September 07, 2010

Quebec officials huddling today on new NHL arena

Federal government, schmederal government: Regardless of Canada's statement that it won't kick in federal funds toward a new Quebec arena (unless maybe it does), the project to replace the 61-year-old Quebec Coliseum and attempt to lure a new NHL team to replace the Nordiques looks to be moving full steam ahead. Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume
are set to meet today to discuss a new arena that would be built with the help of $400 million in public funds from the province.

It's not clear how much the entire arena would cost (though previous reports had $400 million as the total tab), or whether the provincial money would come out of an existing pot or need new taxes to generate it, though it's possible that some of it could be a passthrough of federal funds that Treasury official Stockwell Day hinted at last week.

Also not clear: Would a new arena necessarily lead to a new NHL team? The QMI news service writes that "NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in August any hopes for the Nordiques's return rests in the city completing the project," but Bettman was actually even more circumspect than that, responding to a question about a potential new Quebec team: "Is Quebec City going to have a new arena? Because I can't even begin to think about a team back in Quebec City until there's going to be a new arena."

In other words: Build it, and then we'll talk. Maybe. So long as your prospective owner isn't on my shit list.