Is Quebec City ready to welcome back the Nordiques? Part Deux

Things have recently picked up on the potential return of the Nordiques to Quebec City. Last week, I wrote about the current economic situation in La Vieille Capitale regarding the potential return of professional hockey in Quebec City Is Quebec City ready to welcome back the Nordiques?

At the same time, the Globe and Mail and TSN were running a study called Why Not Canada? on the potential markets that could welcome an NHL team. The markets studied were Winnipeg, Quebec City, Toronto and Hamilton, and you can find the results for Quebec City here -> Why not Canada? – Quebec City and the video:

Marian Stastny, Peter and Anton’s older brother still lives in Quebec City and he is the owner of a golf course in St-Nicolas on the south shore of Quebec City (5 minutes from where I live). Paul and Yan, Peter Stastny’s sons, were both born here when Peter was still donning the Nordiques’ uniform.

Marian Stastny donning the Nordiques' uniform

Currently under review by both government levels and the different stakeholders, the feasibility study done by Ernst & Young is supposed to be made available to the general public this week.

In the meantime, the project’s major stakeholders were reported to have a held a very important meeting at the Chateau Frontenac earlier this week. Patrick Roy (Quebec Remparts’ GM and head coach), Marcel Aubut (Quebec Nordiques’ former president), Pierre-Karl Peladeau (Quebecor’s owner), Rene Angelil (Celine Dion’s agent and husband) and Rock Cloutier (Angelil’s right-hand man) were seen together talking business over an expansive meal.

Radio report of the meeting (in French) In summary, Vincent Cauchon, a well-connected sports journalist in Quebec City, is reporting that the above people were seen eating together at the Chateau Frontenac talking about a bid of about $180 million to buy the Atlanta Thrashers which have been put on sale last month by the Atlanta Spirit Group, owner of the NHL franchise.

Obviously, the interested stakeholders will deny everything and will not comment on the situation. Moreover, the consensus is that if the different government levels and the Mayor of Quebec City, Regis LaBeaume, can reach an agreement very soon about the construction of a new arena (likely beginning in the fall of 2010), there will be an NHL franchise moved to Quebec City in the next few years. Gary Bettman is reportedly waiting for the confirmation of the new arena to start quicking tires on the potential comeback of the Quebec Nordiques… Stay tuned.