The Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., after the 2004 MLB season and became the Washington Nationals starting with the 2005 season. The move was announced on September 29, 2004. The franchise relocation was driven by financial struggles, low attendance, and issues with the aging Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Major League Baseball sought a new location for the team, considering several cities, with Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia emerging as the front-runners. The move marked the end of the Expos as Montreal's team and the beginning of the Nationals in the U.S. capital.
