Miami Group Wants Expos, Offers $117 Million

Montreal Expo owner Charles Bronfman has been offered $117.4 million for the team by a Miami group, $30 million more than his asking price, but he is continuing to search for a local buyer, according to a published report.

The Montreal Gazette reported Sunday that a Miami group is willing to make a $30.4-million down payment on the team, which would move to Miami as soon as construction on a new stadium is completed.

Bronfman has said that he wants to sell the team for about $87 million, but would prefer to sell the franchise to a person or group who would keep the team in Montreal. He has set an Aug. 31 deadline for offers from local groups.

Claude Brochu, the Expo president who has been given the job of finding a buyer, said Saturday: “You’ve got a lot of agents and people involved in something like this. It seems like everyone’s come out of the woodwork, and that includes people who just want to make a quick buck.”