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While there’s interest among investors to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman admits the team could be headed out of Glendale after the season unless a deal is struck. In his weekly radio show, Bettman reported there were three potential buyers of the Coyotes, owned by the NHL since 2009 after going through a bankruptcy. We already know ... Read More »

With opposition politicians promising lawsuits challenging the funding scheme for a new Quebec City arena, city and provincial leaders are taking actions to nip them in the bud. The issue: the agreement between the city and Quebecor for naming rights and management. A former provincial politician and city manager, Denis De Belleval, says he’ll challenge the agreement in court, presumably ... Read More »

After being teased by the Tories over federal funding, organizers of a new Quebec City arena are heeding a pledge by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to help fund the facility on the theory it’s not really a pro-hockey venue — it’s a community resource. It’s an important distinction. Traditionally, the federal government hasn’t help fund Canadian arenas; that’s been an ... Read More »

{jathumbnail off} Canadian media giant Quebecor is making public its financial commitment to a new Quebec City arena, and it’s pretty substantial: between $110 million and $200 million, depending on whether the facility lands an NHL team. The funding commitment is in two areas and on two levels. First, there’s a baseline commitment of $33 million for arena naming rights; ... Read More »

It’s a much simpler deal than many anticipated, as Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume and Quebec Premier Jean Charest today announced the city and the province would split the cost of a new NHL-level 18,000-seat arena, with the hard cost of the project capped at $400 million. The announce came after months of speculation about how a new arena would ... Read More »

{jathumbnail off} Various media outlets, including Radio Canada, are reporting that a new Quebec City arena is a go, as Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the final piece of the funding pie: federal gas-tax proceeds. The current plan from Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls for a simple change allowing cities ... Read More »

{jathumbnail off} The Harper government and Conservatives are looking at raiding the $1B Public-Private Partnerships Canada (P3) Fund to help build stadiums and arenas across the county, including a new Quebec City arena, but there’s one huge obstacle: the legislation setting up the fund specifically prohibits its use for pro-sports facilities. That’s a huge obstacle, but one that could conceivably ... Read More »

Media giant Quebecor is stepping up to partially fund a new Quebec City arena and close a significant funding gap, as the city moves closer to a facility that could bring back NHL hockey — and perhaps bring in federal aid as well. Quebecor President Pierre Karl Péladeau told the Globe and Mail that his firm was willing to put ... Read More »

{jathumbnail off} With it looking increasingly unlikely the federal government will step in with financial aid for a new Quebec City arena, city and provincial officials say they’re ready to move ahead with a backup financial plan. No word on exactly what’s entailed with the backup financial plan, though it’s most likely related to an increased contribution from the city. ... Read More »

{jathumbnail off} Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper once again spoke out against federal funding of a new arena in Quebec City, saying that traditionally arenas have been under the purview of local government and the private sector — but left open a loophole for any arena built as part of an Olympic bid. Harper’s position isn’t surprising. After being coy ... Read More »