Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

troutman · 06-10-2011, 10:56 AM

Quebec City needs to put shovels in the ground to lure NHL back
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/...lure-nhl-back/

Sports columnist Howard Bloom said he shares the pain of Quebec hockey fans over the province’s decision to delay making legal a management agreement that gives Quebecor Media Inc. naming rights to the proposed $400-million arena.

Bloom, publisher of sportsbusinessnews.com, believes Quebec City has all it takes to get a National Hockey League franchise back, except for a new state-of-the-art facility.

“If they had been building the arena, they would have had a team potentially now, they could have had the Phoenix team,” Bloom said in an interview.

However, if the construction doesn’t start in the next 12 months, Bloom said Quebec City will miss its chance to bid on the Coyotes and will end up waiting another three to five years.

Quebecor said Tuesday the prospect that the agreement could be contested in the courts does not ensure “optimal conditions for the return of National Hockey League team to Quebec City” and could mean additional delays.

“However, nothing prevents the mayor from starting the construction because he has secured the financing,” Richelieu said.

The provincial government has agreed to pay half of the construction costs, while the city will foot the other half of the bill.

The minister responsible for the Quebec City area said Wednesday the province remains committed to the arena project and hopes to be able to adopt a bill in the fall to secure the city’s agreement with Quebecor.

“We are going to settle this satisfactorily,” said Sam Hamad.

06-10-2011, 10:56 AM	#38
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	Quebec City needs to put shovels in the ground to lure NHL back http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/...lure-nhl-back/ Sports columnist Howard Bloom said he shares the pain of Quebec hockey fans over the province’s decision to delay making legal a management agreement that gives Quebecor Media Inc. naming rights to the proposed $400-million arena. Bloom, publisher of sportsbusinessnews.com, believes Quebec City has all it takes to get a National Hockey League franchise back, except for a new state-of-the-art facility. “If they had been building the arena, they would have had a team potentially now, they could have had the Phoenix team,” Bloom said in an interview. However, if the construction doesn’t start in the next 12 months, Bloom said Quebec City will miss its chance to bid on the Coyotes and will end up waiting another three to five years. Quebecor said Tuesday the prospect that the agreement could be contested in the courts does not ensure “optimal conditions for the return of National Hockey League team to Quebec City” and could mean additional delays. “However, nothing prevents the mayor from starting the construction because he has secured the financing,” Richelieu said. The provincial government has agreed to pay half of the construction costs, while the city will foot the other half of the bill. The minister responsible for the Quebec City area said Wednesday the province remains committed to the arena project and hopes to be able to adopt a bill in the fall to secure the city’s agreement with Quebecor. “We are going to settle this satisfactorily,” said Sam Hamad.