[troutman]

Quebec City’s dream of an arena a step closer
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2156055/

There are pending lawsuits, there is political opposition, but still Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume makes inexorable progress toward breaking ground on a new NHL-ready arena for the city.

The latest development: the municipal and regional councils have approved the arena management contract and leases inked last week after secret last-minute haggling between Mr. Labeaume, city hall lawyers and the Quebecor media conglomerate.

There is opposition on other fronts, as well, so it’s no sure thing that the project will be completed by the projected September 2015 opening date.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montre...rena-deal.html

Quebecor will pay the city $33 million to manage the state-of-the-art arena and get naming rights for 25 years. Quebecor will pay an additional $30.5 million if the city gets an NHL team.

In return, the city will get a building manager that is committed to attracting a pro hockey team — the two parties have agreed to try to bring a team to Quebec City by 2020.

But opponents of the deal are trying to quash it because it did not go to public tender.

Labeaume insisted the agreement is legal, but said it could fall through if the province does not pass controversial legislation that would shield the city from being sued over the deal.