On the sidelines of Wednesday's pre-season challenge between Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, former Canadian trade minister and senator Michael Fortier has illustrated to the press the intention to propose Montreal as the new venue for the 31st NBA team, if the league was to evaluate the expansion.

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The investment fund spokesman then declared that the project aims to be financed exclusively by private individuals. The group aims to attract other investors in the coming months.

"Although - as noted - the NBA made it known that it did not have immediate plans for expansion, our group made the decision to prepare the ground for a possible 31-team enlargement project. What we trust can happen in the near future "

Stephan Crétier, CEO of the Garda World group - based in Montreal - would have joined the project, guaranteeing a 10% share of the estimated value of the new franchise.

The estimated cost of the operation would be around 1.5 and 2 billion dollars, including new arena, according to Fortier.

The construction of arenas owned by the NBA teams represents the future for the expansion projects of the league, as an alternative to the present "rental" model of the structures.

Beginning with the NBA 2019 \ 20 season, the Golden State Warriors will move to the new Chase Center in San Francisco, on the opposite side of the bay that separates Oakland and the sister city.

The Chase Center will be the exclusive property of the Golden State Warriors, holders of an investment of about one billion dollars.

Estimates of revenue on the sale of GOlden Satteer tickets, NBA and non-football events, direct sponsorship contracts and commercial activities related to the new complex are around $ 500 million annually.