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Sorry, I didn't find any english article yet. This one is much, much, much more serious than any previous project with names like Daniel Gélinas (very close to the mayor and GM of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City that turned a boring event into a success), Bell, Desjardins, CGI, Jacques Tanguay (owner of Ameublements Tanguay and of course, the Remparts and the Rouge & Or of the Laval University).
According to rumors, this new group already has the green light from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. They also want to raise 50 millions from the public by selling personal seat licenses that would give the holder the right to buy tickets for a certain seat in the stadium before anyone else. If they can get 50 millions from the personal seat licenses, the group sais it will go forward with the project.
Do you think that this could be the right project for Quebec City to get a new arena and, eventually, a new team? To be honest with you, the buzz around the city is pretty impressive, everybody is talking about that today.
Louis Garneau, canadian road racing and track cyclist and cyclewear manufacturer, just said on the radio that he is willing to give his support to the group (time and money).
Oh and by the way, there is, of course, of couple of lawyers, accountants and architects involved in the project. The group wants about 22 000 seats in the stadium.
$50M is an ambitious goal, but I think it can be done and I hope this group can pull it off. I look at my Nords sweater everyday hoping I'll be able to bring it out of retirement with a new franchise in QC.
Didn't they take a poll in Quebec basically saying that they didn't really think they wanted another team there? That's just what I read on here a while back, don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a team in Quebec again.
I never heard of that poll, I'd like to see it of you ever find it. Depending on the question, you might be right, but I'm pretty sure most of the population here is dying for a new team. People are hungry for NHL hockey as we saw during the IIHL World Championship.
The question has never been "will people fill the seats in Quebec City" - the question has been "can a team survive there with an exchange rate of even $1.15CN = $1US?" and "is there enough corporate support to back a team there long-term?"
As I type this, the exchange rate is $1.271CN = $1US, or $.787US = $1CN ... and we've already got an article in this forum on how Canadian teams are going to struggle [again] if the exchange rate continues to sit in this range. Even assuming sufficient corporate support is present and regardless of how big the arena is and how many people are willing to plunk down money, the exchange rate is going to be an issue that must be dealt with unless people are going to pay an average ticket price on the order of what the Maple Leafs charge - which, God love Quebec City, I don't see happening.
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Didn't they take a poll in Quebec basically saying that they didn't really think they wanted another team there? That's just what I read on here a while back, don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a team in Quebec again.
All the polls I've ever seen on the question had the majority wanting a new team. Of course, some people don't like hockey, just like in every other place in the world... but Quebec has the most popular hockey team in NA not in the NHL. The remparts, a junior team have attracted an average of 11000 people in the last years; which is more than any other junior team in Canada or American hockey league teams in NA. I think that's more revelant than any what poll suggested about our taste for hockey.
BTW, the project is not about getting an NHL team in the first place. Their main goal is to build a new arena (for the shows, the remparts, a possible nhl team and many other events you can have in this arena). After that, there is a lot of possibilities... Aubut, ex-owner of the Nordiques, kept saying that the day Quebec gets an new arena, he will try to get another team.... Possibilites of relocation an existing franchise in Quebec could also become a possibility with a new arena....
I personally think that's a very interesting project... and since it involves many serious people and companies, it even gives more credibility to the project.
Considering my province's track record in major professional sports, I'm not holding my breath here. I'd love to see it, but I am beyond skeptical at this point.
A renewed Battle of Quebec rivalry would be fantastic, if it comes to fruition.
There may be a catch-22 here. Will the QC populace will commit to seat licenses without a guarantee that there will be NHL hockey? Will the shows, Remparts, and other other events be enough, or will only the NHL generate enough of a buzz to create substantial PSL sales? The NHL won't expand/relocate to the city without a viable arena in place, but can funds for an arena be found unless there is an NHL guarantee to come to town?
It's beginning to look as if there may actually be a number of options for the next expansion. But as Irish says, the economic situation at the time a potential expansion rolls around may play a huge determining factor.
1. Expansion is a moot point [or should be] until further notice.
2. If you want a city to have a hockey team and it currently doesn't have one, it'll have to get one via relocation - and even then, it may not prevent someone from folding.
3. Discussion about any team folding or relocating should not be limited to the usual suspects; in fact, I can think of at least three teams not located in either Atlanta, Phoenix, Nashville, Miami, or Tampa Bay that may end up in serious trouble and in need of new ownership and/or a new home.
1. Expansion is a moot point [or should be] until further notice.
2. If you want a city to have a hockey team and it currently doesn't have one, it'll have to get one via relocation - and even then, it may not prevent someone from folding.
3. Discussion about any team folding or relocating should not be limited to the usual suspects; in fact, I can think of at least three teams not located in either Atlanta, Phoenix, Nashville, Miami, or Tampa Bay that may end up in serious trouble and in need of new ownership and/or a new home.
A renewed Battle of Quebec rivalry would be fantastic, if it comes to fruition.
There may be a catch-22 here. Will the QC populace will commit to seat licenses without a guarantee that there will be NHL hockey? Will the shows, Remparts, and other other events be enough, or will only the NHL generate enough of a buzz to create substantial PSL sales? The NHL won't expand/relocate to the city without a viable arena in place, but can funds for an arena be found unless there is an NHL guarantee to come to town?
How many of the 22,000 do they want to sell PSL's for? If it's all of them, that's a $2275 PSL. That's a lot of money.
A renewed Battle of Quebec rivalry would be fantastic, if it comes to fruition.
There may be a catch-22 here. Will the QC populace will commit to seat licenses without a guarantee that there will be NHL hockey? Will the shows, Remparts, and other other events be enough, or will only the NHL generate enough of a buzz to create substantial PSL sales? The NHL won't expand/relocate to the city without a viable arena in place, but can funds for an arena be found unless there is an NHL guarantee to come to town?
With Montreal doing well, and Quebec being a expansion team (That's fair to say ?) Quebec fans may be discouraged ?
Though, Quebec should be able to steal fans from Newfoundland Labrador too.
The question has never been "will people fill the seats in Quebec City" - the question has been "can a team survive there with an exchange rate of even $1.15CN = $1US?" and "is there enough corporate support to back a team there long-term?"
As I type this, the exchange rate is $1.271CN = $1US, or $.787US = $1CN ... and we've already got an article in this forum on how Canadian teams are going to struggle [again] if the exchange rate continues to sit in this range. Even assuming sufficient corporate support is present and regardless of how big the arena is and how many people are willing to plunk down money, the exchange rate is going to be an issue that must be dealt with unless people are going to pay an average ticket price on the order of what the Maple Leafs charge - which, God love Quebec City, I don't see happening.
We're all gonna use the same currency in a few years anyway.
So they want to build an arena that is bigger then the Bell Center and think they will sell it out all the time?
As others have mentioned, with the dollar low again and the fact they will look at Winnipeg and Southern Ontario first, Quebec would be very long term.
EDIT: the OP should quote the article properly it says a 20,000 seat and not 22,000 arena.
How many of the 22,000 do they want to sell PSL's for? If it's all of them, that's a $2275 PSL. That's a lot of money.
5000$ in the "Loges" area (bottom), 3500$ in the "Mezzanines" (middle), 1500$ in the "Balcony" area (top) and 25 000$ for a luxury box. So far this morning, they sold "a couple of hundreds".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Analyzer
With Montreal doing well, and Quebec being a expansion team (That's fair to say ?) Quebec fans may be discouraged ?
Though, Quebec should be able to steal fans from Newfoundland Labrador too.
There's potential, but maybe not enough ?
Le Colisée was full in 89-90 and the team was one of the worst in history (31 pts!!!). I don't think Quebec fans would be "discouraged".
I don't think a team in Quebec would steal fans from Newfoundland and Labrador since the Habs will always have more coverage. Nordiques fans were mainly in the region of Quebec, Chaudières-Appalaches / Beauce, Saguenay Lac-St-Jean and Bas du Fleuve (Rimouski). That's a potential fanbase of about 1 550 000 people :
- Quebec city : about 650 000 habitants.
- Chaudière-appalaches (south shore of Quebec) : about 400 000 habitants
- Bas St-Laurent : about 200 000
- Saguenay Lac-St-jean : about 300 000
So they want to build an arena that is bigger then the Bell Center and think they will sell it out all the time?
As others have mentioned, with the dollar low again and the fact they will look at Winnipeg and Southern Ontario first, Quebec would be very long term.
As much as I think Southern Ontario and Winnipeg deserve a team, why would they look at those markets before Quebec if Quebec has a brand new 22 000 seats arena built with the money of those who wanted a reserved seat? Winnipeg's arenas has what, 15 000 seats?
I can understand that there might be more corporations in Southern Ontario, but I don't think corporate support would be a problem in Quebec city anymore. The city changed drastically in the last couple of years and is more than healthy, to say the least.
The question has never been "will people fill the seats in Quebec City" - the question has been "can a team survive there with an exchange rate of even $1.15CN = $1US?" and "is there enough corporate support to back a team there long-term?"
As I type this, the exchange rate is $1.271CN = $1US, or $.787US = $1CN ... and we've already got an article in this forum on how Canadian teams are going to struggle [again] if the exchange rate continues to sit in this range. Even assuming sufficient corporate support is present and regardless of how big the arena is and how many people are willing to plunk down money, the exchange rate is going to be an issue that must be dealt with unless people are going to pay an average ticket price on the order of what the Maple Leafs charge - which, God love Quebec City, I don't see happening.
Well, a salary cap helps quite a bit in that regard, dosen't it?
I'd imagine a team in Quebec would garner a fairly significant local TV package, a good radio package, and be able to share in the CBC/TSN/RDS dollards as well.
Considering that player salaries are now a fixed cost, a team in Quebec City is probably more realistic than it ever has been since the Nords left.
Of course, the exchange rate will be an issue for the Canadian clubs, but with salaries tied to revenue, it may not be as much of an issue. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.
How many of the 22,000 do they want to sell PSL's for? If it's all of them, that's a $2275 PSL. That's a lot of money.
The article states that they want to build a 20,000 seat arena, and sell 10,000 personal seat licenses at a cost of $1,500 to $5,000 apiece. For their money, the article states that the buyers would receive priority to "acquire" tickets for, "various events."
Right now, the group is taking in letters of intent to gauge interest.
It all sounds like a bit of a pipe dream, to me. You'll certainly get some individuals who will fork over almost anything, the truly hardcore base, but for as many as 10,000 seats? I'll believe that when I see it.
It still seems to me that this isn't concrete until the investors either find all the required funds from private sources, or secure solid provincial government support. Some kind of requirement for a grassroots movement seems to show up in just about every Quebec City arena proposal. They always look like non-starters. What Quebec City needs is a billionaire prospective QC hockey team owner, who is willing to fund an arena out of pocket. At that point, I expect that the NHL will really take notice. Until then...
The Habs will never allow it. As much as the Leafs lay claim to the Southern Ontario market and object to another team there (no matter where it is), the Habs have made a fortune since the Nords left and would fight tooth and nail before letting any other team into the province. They have the whole province to themselves, why would they just give it up?
The Habs will never allow it. As much as the Leafs lay claim to the Southern Ontario market and object to another team there (no matter where it is), the Habs have made a fortune since the Nords left and would fight tooth and nail before letting any other team into the province. They have the whole province to themselves, why would they just give it up?
...and how would they prevent it from happening ? yeah. they can't do anything.
The problem isn't Montreal's territorial rights, but the lack of a very wealthy benefactor who has made it his or her mission to bring a new or relocated team to Quebec. That's the holdup. In the absence of that driving force, most of the arena proposals have looked like wacky schemes. What is missing is the money.
What Quebec City needs is someone like Columbus' Mr. Mac., John H. McConnell, whose determination (and fortune) essentially brought the NHL to Columbus. That is what QC is missing to date.
