Quebec Arena Bill Passes

The city of Quebec has passed a law to shield an arena deal with one of Canada’s largest media companies after months of debate.

Bill 204 was aimed at protecting a naming rights and management agreement between Quebecor and the city of Quebec from lawsuits. The legislation sparked uproar from some lawmakers, leading to the resignation of several members of Parti Quebecois.

At the heart of the debate was language in the legislation, according to CBC News, that would grant Quebecor control of a $400 million new arena. In exchange, the company would reportedly provide a $33 million down payment plus $3 million annually, 15 percent of the venue’s profits and a promise to use the venue for community events.

While some members of parliament felt uncomfortable supporting 204, claiming it was illegal, the bill passed with 98 of 125 members in favor Sept. 21, the CBC said.

Quebecor had offered in March to invest between $110 million and $200 million toward a new, 18,000-seat hockey arena in Quebec in exchange for management and naming rights to the venue.

The company applauded the passage of 204 following the vote, and claimed it will help draw an NHL team back to the region.

“We now have all the necessary tools to reach the objective we set out to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec City,” Quebecor head Pierre Karl Peladeau told the CBC. “The population of Quebec City and all hockey fans can count on our unwavering determination in our ongoing representations to the National Hockey League.”

Quebec lost the Nordiques in 1995 when the team was moved to Denver and has had trouble luring a new team to the aging Colisée Pepsi in the time since.