Harper Passes On Federal Funding for Quebec City Arena

With a new Provincial spring election looming for Canada, the Conservative PM has chosen to remain steadfast to the official federal policy to curb federal tax dollar funding on privately used sporting arenas and other venues. I am very concerned about the popularity of this decision regarding the aforementioned election. Will sports fans and NHL fans remember this at the voting polls? I haven't seen any data that they must have looked at to consider such a

So, this news does put a small hurdle in the fast-tracking of a new Quebec arena for the NHL to consider moving a team. It may be much later than the Quebec City fans are waiting for. Could the city continue to drag the issue out for a while longer while the NHL sorts it's problems out?

Of course, they put in a loop-hole that suggests tying in a University to use the land or rink. It's already been done with the football stadium.

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet]

Quebec Sells Arena Naming Rights For New Arena

When customers buy something in advance with the expectation that the seller will deliver, we call it "pre-pay". So, the Quebec governing body have been operating with the same business model. They've accepted payment from media communications company Quebecor as means to reserve the naming rights to the proposed new arena in Quebec City.

This is the next step in proving to the NHL that a new Quebec team in the National Hockey League would be considered as a future home to a new NHL franchise.

I am truly impressed that the figureheads in this Quebec venture is learning from past battles with the NHL and saying all the right things to the public.

"We all know there is no guarantee from the league, for the moment, that we will have a hockey team in Quebec," Peladeau stressed.
"But that won't stop me from continuing to promote the file ... because we have all the necessary conditions."

They don't want to rock the boat, but subtlety they want the League to take notice that they are locking in the conditions for a new team again.

But to watch this process play out, a wrinkle has appeared in the funding for the arena. A portion of the funding for the arena is needed from the federal government, a situation that is prime for a political battle with the Conservative provincial government.

Conversely, the plans to open up the new proposed Quebec arena to the Province is already agreed upon. It won't be just for making millionaires more money with taxpayer funding.

As part of the deal, Quebecor has promised to make the building available 30 days each year for cultural events.

This would mean that Quebec City residents would have their own gathering place for concerts and other events when a trip to rival city Montreal has been cumbersome.

Rogers Sportsnet

Quebec City Still Counting Costs on New Arena

The Quebec Province is still examining all issues and angles surrounding a new proposed arena funding deal that could potentially mark the new trail for a NHL hockey team returning to the Quebec City area. According to the Canadian Press, the total amount to create such a stadium would cost $400 million dollars (CDN).

[Mayor Regis] Labeaume is hoping the construction of a new arena will help Quebec City get another National Hockey League team more than 15 years after the beloved Nordiques left for Colorado.

For fans of the old Quebec Nordiques, don't hold your breath for too long. The study to analyze and hash out all expenditures regarding the building's funding will begin in February.

Francois Moisan says it will take between six and nine months for the evaluation to take place.

And that is only the budget talks. My opinion, it should only take 1.5 months and not nine.

Of course, there are many things to consider in Canada politically as many outspoken politicians claim that both federal funding as well as provincial funding would not go to building sports stadiums unless there is a tie-in to University sports. Jumping to the rescue on corporate Canada is perhaps the first company angling to get the naming rights

Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau said last weekend he has offered "tens of millions of dollars" to help build the facility, a comment that federal Public Works Minister Christian Paradis called encouraging.

I am really excited to follow this project along. If I can help disseminate the process of how an arena gets built, then perhaps we can all learn from this experience. It takes a lot more preparation planning than waving a pen and moving a franchise to anywhere or pulling one out of thin expansion air.

[Via: Yahoo! Sports]

Quebec City Meets With Bettman for Possible Nords Return

In a surprising story that I hope doesn't fizzle away into "just a tease" category. It was reported today that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had a positive meeting with former Quebec Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut and Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume.

It immediately made me think of this news item that I highlighted several years ago. But since I have not heard anything else about the progress towards rebuilding the Hartford Whalers, I hope that this idea for Quebec is not just a tease gift-wrapped up in wishful thinking.

"It was very welcoming, very profitable, very worthwhile," Labeaume told the media. "But we'll get back to you in a few days -- we still have work to do."

Take note that it was not Bettman who said this quote, but the Mayor who does not have any stake in the current NHL business plan nor "La Commissionare"s reputation with Canadian fans.

Personally, I think it would be great to see a revival of the Montreal/Quebec rivalry.

[Rogers SportsNet]