was set up in
front of the 1st base dugout, and a few players and coaches said a few
words. They were in French, English, Spanish. Levan spoke. My daughter
finally smiled.

And alas we left Olympic Stadium.

We walked around a bit outside the stadium, with groups of fans still
shouting "Let's Go Expos" and tried to find players for autographs, but
security said that night it would definitely not happen. And as we walked
back to the car, a goddamned phalanx of riot police appeared, walking
briskly down the street (the other way, fortunately!) I presume they had
been brought out "just in case" but it was chilling. I had the balls (or
stupidity) to step to the curb and get a nice flash picture of the group as
they went by two feet away. I'll post it somewhere and put a link in here if
get the time (this trip means I'm really behind in my work!)

One final note -- well two notes. First of all, every person we met was
extremely sweet. Our tortured French was accepted and people went out of
their way to help us (that guy in the car being just one example.) My car
did NOT have the dreated parking ticket. As I fiddled around the van putting
stuff away, I accidentally dropped my wallet and didn't notice it. Then we
headed home, but for some reason, even though we had about 1/2 a tank, I
decided to stop for gas about a mile up the road. Thank god! I discovered
the wallet missing, drove back to my parking spot (on Orleans) and mon dieux
(is that right??) -- there it was on the sidewalk!!! This was a final bit of
magic from Montreal.

The last note -- we got a hotel, and crossed the border next morning. The US
Customs guy asked what we had been doing. When I said watching a baseball
game, he said "You too?!". I said yeah, that my daughter was a huge fan. He
said he had a son with the same problem, and had also been there (although
impending homework meant they hadn't stayed for the finale.)

It was truly memorable. I doubt I'll have quite this kind of baseball
experience the rest of my life. Thanks, Expos fans.

st
Cubs fan
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie 

That's a wonderful story, Sammy.

I can't tell you how many memorable games I've been to at Jarry Park
and the Big Owe, but I know that if I had gone last night, I'd have
weeping like a blubbering idiot.! It was bad enough that my hubby had
to hug me after the last Expo out was made because I was crying so
hard.

Strange......I had abandoned the team in '95 and since then, I openly
told all who would listen that Montreal didn't deserve a team (and I
still feel that way). Yet when the final nail went into the coffin of
Nos Amours last night, I was unable to control my emotions.

I wish they could stay, but in the current economic climate of $5-20
million/year contracts, there's no way the team could survive without
drawing crowds of 30,000 every night. Can you imagine what the '94
team would have to be paid? 1/2 of the guys would probably want $10
million/year and the balance $3-5 million. Our payroll would have to
match the Yankees payroll!

Roberta

On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 05:29:42 GMT, "sammytaylor"
<sammytaylor DeleteThis @thesellersplace.com> wrote:

>Well,
>
>We drove 5 and a half hours to Montreal and it was well worth it. In answer
>to the question about getting in, we had no problem. We crossed at I-91 in
>Vermont, and although I had my passports we didn't need them. The Canadian
>customs person, as well as just about every other Canadian we met, was
>friendly and warm. She genuinely seemed to appreciate our trek to see the
>final Expos game. I was travelling with my daughter, who has been a SERIOUS
>'Spos fan ever since the arrival of Livan! And we did bring our passports,
>because I feared we might need them -- not to get into Canada but to get
>BACK! (More on that below).
>
>But the hassle to get the passports from my safety deposit box meant we left
>Portland a bit late, and as we pulled into the outskirts of Montreal it was
>obvious we were going to miss the first inning or two. Plus, I speak no
>French except a few basic phrases, and my Mapquest directions had about 5
>turns in the final 2 miles. Anyway, frantically driving north toward the
>stadium in somewhat heavy traffic, the guy next to me honks while we're
>stopped at a redlight and when I roll down my window he asks if we're headed
>for the game! How the heck did he know that, I wondered? They either spied
>my daughter's Expos hat (but it was real dark) or it was the Cubs sticker on
>the back bumper. Whatever, what a kind gesture as they gave me some pointers
>about finding Olympic Stadium (but they said they themselves would be going
>to the Metro because parking was so bad.) And sure enough, we had to park
>illegally in a residential neighborhood next to a sign saying you needed a
>sticker. I worried the whole game we'd come back with the car towed or at
>least a ticket, but the city decided to give us a gift -- no ticket!
>
>We got to our seats (40 $CDN each from a scalper for the lower boxes) just
>before the disturbance in the 3rd inning. But the crowd was pretty mellow.
>Except for the FUCK LORIA signs, people were mostly cheering through
>held-back tears. But when the score became 5-1 my daughter said she wanted
>to leave and that she just couldn't watch. I took her out to buy a $90 Expos
>sweatshirt, where a really nice Canadian pleaded with me for my
>Kerry/Edwards button, saying he knew ex-pats who might be persuaded to vote
>absentee if he sported the button. At first I said no way, but the guy was
>so friendly and appreciative of the anti-Bush movement that I finally
>relented.
>
>One oddity I noticed. The fans only chant "Let's Go Expos" when Montereal is
>in the field. I'm used to this being a cheer for offense, but when I started
>yelling it during the Expos turn at bat several people stared at me like I
>was nuts.
>
>I finally convinced my daughter that a true fan stays and supports the team
>to the end, no matter what the score and went back and sat down. Probably
>30,000 of the 32,000 there also stayed to the end. It was pretty weird, a
>last-place team losing 9-1 having everybody stay until the final out! But it
>was very emotional. A fan started yelling about free peanuts, and walking up
>and down the aisle with an enormous bag of unshelled, giving handfulls to
>whomever wanted some. When the 'Spos took the field for the final time the
>place went nuts. Canadian flags being waved. People (including my daughter)
>openly weeping, and it was probably the loudest I have EVER heard it at any
>baseball game in my life. Then the inevitable final 3 outs in the bottom of
>the ninth, and that was it. But nobody left, the score board started showing
>35 years of highlights, and finally the entire team came out and started
>tossing baseballs into the stands. People were screaming and the balls were
>being thrown everywhere -- even the upper deck. The guy in front of my
>caught one right out of my hands, and when he miraculously caught a SECOND
>one (!!) I really urged him if he would give it to my daughter. He looked at
>the tears streaming down her face, and handed it to her. I got a picture of
>the two of them together, holding eachother. Then a stage was set up in
>front of the 1st base dugout, and a few players and coaches said a few
>words. They were in French, English, Spanish. Levan spoke. My daughter
>finally smiled.
>
>And alas we left Olympic Stadium.
>
>We walked around a bit outside the stadium, with groups of fans still
>shouting "Let's Go Expos" and tried to find players for autographs, but
>security said that night it would definitely not happen. And as we walked
>back to the car, a goddamned phalanx of riot police appeared, walking
>briskly down the street (the other way, fortunately!) I presume they had
>been brought out "just in case" but it was chilling. I had the balls (or
>stupidity) to step to the curb and get a nice flash picture of the group as
>they went by two feet away. I'll post it somewhere and put a link in here if
>get the time (this trip means I'm really behind in my work!)
>
>One final note -- well two notes. First of all, every person we met was
>extremely sweet. Our tortured French was accepted and people went out of
>their way to help us (that guy in the car being just one example.) My car
>did NOT have the dreated parking ticket. As I fiddled around the van putting
>stuff away, I accidentally dropped my wallet and didn't notice it. Then we
>headed home, but for some reason, even though we had about 1/2 a tank, I
>decided to stop for gas about a mile up the road. Thank god! I discovered
>the wallet missing, drove back to my parking spot (on Orleans) and mon dieux
>(is that right??) -- there it was on the sidewalk!!! This was a final bit of
>magic from Montreal.
>
>The last note -- we got a hotel, and crossed the border next morning. The US
>Customs guy asked what we had been doing. When I said watching a baseball
>game, he said "You too?!". I said yeah, that my daughter was a huge fan. He
>said he had a son with the same problem, and had also been there (although
>impending homework meant they hadn't stayed for the finale.)
>
>It was truly memorable. I doubt I'll have quite this kind of baseball
>experience the rest of my life. Thanks, Expos fans.
>
>st
>Cubs fan
>
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie 

On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 05:29:42 GMT, "sammytaylor"
<sammytaylor DeleteThis @thesellersplace.com> spewed forth these words of wisdom:


<snip>

Great story, Sammy.

The same thing happened here in Greenville, SC on Labor Day. Our AA team of 20
years, the Greenville Braves were leaving town because our stadium no longer met
league standards. The county council had three years to come up with a
solution, but literally waited until the final hour (they may have had 30
minutes to spare) to make a proposal. The Braves rejected it and moved to Pearl,
MS. The final game here took place as Tropical Storm Frances was approaching,
so it rained off and on, and the turnout was rather poor. Ours was a special
situation, with the parent club being only 150 files away. Atlanta could call
someone up quickly if they were in a jam, or big stars, such as John Smoltz
would come here for some rehab starts.
We will get a new team as soon as next year, but a new stadium still has to be
built. Greenville is luring the single-A Capitol City (Columbia, SC) Bombers,
and surprisingly, Mauldin, a suburb is luring the AA Western Tennessee
Diamond-Jaxx.

--
"I'm not a cool person in real life, but I play one on the Internet"
Galley
 >> Stay informed about: parking at olympic - help for a newbie