Quebec City Remparts junior hockey team bought by Québecor
Purchase part of plan to try and bring NHL franchise back to Quebec City
Québecor has become the new owner of the Quebec City Remparts in what it hopes is a step in the right direction to get an NHL franchise.
Gilles Courteau, commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, announced the deal at a news conference on Thursday, accompanied by Québecor CEO Pierre Dion.
The value of the transaction was not disclosed, but The Hockey News pegged it at between $20 million and $25 million.
On game nights in Quebec City, 10,000 fans fill the current Colisée Pepsi to see the Remparts.
Next year, fans will be able to watch their team skate on brand new ice after two years of construction on Quebec City's brand-new, $400-million sports complex.
The president and CEO of Québecor Patrice Dion said the arena will open next September.
"That's the whole purpose of this deal today, is make sure that we can that there will be Remparts for a long time in Quebec City."
Québecor bought the franchise from various businessmen, including former Canadiens goalie and current Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy. The new arena will likely be named after the media conglomerate.
"We're trying really hard to land an NHL team," Dion said. "If one day we get one, the operations of both teams would be integrated into the same organization.
"They would share the new arena, as is the case in other North American cities."
The timeline for the sale would be made public at a later date.
With additional reporting by CBC News