Quebec City getting new arena

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Flip-flop; from TSN :

The federal government poured fuel on speculation Wednesday that it might be ready to spend an estimated $180 million to help build a hockey arena in the hope of bringing an NHL team back to Quebec City.

First, the government said it was "very interested" in the project to build a new arena. Later Wednesday, Quebec City Conservative MPs illustrated their own eagerness by wearing the old blue-and-white jersey of the defunct Nordiques to a public event.

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Why all this sudden interest?

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The Tories have 11 seats in Quebec and holding on to them is key to achieving their coveted majority in a future election. Most of those seats are in Quebec City.

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[Barrie 900]

QC and Winnipeg can have all the nice arenas private funding can by. But without a corporate partner and fat television revenues guaranteed, it's not going to happen. Bettman isn't going out of his way to make it happen either. Even though ticket sales are poor in Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, and Columbus, they have good tv contracts, and solid corporate partnerships.

Yea Quebec no doubt will sell out every game, but I wonder if they have the corporate support to fill the suites?

Bring Winnipeg, Hartford and Quebec back! And add a team in Seattle. All done, all fixed.

I'd rather go to Houston than Hartford.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Meanwhile, to the west; from Edmonton Journal :

Though millions in government money appears headed to new arena project in Quebec City, hockey fans in Calgary and Edmonton should not expect the same in Alberta, Premier Ed Stelmach said Thursday.

“As I said before, there won’t be any public money going to the arenas. We’re trying to catch up with badly needed infrastructure in health and schools.”

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I guess he's not looking for votes like they are in Quebec.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

A voice of reason; but of all people. From Toronto Star :

Maxime Bernier is onside with his fellow Tories who are interested in seeing the NHL back in Quebec City, but the Conservative MP stresses not at any price.

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He also noted the country has a $56-billion deficit and that the Tories need to slash spending.

Bernier said if Quebec City gets funding, then other cities will be lining up for their cash.

And the former cabinet minister says that could eventually cost the government up to $1 billion.

“If we offer this money to Quebec City, then other cities in Canada will ask, so at the end of the line it’s a question of $1 billion or $800 million if we want to be fair to all regions,” Bernier said in the interview Thursday.

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[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN :

The head of the Canadian Olympic Committee is calling on Western Canada to rally behind the idea of building a new hockey rink in Quebec City with federal funds.

Marcel Aubut, a former president of the defunct Quebec Nordiques hockey club, told Radio-Canada over the weekend that there were many reasons for the West to get behind the project.

He said a new arena would serve not only as a home for an NHL team, but would sweeten the city's bid to host the Olympics.

"(The West's support) would be a nice gesture, especially if Quebec becomes a contender for the Olympics," Aubut told the broadcaster.

"It becomes a chance to represent not only the province and the city, but the country as well."

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To me, this indicates that the COC doesn't believe in drug testing their president.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From Montreal Gazette :

Prime Minister Stephen Harper moved Monday to dampen the political brush fire over a proposed NHL hockey rink in Quebec City, stressing the private sector is primarily responsible for bankrolling professional sports teams and the upcoming period of federal “fiscal restraint” will determine whether his government can afford to play any role.

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Harper said Monday he wants to “be clear” about his view on the matter, noting that his government has received “demands for new infrastructure for NHL and CFL teams” from across the country.

“Our position has been clear,” the prime minister said.

“We’re all fans of professional sports. We know they’re important to our communities, but professional sports are first and foremost the responsibility of the private sector, and if there is to be any role for the federal government, first of all, that role would have to be equitable across the country, treat everybody the same. And it also has to be affordable, recognizing that this country is going to be moving into a period of fiscal restraint.”

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[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN:

It will be a Quebec Nordiques lovefest today.

Tens of thousands of people -- perhaps over 50,000 -- are expected in Quebec City to participate in what's being called the "Blue March."

People are demanding the return of NHL hockey, 15 years after the city's beloved Nordiques left town.

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Demanding?

[Dominator2005 558]

Phoenix has better attendance history than either of Winnipeg or Quebec, FTR. Learn your history. The Jets and Nordiques didn't move because of the Canadian dollar. That's a LIE and a MYTH. They moved because the teams didn't have enough fan support. Certainly, a better dollar would have helped, but the teams would still have been sold and moved eventually.

1. How can you compare economical situation in Qc from '94 to '10 - Do you live in Qc? Can you compare global economical situation in US?

2. In '90s $1.00can = +/-$0.60us - now it's almost 1:1

3. In '90s - salary cap was issue, Marcel Aubut was asking in '94 for salary cup.

4. Unemployment % in '90 (Québec) was around 15% and today is less than 4% in Québec city.

5. Attendance history - please revisit your numbers.

6. MORE THAN 40% OF TOTAL NHL INCOMING IS COMING FROM CANADA (FROM 6 TEAMS). THAT'S A HUGE!!!

[_Kabrok_ 5]

Out of curiosity, what the hell is the source of this 400 million-dollar price tag for the prospective arena? The Consol Energy Center cost 3/4 of that and can hold more people than this arena would, so what about the arena is producing this massive cost?

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

from the tsn article posted a few posts ago.

A top cabinet minister stated a few weeks ago there will be no federal taxpayers' money to build a new NHL-calibre arena for Quebec City until private investors show up to inject some of their own cash into the project.

That clear message came from Transport Minister Chuck Strahl, who is responsible for infrastructure spending.

"It really has to be driven by the private sector and so far that hasn't happened," Strahl said.

Edit:

You could also compare this "huge" 50,000 person rally (that's 2 nights of sales, if they paid) to the 40 times larger 2,000,000 person Chicago parade.

I still don't think they have the population to support this.

Edited October 3, 2010 by CaliWingsNut

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Out of curiosity, what the hell is the source of this 400 million-dollar price tag for the prospective arena? The Consol Energy Center cost 3/4 of that and can hold more people than this arena would, so what about the arena is producing this massive cost?

It takes into account the "SMM": Standard Mob Markup. It happened with the construction done for Expo '67 and the Olympics in Montreal. No reason to say it won't happen again; it's just the pricw of doing business.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN:

The real cost of a new hockey arena in Quebec City, currently estimated at $400 million, is expected to be known only around the end of the year.

A spokesman for Quebec City's municipal government says work will begin in February to determine whether the $400-million figure cited by Mayor Regis Labeaume is accurate.

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

The provincial government is also studying the price tag, with officials already having noted that Labeaume's cost estimate had a margin of error of 75 per cent.

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[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN:

"When there's all this speculation -- most of which isn't based on anything -- I get concerned because I don't want our fans to be let on," Bettman said. "As I said, we're not planning to expand, we're not planning to relocate.

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[Barrie 900]

Bettman loves losing money!

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Bettman loves losing other people's money!

fixed.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Bettman loves generating a new record in profits every season!

Double fixed

[donfishmaster 62]

In a surprise move, Quebec City unveiled its mascot:

and logo:

[casey holmstrom 14]

If this video doesn't say "f*** YOU BETTMAN" I don't know what does.

[Vladimir316 28]

In a surprise move, Quebec City unveiled its mascot:

and logo:

If I can make a suggestion for logo...

The french speaking version..Kermit la grenouille

Edited February 1, 2011 by Vladimir316

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

CBC.

TSN.

[grwingfan 21]

Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami are not viable NHL cities. I would much rather see those franchises move to Quebec City, Winnipeg & Seattle.

[Dominator2005 558]

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/player-poll-quebec-city-most-deserving-of-nhl-team-fighting-belongs-in-game-114901299.html

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=capress-hkn_players_poll-5806581

TORONTO - Quebec City is the Canadian locale most deserving of an NHL team while both fighting and the instigator rule have a place in the game, according to a poll of the league's players.

The Quebec capital received support from 53 per cent of the 318 respondents queried by the NHL Players' Association and CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada."

Winnipeg was second at 25 per cent, followed by a second Toronto team at 16 per cent, and a Hamilton squad at five per cent in poll results announced Sunday.

Meanwhile, 98 per cent of those polled didn't want fighting abolished from the sport. And 66 per cent of players felt the instigator rule shouldn't be removed, either.

The questions were drawn up by the NHLPA and "Hockey Night in Canada." The union then circulated the questionnaire and compiled the answers before sharing results with the CBC.

The results may help buoy Quebec City, which is pushing for a new arena in the hopes of luring back the NHL. Winnipeg has a building ready and had been linked as a possible destination for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie earlier tried to purchase the Coyotes out of bankruptcy and move them to a refurbished Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, while some groups have expressed interest in bringing a second NHL team to Toronto.

In other matters, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby(notes) was chosen as the player to start a new franchise with, New York Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik(notes) was voted both the best and fastest skater, while Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara(notes) was chosen as the player with the hardest shot.

Ron Wilson of the Toronto Maple Leafs was the coach players wanted least to play for with 24 per cent of the vote, while Pittsburgh's Dan Bylsma, at 21 per cent, was the coach players most wanted to play for.

The New York Islanders at 27 per cent were picked as the team players would least like to play on, followed by the Edmonton Oilers at 20 per cent.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

TSN.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

TSN.

quoted from article...

But then three successive developments occurred: the idea was slammed from various quarters, Quebec City said it wasn't interested, and backers of the arena project announced they would build without federal help.

The idea now appears dead.

[Hiei 192]

Caliwingnut: I think the Idea appearing dead was about Quebec City getting federal help this coming year for the rink. not about the rink itself.