((HT: Montreal Gazette))
The HQ believes it is, yes...
For a reported $20-25 million pricetag, Quebecor Media has picked up the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts franchise and will move them into their soon-to-be-constructed Quebecor Arena in September 2015.
This should be the first step in proving, once and for all, that the city is ready for multiple franchises on multiple levels in an integrated fashion not seen yet (top to bottom) in a franchise farm system.
"The Remparts organization has passion, hard work and success in its DNA. We are honoured to become its owners, and we want to continue this ‘sacred’ tradition by keeping the Remparts at the same level of excellence while providing the best possible experience for Quebec City hockey fans,” said Québecor president and CEO Pierre Dion.
The Remparts have been busy in the past week doing things like this against Sherbrooke
((HT: HockeyFightsPlus))
They're currently third in the East Division- four points out of first behind Rimouski and Baie-Comeau.
“I am very happy to see that the Remparts will have the chance to inaugurate the new arena next season and continue the Vieille Capitale’s great junior hockey tradition,” said Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau.
Showing posts with label Quebecor Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quebecor Media. Show all posts
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Mulroney Wants NHL Back In Quebec
((HT: Sportsnet/CP))
And all of this comes from the projected owner of a Quebec City team heading there...
Former Canada MP Brian Mulroney is now at the front of the line with the bid. Peladeau's Quebecor, Incorporated purchased the naming and management rights to a new arena where a team would be based and the C$400M cost is supposed to be split between the province and the city- a deal that was supported by the Parti Quebecois before the 2012 provincial election.
And now Peladeau has announced he's running as a PQ candidate- working on the province's independence...
Here's analysis of that move...
((HT: CTV News))
)
And here's the Peladeau announcement... in French...
)
Mulroney, by the way, is vice-chairman of the Quebecor board.
"Commissioner Bettman and (ex-)prime minister Mulroney have spoken directly for quite some time, without intermediaries," Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume said when he was asked about the Peladeau move into politics.
Here's an in-depth interview with Peladeau, and yes Tish, it's in French...
)
So, now, without any kind of divestiture needed by Quebecor and having Mulroney as the public face on the hockey front... keep an eye on the Florida Panthers from this moment forward...
And all of this comes from the projected owner of a Quebec City team heading there...
Former Canada MP Brian Mulroney is now at the front of the line with the bid. Peladeau's Quebecor, Incorporated purchased the naming and management rights to a new arena where a team would be based and the C$400M cost is supposed to be split between the province and the city- a deal that was supported by the Parti Quebecois before the 2012 provincial election.
And now Peladeau has announced he's running as a PQ candidate- working on the province's independence...
Here's analysis of that move...
((HT: CTV News))
)
And here's the Peladeau announcement... in French...
)
Mulroney, by the way, is vice-chairman of the Quebecor board.
"Commissioner Bettman and (ex-)prime minister Mulroney have spoken directly for quite some time, without intermediaries," Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume said when he was asked about the Peladeau move into politics.
Here's an in-depth interview with Peladeau, and yes Tish, it's in French...
)
So, now, without any kind of divestiture needed by Quebecor and having Mulroney as the public face on the hockey front... keep an eye on the Florida Panthers from this moment forward...
Friday, January 10, 2014
Florida Panthers Ask For More Public Dollars...Is Quebec City Watching...???
((HT: Sun Sentinel/Wallman))
And, now, we finally have it...
The Florida Panthers, the southern-most outpost for the Gary Bettman expansion into the Sun Belt, is finally asking for public funds to keep them in town...
Are you watching Quebec City...???
The team claims they're losing at least US$20-million a year and are asking for a rewrite of their contract with the city of Sunrise.
The building was brought forth in the late '90s for just under US$190-million.
It's still being paid off... for another 14 years...
More from Wallman:
Under the proposed change, for the 14-year balance of the current contract:
•The Panthers would shed the $4.5 million annual payment; it would be picked up by the county.
•The county would contribute $500,000 a year toward maintenance, and would pay any of the property insurance tab that exceeds $1 million.
•The Panthers would swap the land it has rights to build on, 12 acres south of the arena, in favor of 22 acres on the arena's north side, where the Panthers hope a casino-hotel or some other development could be built and brought onto the tax rolls.
•The Panthers would immediately repay $10.6 million in loans the county granted them in recent years.
•The Panthers would continue contributing $500,000 a year to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
•The Panthers would commit to investing in hockey team payroll "at a level competitive with the rest of the National Hockey League."
Short of Buffalo, Calgary, Colorado, and the New York Islanders, the Panthers are near the bottom in NHL payroll numbers with a cap figure of just over US$60-million.
Even teams like Columbus are spending more these days...
It will be interesting how Vinnie Viola, the Panthers owner, responds if the Sunrise council goes against the idea of less money in hand in the present for more dollars in the future...especially, if the Panthers continue to flounder in the Eastern Conference as they have for the better part of the last decade...
Kinda what they were asked to do when the BB&T Center went on line in the first place...
Here's what the Panthers did last time out- beating the Sabres (doesn't everyone...?)
((HT: MSG))
So, if I was anyone from Sun Media, I would keep a keen eye with everything going on in Florida- because, the rest of the hockey world knows you're ready...
And, now, we finally have it...
The Florida Panthers, the southern-most outpost for the Gary Bettman expansion into the Sun Belt, is finally asking for public funds to keep them in town...
Are you watching Quebec City...???
The team claims they're losing at least US$20-million a year and are asking for a rewrite of their contract with the city of Sunrise.
The building was brought forth in the late '90s for just under US$190-million.
It's still being paid off... for another 14 years...
More from Wallman:
Under the proposed change, for the 14-year balance of the current contract:
•The Panthers would shed the $4.5 million annual payment; it would be picked up by the county.
•The county would contribute $500,000 a year toward maintenance, and would pay any of the property insurance tab that exceeds $1 million.
•The Panthers would swap the land it has rights to build on, 12 acres south of the arena, in favor of 22 acres on the arena's north side, where the Panthers hope a casino-hotel or some other development could be built and brought onto the tax rolls.
•The Panthers would immediately repay $10.6 million in loans the county granted them in recent years.
•The Panthers would continue contributing $500,000 a year to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
•The Panthers would commit to investing in hockey team payroll "at a level competitive with the rest of the National Hockey League."
Short of Buffalo, Calgary, Colorado, and the New York Islanders, the Panthers are near the bottom in NHL payroll numbers with a cap figure of just over US$60-million.
Even teams like Columbus are spending more these days...
It will be interesting how Vinnie Viola, the Panthers owner, responds if the Sunrise council goes against the idea of less money in hand in the present for more dollars in the future...especially, if the Panthers continue to flounder in the Eastern Conference as they have for the better part of the last decade...
Kinda what they were asked to do when the BB&T Center went on line in the first place...
Here's what the Panthers did last time out- beating the Sabres (doesn't everyone...?)
((HT: MSG))
So, if I was anyone from Sun Media, I would keep a keen eye with everything going on in Florida- because, the rest of the hockey world knows you're ready...
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
NHL To Seattle Sometime Soon...???
((HT: Mitch Levy/950KJR Radio))
Mitch's Twitter has been busy Tuesday evening...
He has people (and we all know how influential and accurate "people" are) that are telling him that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is telling the Board of Governors that, when the Arizona Coyotes sale goes through and is approved, an expansion team is recommended to go to Seattle.
Here's the series...
The current MOU would undoubtedly need to be tweeked to keep the arena on track
The ownership group that was interested in buying the Phoenix franchise remains in play here, amongst others.
All of this contingent upon 1) a solid ownership coming forward and buying the team and 2) the new arena staying on track to be built
If approved, the new expansion Seattle NHL club would cost approximately $275M. It would begin playing here in the 2014-2015 season.
The end game here is that, if the arena stays on track, the city would be attractive for an NBA franchise when the NBA expands- as is anticipated when the new television contract comes up for discussion...
Ownership groups would, obviously, include the Hansen-Ballmer group that has (currently) lost out on an NHL franchise.
And this also brings up the question for franchise 32- Quebec City or Markham...
The HQ thinks Quebec with the Sun Media connections and the framework that's in place...
Here was the conversation from June when Seattle mayor Mike McGinn admitted talking to Commissioner Bettman about the league in Seattle when the Coyotes were in the discussion...
((HT: KING-TV))
Mitch's Twitter has been busy Tuesday evening...
He has people (and we all know how influential and accurate "people" are) that are telling him that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is telling the Board of Governors that, when the Arizona Coyotes sale goes through and is approved, an expansion team is recommended to go to Seattle.
Here's the series...
The current MOU would undoubtedly need to be tweeked to keep the arena on track
The ownership group that was interested in buying the Phoenix franchise remains in play here, amongst others.
All of this contingent upon 1) a solid ownership coming forward and buying the team and 2) the new arena staying on track to be built
If approved, the new expansion Seattle NHL club would cost approximately $275M. It would begin playing here in the 2014-2015 season.
The end game here is that, if the arena stays on track, the city would be attractive for an NBA franchise when the NBA expands- as is anticipated when the new television contract comes up for discussion...
Ownership groups would, obviously, include the Hansen-Ballmer group that has (currently) lost out on an NHL franchise.
And this also brings up the question for franchise 32- Quebec City or Markham...
The HQ thinks Quebec with the Sun Media connections and the framework that's in place...
Here was the conversation from June when Seattle mayor Mike McGinn admitted talking to Commissioner Bettman about the league in Seattle when the Coyotes were in the discussion...
((HT: KING-TV))
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Well, So Much For That Idea: Coyotes Back Up In The Air And Whither Seattle...???
((HT: Arizona Republic/Bickley))
The number that Renaissance Sports and Entertainment says they need to run jobing.com arena has always been in the neighborhood of $15-million. But the city of Glendale is looking for something in the $6.5-million range.
There was talk that the two sides had figured out a way to bridge that $8.5-million gap through things like parking, naming rights, ticket surcharges, and all that other stuff they could dream up...
But... and this is Bickley's big but...
But word is, the city of Glendale wants that number guaranteed. RSE won’t go down that road. And some fear that snag could be a potential deal-killer.
RSE’s Anthony LeBlanc wouldn’t comment on negotiations, but wanted to address his group’s intentions and loyalty to the Phoenix market.
“We’re not doing this to relocate the team,” LeBlanc said. “If we end up exercising an out clause, it’s going to mean that we lost a whole lot of money. And the way things are trending, we really believe this franchise will be in the middle of the pack in the NHL in terms of revenue generated.”
There is a closed-door meeting set for tomorrow to figure out some things for the city council's Tuesday meeting. And the NHL, really, wanted an answer by the Board of Governors meeting on the 27th. But they may not even get that now. It's looking more and more like July 2.
The league needs to put a schedule together fairly soon...
But that brings the next question...
The Seattle Times Percy Allen dives into Bartoszek and Lanza, the prospective buyers of the Coyotes, who want to move the team to Seattle.
And the larger question will be whether or not the two can tweak the MOU that the city has with Chris Hansen and his new arena- contingent on an NBA client first.
From Allen:
"Still, (Councilman Tim) Burgess said the mayor’s office and the potential hockey owners “have a framework, an understanding as to what the lease agreement would look like and how they could use KeyArena for two, three or four seasons if a team were awarded here.” Burgess said Bartoszek and Lanza agreed to assume financial responsibility for improvements to KeyArena if the NHL team began playing in Seattle next season.
The New York investors also asked about the Memorandum of Understanding between Hansen, the city and Metropolitan King County Council on a $490 million downtown arena. The agreement demands Hansen acquire an NBA franchise before construction begins.
Burgess said changing the MOU and starting the project early for hockey “would present some significant questions and challenges.”
The larger question is: Who are these guys who seem to have used an initial introduction from Hansen's people, really don't have a lot of sports ownership cache, and claim they want to bring hockey to Seattle...??? They say they'll eat initial losses at Key Arena, but it sounds like they want a new barn.
Hansen's barn...
But will Hansen want a barn that has only hockey and not an NBA team...??? And can he wait long enough with hockey before the next round of NBA expansion can put a team in his barn...???
And they will...
Here was your early week update from Seattle and Chris Daniels...
((HT: KING-TV))
And, much like what happened when the Atlanta Thrashers left HQ's territory, there has been one group that hasn't said word one in all of this- Quebecor Media, the bunch that wants a team in Quebec City.
Remember, True North said less than nothing before swooping in to buy the team- with the NHL's approval...
Food for thought...
The number that Renaissance Sports and Entertainment says they need to run jobing.com arena has always been in the neighborhood of $15-million. But the city of Glendale is looking for something in the $6.5-million range.
There was talk that the two sides had figured out a way to bridge that $8.5-million gap through things like parking, naming rights, ticket surcharges, and all that other stuff they could dream up...
But... and this is Bickley's big but...
But word is, the city of Glendale wants that number guaranteed. RSE won’t go down that road. And some fear that snag could be a potential deal-killer.
RSE’s Anthony LeBlanc wouldn’t comment on negotiations, but wanted to address his group’s intentions and loyalty to the Phoenix market.
“We’re not doing this to relocate the team,” LeBlanc said. “If we end up exercising an out clause, it’s going to mean that we lost a whole lot of money. And the way things are trending, we really believe this franchise will be in the middle of the pack in the NHL in terms of revenue generated.”
There is a closed-door meeting set for tomorrow to figure out some things for the city council's Tuesday meeting. And the NHL, really, wanted an answer by the Board of Governors meeting on the 27th. But they may not even get that now. It's looking more and more like July 2.
The league needs to put a schedule together fairly soon...
But that brings the next question...
The Seattle Times Percy Allen dives into Bartoszek and Lanza, the prospective buyers of the Coyotes, who want to move the team to Seattle.
And the larger question will be whether or not the two can tweak the MOU that the city has with Chris Hansen and his new arena- contingent on an NBA client first.
From Allen:
"Still, (Councilman Tim) Burgess said the mayor’s office and the potential hockey owners “have a framework, an understanding as to what the lease agreement would look like and how they could use KeyArena for two, three or four seasons if a team were awarded here.” Burgess said Bartoszek and Lanza agreed to assume financial responsibility for improvements to KeyArena if the NHL team began playing in Seattle next season.
The New York investors also asked about the Memorandum of Understanding between Hansen, the city and Metropolitan King County Council on a $490 million downtown arena. The agreement demands Hansen acquire an NBA franchise before construction begins.
Burgess said changing the MOU and starting the project early for hockey “would present some significant questions and challenges.”
The larger question is: Who are these guys who seem to have used an initial introduction from Hansen's people, really don't have a lot of sports ownership cache, and claim they want to bring hockey to Seattle...??? They say they'll eat initial losses at Key Arena, but it sounds like they want a new barn.
Hansen's barn...
But will Hansen want a barn that has only hockey and not an NBA team...??? And can he wait long enough with hockey before the next round of NBA expansion can put a team in his barn...???
And they will...
Here was your early week update from Seattle and Chris Daniels...
((HT: KING-TV))
And, much like what happened when the Atlanta Thrashers left HQ's territory, there has been one group that hasn't said word one in all of this- Quebecor Media, the bunch that wants a team in Quebec City.
Remember, True North said less than nothing before swooping in to buy the team- with the NHL's approval...
Food for thought...
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Quebecor Media Denies NHL Pursuit... This Time...
Of course, the same can be said about True North Sports and Entertainment when they pursued the Atlanta Thrashers two-plus seasons ago...
And, eventually, played nice with the National Hockey League, bought the team and moved them to a good home...
Through their Twitter account, which might mean there's a reason to deny, the big wigs in Quebec City at Quebecor Media decided to say something...
The rumour that Quebecor is currently in negotiations with the #NHL to buy a franchise is completely false.
The statement doesn't say they haven't- just that they aren't at this very minute... even as Rejean Tremblay of QMI told 98.5 Sports in Montreal:
"A team is in place to clear the ground, lawyers, accountants to audit the affairs of the Coyotes," said columnist Réjean Tremblay on 98.5 fm with Paul Arcand on Wednesday.
One would lend itself to think that the National Hockey League is trying to figure out if the folks who are currently "negotiating" with the NHL for the Coyotes- the Anthony LeBlanc group- are serious... or just more serious than the Darin Pastor group that got stiff-armed by Bill Daly and everyone else associated with the NHL.
According to FOSG Dan Bickley, from a few weeks ago:
LeBlanc’s group – Renaissance Sports and Entertainment – has raised $240 million, or $70 million more than the NHL’s asking price. It is committed to absorbing $40 million in losses over the first four years, with an out clause if the economics don’t improve.
The group would immediately re-sign Don Maloney and Dave Tippett, arguably the best general manager/coach tandem in the NHL.
But the lease for Jobing.com Arena may be the killer for anyone who wants in on the Coyotes. The Arizona Republic claims that operating costs are around $6-million where LeBlanc is looking to get something in the neighborhood of $15-million. If LeBlanc is out, then would it be the return of Matthew Hulsizer or would Quebecor finally get their chance to make an easy move to Quebec City...???
CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau would love to match Bell and Rogers to get a chance to play with a big boy toy like an NHL franchise. There's only so much work that can be done in and around the Montreal Impact...
Reg Sherren did a piece for CBC's "The National" exploring how the return of the Jets could help the return of Les Nordiques...
Tremblay, who had a one on one with the Bettman last year with QMI, had this quote:
"If ... if ... if ... if ... a franchise was available, there would be three factors to consider. One, the owner. Two, the arena. And three, the market. That is how we must analyze the demands and make a decision."
Check, double check, triple check...
And, eventually, played nice with the National Hockey League, bought the team and moved them to a good home...
Through their Twitter account, which might mean there's a reason to deny, the big wigs in Quebec City at Quebecor Media decided to say something...
The rumour that Quebecor is currently in negotiations with the #NHL to buy a franchise is completely false.
The statement doesn't say they haven't- just that they aren't at this very minute... even as Rejean Tremblay of QMI told 98.5 Sports in Montreal:
"A team is in place to clear the ground, lawyers, accountants to audit the affairs of the Coyotes," said columnist Réjean Tremblay on 98.5 fm with Paul Arcand on Wednesday.
One would lend itself to think that the National Hockey League is trying to figure out if the folks who are currently "negotiating" with the NHL for the Coyotes- the Anthony LeBlanc group- are serious... or just more serious than the Darin Pastor group that got stiff-armed by Bill Daly and everyone else associated with the NHL.
According to FOSG Dan Bickley, from a few weeks ago:
LeBlanc’s group – Renaissance Sports and Entertainment – has raised $240 million, or $70 million more than the NHL’s asking price. It is committed to absorbing $40 million in losses over the first four years, with an out clause if the economics don’t improve.
The group would immediately re-sign Don Maloney and Dave Tippett, arguably the best general manager/coach tandem in the NHL.
But the lease for Jobing.com Arena may be the killer for anyone who wants in on the Coyotes. The Arizona Republic claims that operating costs are around $6-million where LeBlanc is looking to get something in the neighborhood of $15-million. If LeBlanc is out, then would it be the return of Matthew Hulsizer or would Quebecor finally get their chance to make an easy move to Quebec City...???
CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau would love to match Bell and Rogers to get a chance to play with a big boy toy like an NHL franchise. There's only so much work that can be done in and around the Montreal Impact...
Reg Sherren did a piece for CBC's "The National" exploring how the return of the Jets could help the return of Les Nordiques...
Tremblay, who had a one on one with the Bettman last year with QMI, had this quote:
"If ... if ... if ... if ... a franchise was available, there would be three factors to consider. One, the owner. Two, the arena. And three, the market. That is how we must analyze the demands and make a decision."
Check, double check, triple check...
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