Aug. series may switch from Nashua to Quebec

NASHUA - Au revoir Defenders?

Well, possibly at least for an unscheduled weekend excursion. The Can-Am League and the American Defenders of New Hampshire say they will decide this week whether to move a home series scheduled for the Aug. 21 weekend against the Quebec Capitales to Quebec City for two games and nearby Trois-Rivieres (Three Rivers), Quebec for Game 3.

Both Can-Am League Commissioner Miles Wolff - also the Capitales owner - and Defenders team president Dan Duquette confirmed on Monday that discussions have been ongoing. Duquette said a decision will have to made by the end of this week so the league can promote the game in Trois-Rivieres.

“We’ve been working with the league to help them get back to eight teams and one of the options we’re considering is to play a series up in Quebec in August and the possibility of Three Rivers,” Duquette said.

Of course, such a move would fuel speculation that the team would be targeting Trois-Rivieres as a possible landing spot next season should it vacate the remaining two years of a lease with Nashua for the use of Holman Stadium. The franchise went into Monday night’s game averaging just 1,197 fans a game, last in the league by nearly 800 fans a night.

Sources in Trois-Rivieres have said that although there has been no discussions between city officials and Boston Baseball All-Stars LLC, the topic of a Defenders move there has been discussed. A game on Sunday, Aug. 23 would be a way to gauge interest.

“Well, people can speculate on whatever they’d like,” Duquette said.

“We’re just looking at it from a league perspective, not a Nashua, New Hampshire perspective,” Wolff said. “From Three Rivers’ point of view, they don’t care who they get (to play the game) . . . It would be nice to have a test game there.”

But, added Wolff, “I think it would be a clear indication (Defenders owners) are looking at their options.”

Strangely enough, the Defenders are scheduled to play in Quebec City the following weekend (Aug. 28-30). So why not play a game in Three Rivers then?

According to Duquette and Wolff there are two reasons. First, the Capitales, who lead the league in attendance (averaging 3,394) don’t want to give up the gate.

And second, the Defenders, who would

allegedly receive a good chunk of the proceeds for the weekend, could make more money over the weekend in Quebec than by playing in Nashua.

“I think it makes more sense for the league to do it when we’re here because we’re last in the league in attendance,” Duquette said. “The idea would be we’d get a better draw from those games then we’ve been getting here. So we’re in discussions with the league to see if that’s a viable possibility.

“But the idea would be to help the league get another city established in Canada to maintain the integrity of the Canadian part of the Can-Am League.”

“They probably think they can make more money up here,” Wolff said. “Financially it probably makes more sense for them to do it . . . And I don’t want to lose any home games in Quebec.”

Wolff also said members of his Capitales staff would have to work the game in Three Rivers because they speak French.

There are several things the team needs to iron out, including how to deal with season ticket holders who are losing three dates. Then there are the fans that have purchased advance tickets for that August weekend.

The club has had its only attendance of 2,000-plus fans on Friday Fireworks Nights and Saturdays lately have also been good draws.

The team will also need to discuss it with sponsors and city officials.

“Those are all considerations the team has to take into account,” Duquette said. “That’s what we’re examining now, and will see where it goes. It’s not an easy decision. It’s not an unprecedented consideration for a team.”

The city of Three Rivers, located 75 miles southwest of Quebec City, directly between Quebec City and Montreal, used to house an Eastern League team from 1971-77. It was also briefly home to a Canadian independent league team in 2003 before the league abruptly folded that summer. Sources there say some $7 million has been put into the facility for renovations and it is modeled exactly after Stade Municipal De Quebec, home of the Capitales. But those same sources say it will be difficult there, as well, to draw some 2,000 a game, the number many look at as a possible financial break-even point for a season.

Of course, any potential move of the franchise out of the country to Three Rivers would probably blow up the U.S. Military All-Star affiliation, or at least the ability to use that as a marketing tool.

Wolff, who said he was unaware of the team’s rent issue with the city of Nashua, added he’s disappointed in how things have gone here.

“I guess I’m discouraged,” Wolff said. “We like having Nashua for a number of reasons. It’s a good fit for the league geographically.

“We want Nashua to be in the league. But you can’t tell somebody if they’re not doing well that they have to stay there.”

Duquette was asked what the reaction might be from season ticket holders, etc.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I really don’t. We’re considering all those issues and giving them weight in our discussions with the league . . . We’d have to talk about it with our partners.”