Representatives of American investors are already in Montreal to explore acquiring CF Montreal and relocating the team to Phoenix, Arizona, Hockey30 reported, threatening the city’s professional soccer future just 24 hours after the club went up for sale.
Information published in the Journal de Montréal confirms that Joey Saputo is already negotiating with Phoenix.
Joey Saputo confirmed his preference to find a local buyer so the club remains in Montreal after more than 30 years of family ownership. Notre préférence est de trouver le bon acheteur ici, afin que le club demeure à Montréal,
he explained.
However, Saputo never guaranteed the team would stay in Quebec, acknowledging he would accept an American buyer with a relocation plan if no viable local offer emerges. When asked how he would feel if the team left Montreal, he stated, Comme Montréalais, je n’aimerais pas voir l’équipe partir.
Je ne saurais dire comment je pourrais me sentir si la ville devait perdre l’équipe.
According to Hockey30, Phoenix has emerged as the frontrunner for the franchise. Cybersecurity executive Vicki Mayo and her husband are leading an investment group in advanced talks with Saputo to secure the team. The 42-year-old entrepreneur serves as the chief executive officer of the cybersecurity firm GMI and would be the prospective majority owner for this venture alongside her husband.
Mayo previously served as an actionnaire for the Rajasthan Royals cricket team, which was sold in a transaction valued at 1.6 billion dollars, and envisions a multi-use entertainment complex near Phoenix with a new stadium targeted for completion by 2028, located roughly 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, designed to host a men’s team, a women’s team, and concerts.
Molson a dit à Sophie Durocher le 6 novembre que son Groupe CH n’a aucun projet d’achat du club de soccer, tout en exprimant le souhait que l’équipe demeure à Montréal.
Journalist Maxime Truman outlined the severe financial hurdles facing any potential Quebec buyer. Acquiring the franchise could cost around 600 million United States dollars, or roughly one billion Canadian dollars, while taking over an organization currently losing between 20 and 30 million Canadian dollars annually.
| Milestone / Event | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alouettes Disappearance | 1987 | Temporary departure of Montreal’s professional football team |
| Expos Departure | 2004 | Relocation of Major League Baseball to Washington, D.C. |
| Grand Prix Absence | 2009 | Temporary loss of Formula 1 racing from the circuit |
| MLS Winter Calendar Shift | 2027-2028 | Upcoming schedule change driving increased investor interest |
The potential departure mirrors historical losses in Montreal, which previously saw the Expos leave in 2004, alongside the temporary exits of the Alouettes in 1987 and the Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2009, as detailed by Hockey30.
