Music: {allcanada} Quebec City arena deal revealed

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

{allcanada} Quebec City arena deal revealed

Quebec City has released the details of a controversial $63.5 million arena management deal with Quebecor Media.

The municipal council is set to vote on the 25-year agreement Thursday.

Mayor Régis Labeaume said it will bring the city one step closer to landing an NHL hockey franchise. He said the agreement means Quebecor will pay the city $33 million to manage the state-of-the-art arena and get naming rights for 25 years. Quebecor will pay an additional $30.5 million if the city gets an NHL team.

In return, the city will get a building manager that is committed to attracting a pro hockey team — the two parties have agreed to try to bring a team to Quebec City by 2020.

But opponents of the deal are trying to quash it because it did not go to public tender.

Labeaume insisted the agreement is legal, but said it could fall through if the province does not pass controversial legislation that would shield the city from being sued over the deal.