Quebec is Building

Quebec is going have a new arena that will be ready by September 2015.  Make no mistake this is the biggest threat to Islanders fan and makes the October 2nd game in Brooklyn that much more important.  The team's ownership and league need to be convince that Brooklyn will work and that the Islander fans are willing to go there.  One way to do that is by selling out the preseason game. 

QUEBEC CITY - Quebec City took another major step in its quest to regain an NHL franchise with the announcement Sunday afternoon that a deal has been reached to construct a $400 million, 18,000-seat arena complex scheduled to be ready in 2015.  "The dream has finally become a reality," said Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume at a news conference. Construction is set to begin in September. The arena will be located on the site of the old Quebec City Hippodrome.  The arena will be a public-private partnership between the city and Quebecor Media Inc., owner of QMI Agency and Sun Media.  Quebecor President and CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau was at the press conference and said the new building, which he referred to as a multifunctional amphitheatre, will be a "source of pride for all citizens of the Quebec City region and for all Quebecers alike."  The deal was reached Friday night, Labeaume said, adding with a smile that Peladeau was a "hard negotiator."  Earlier in the negotiation process, QMI Agency learned that Quebecor will pay $33 million for naming rights and management of the arena. The value of the agreement rises to $63.5 million if Quebec City lands an NHL franchise.

 http://www.lfpress.com/sports/hockey/2012/03/25/19546821.html