On this week’s edition of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts intermission segment, Jeff Marek reported “public musings” from Quebec premier Francois Legault about the revival of the Quebec Nordiques, who played their last NHL season in 1994-95 before relocating to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche.
It continues what’s been a long-running push to bring NHL hockey back to Quebec City, but at virtually every point, the NHL has remained uninterested. While it’s unknown if their stance as changed, Legault has said publicly this week that the Quebec government plans to meet with commissioner Gary Bettman.
It’s strong messaging from Legault, who Marek reports went on to say that the government of Quebec would be willing to invest their capital in a project that would see the Nordiques return to Quebec. Marek notes that this project would be a consortium — rather, not a single investor or group that would be financially responsible for funding the team.
In terms of recent history, it seems unprecedented that a provincial government would provide significant financial backing for a professional sports team.
Marek reports that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirms that he’s spoken over the phone with Legault, and while Daly admits dialogue may continue, he says “[the league] is obviously pleased with what we have right now.”
It’s worth noting that Quebec City does have a suitable venue in place. The Videotron Centre, which opened in September 2015, has a capacity of 18,259 for ice hockey. That’s greater capacity than highly regarded NHL arenas such as Madison Square Garden, the fresh-off-the-press UBS Arena, T-Mobile Arena, and TD Garden.
More suitable location and enthusiastic fan base than Ottawa.
The problem is and has always been Melnyk, in Ottawa. He invests nothing in that team. You should see the concourse in the Canadian Tire Centre. They have massive posters of Clark MacArthur still. It’s so dated and it’s he concessions and facilities are antiquated at best. The team desperately needs a downtown arena. Not an arena 15 minutes west in the suburbs. It’s nearly impossible to get to the arena unless you drive. Then you’re stuck in traffic on the 417 for hours.
will believe this when it happens. The only reason they are in Winnipeg Gary had no other option s. People say Arizona Gary keeps finding ways to stay there.
Actually, WPG got lucky. There were a few years where the CDN dollar was worth almost as much as the US dollar, so hey said OK. It’s also why Quebec decided it was worth it to build the arena, thinking they had a real chance to get a team.
It’s back down to 79 cents vs the US dollar.
That is why Quebec isn’t getting a team.
Bring back the best rivalry in sports.
Heck yeah move the Penguins to Quebec
Why’s that? Pens have been filling their stadium since the lockout.
Pens have been good for so long, no one remembers what fair weather fans the Yinzgrates are…
Luckily, we have 20 or so years left on the lease.
Quebec belongs in the league, no error.
And as long as Bettman continues to think that keeping a team out of Quebec City (and as much to the point, not moving a Sun Belt team to fill that rink) is a test of his manhood, and that giving in on this will cause his testicles to fall off, it isn’t going to be. Period.
But you’d think there are all manner of candidates, right? Florida has the best record in the league and, after all, plays in a state where it’s likewise a test of manhood to deny that COVID exists, and they’re playing to 75% of capacity. Arizona’s the perpetual running sore it’s been for 25 years, and it’s been a dozen years since they’ve hit as MUCH as 75% capacity.
There is only freedom and no “test of manhood” in Florida. But you are obviously more comfortable doing what you’re told by your Nanny State.. So please stay there.
Well, sure, of course my state needs to keep running. We need to keep on churning out the medical services your state is screaming out for, as people topple in droves, the tin foil you need for your hats to protect you against George Soros’ orbital mind control lasers, and oh by the way, my state’s a net contributor to the federal budget, while your state leeches off of the public dime.
Gary picked Seattle over Quebec City.
Hard to argue.
As long as Bettman is running it there will not be a team in Quebec City…mark my word he hates Canadian Teams..
Bye bye Coyotes
No chance. If they were gonna move it would have happened by now. League views that market as a way to get new fans into the game.
Sure…because moving from 5 million market to 500 thousand is a great business plan
Not to mention moving to that smaller market doesn’t get the league any new fans. I’m hard pressed to believe there’s thousands of would be NHL fans just waiting for a team to arrive in Quebec City… those folks either watch hockey already or they don’t.
… you mean moving from a 5 million person market where very few people give a damn about hockey to a 500,000 market where many of the folks do?
Exactly. Those people already care about hockey so what’s the NHL really gain from moving the Coyotes there?
Abandoning a market 10x size with lots of potential new fans for one where you gain no additional fans, while losing whatever small number of fans of the Coyotes forever.
There’s no debating the coyotes are a dumpster fire of an organization nor that QC would pack that arena if they had a team but from the 30,000 foot view it just doesn’t make sense for the long term strategy.
The Buffalo Sabres have burnt a lot of bridges with their fans. Put them on a barge and float them down river.
“Quebec would be willing to invest their capital…”
Very interesting way of saying “willing to spend the public’s tax dollars”
Gary would put a team in desmoines iowa ,butte montana before another team comes to canada. They only reason they are in winnipeg. no want to buy team keep in Atlanta, spend stupid money on arena like arizona did, or move somewhere else.
I could see Bettman adding more teams to get that expansion team money. He really is that shortsighted.
It all depends on the Coyotes situation.