With CF Montreal up for sale, is Quebec at risk of losing another pro sports franchise?

After losing the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Expos, could the province be on the verge of losing another professional sports franchise?

Joey Saputo announced Monday he is looking to sell CF Montreal, the Major League Soccer club he founded more than three decades ago, raising questions about where the team could end up under new ownership.

While Saputo has said he wants the club to remain in Montreal, he has also indicated he would not stand in the way of a sale that could see the franchise move elsewhere.

For Rocco Placentino, a former Montreal Impact player who spent five seasons with the club and won a championship, the potential sale marks an emotional moment for a team that has helped build soccer in Quebec.

“I’ve lived a part of my life with the Montreal Impact back in the day and just to see what that family did for this sport in our province was remarkable,” Placentino said.

He said the Saputo family has played an important role in growing the sport over the past 30 years, adding that losing the club would mean more than just losing a professional team.

“It’s about putting the roots together, having the will to put something that’s strong and meaningful for fans to come and appreciate what they see on the field,” he said.

But Concordia University senior economics lecturer Moshe Lander said the sale does not come as a surprise, pointing to declining attendance and the team’s recent struggles.

The potential sale comes after a difficult season for the club, which has faced challenges attracting fans to the stadium.

For local businesses that sell team merchandise, the uncertainty could also have financial consequences.

Carmelo Sansalone, owner of Evangelista Sports, said the club remains an important part of the local sports community despite its recent struggles.

“It’s still the local team, right? People want to support and they want to get behind them. And yeah, it would affect sales, for sure,” Sansalone said.

The Quebec government has not ruled out participating in a potential purchase, provided the team remains in the province.

Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Tuesday that while the government would not provide subsidies or write blank cheques, it would be willing to examine proposals that could involve the province taking an ownership stake.

He said a responsible government should not dismiss potential business proposals before examining them.

Lander said another challenge for the Montreal club could come in 2027, when MLS is scheduled to change its season calendar.

The shift could mean CF Montreal playing home games in the middle of winter, raising questions about the viability of the schedule in a city known for its harsh winters.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are also on the market, adding to uncertainty surrounding Canada’s MLS franchises.

Lander said speculation has linked the Vancouver club to a potential move to Las Vegas, while CF Montreal could also attract interest from American buyers looking to relocate the team.

He pointed to the growth of MLS in the American Southwest, suggesting markets such as Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe could become potential destinations for teams.

For supporters and those who have helped build the sport locally, the question now is whether CF Montreal’s next chapter will remain in Quebec.