Regis le constructeur

If he builds it, he knows they'll come, and if they want they can arrive even earlier if they so desire.

Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume is busy keeping the profile of the Quebec capital up front and in view as he continues to extol the virtues of what he believes will be a rink to rival the best of the best in the NHL.

Labeaume spoke enthusiastically about the plans for a new 400 million dollar arena in Quebec City, taking advantage of a tour of Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Centre to once again remind the NHL's owners (well at least those in markets where the interest in hockey is shall we say low,  bonjour Phoenix, Long Island et al) that Quebec City stands ready to accept the weary masses to their river shore, with the prospect of a brand new building and a hockey mad community to fill it.

The Globe and Mail reviews the Mayor's talking points from Pittsburgh through a Canadian Press story, including the Mayor's thoughts on the option that would be team relocation participants might have to play in the legendary Le Colisee (now known as the Pepsi Colisee), something that the Mayor says could be arranged as early as "tomorrow morning".

The timing for any relocation to Quebec City perhaps could not be better, the province's long time obsession Les Canadiens are simply horrible this year, meaning that unless the new arrivals from wherever they come from are truly atrocious they could already be on level ice with their newfound provincial rivals.

In fact, a Dave Stubbs item from the Montreal Gazette highlights the angst that many in Montreal are feeling over the state of the Canadiens, unless the Habs find a way to turn around what has been an abysmal situation over the last few years, a new team to support just a few hours up river might just add to some of the woes of the Montreal management at the moment.

Though that is the thing of the little picture, the big picture for Montreal and the NHL should be the competition and passion that a team in Quebec City would bring to the province, surely is more important to the game than any inconveniences that the Canadiens might receive with a rekindling of the rivalry of Quebec from the late seventies and early eighties.

The CBC offers up a small glimpse into the possibilities in their question and answer segment called Five Questions though it only actually takes up one of the five, should tide everyone over until the Mayor speaks again we would think.

If they build it, will Gary drop the first puck?

The quest for Quebec City's return to the NHL has heated up a bit, as the Mayor of the Quebec capital, currently involved in a re-election campaign for municipal office, outlined his plans for a new ice palace for the city and the hopeful home of one of the NHL's under performing and potentially relocation seeking franchises.

Mayor Régis Labeaume, who has been swatting aside the complaints of his competitors of late, outlined the details of his ambitions 400 million dollar project, the vast majority if not all of which would apparently be funded by tax payer dollars.

Mayor Labeaume, did make a nod towards fiscal sensibilities, suggesting that some of the funding for the new rink could come from private sponsors, a special lottery or money from the tobacco tax that will help government recover its share of the funding.

The Federal Government offered up a wink of the eye, suggesting that any potential Federal share for the new rink could come out of the federal contribution to the province's infrastructure pool, putting the onus on the Provincial government to say oui or non, the prospect of a new home for hockey, concerts and any other function that might find a home in an 18,000 seat structure.

There's no guarantee that Quebec City will get an NHL franchise again, in fact they need only look down the MacDonald Cartier freeway in Hamilton to see a once state of the art facility which once too had aspirations of NHL glory.

So far, Hamilton has had more than a few swings around the dance floor but yet to find themselves permanently booked for the big dance, though not for a lack of trying.
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Then again, Quebec City has a bit of history behind it, an enthusiastic fan base, a market outside the orbit of the nearest franchise in Montreal and most importantly for Gary Bettman we imagine, nowhere on the prospective owners list does the name Jim Balsillie appear, which at least moves the Quebec file one shelf up on Mr. Bettman's inbox...

Globe and Mail-- Arena plans: Quebec wants in NHL

Edmonton Sun-- NHL brass pleased with Quebec City's move

Montreal Gazette-- Quebec City to build NHL-size arena

Canadian Press-- Quebec City announces bid for $400 million arena in hope of getting NHL, Olympics