Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Quebecor really wants an NHL team for Quebec City

quebec

UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 11: Members of ‘Nordiques Nation’ get fired up prior to the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers on December 11, 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 1,100 fans from Quebec attended the game to show their support for an NHL team. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Getty Images

If the NHL returns to Quebec City, there won’t be any issues making payroll if it’s owned by media giant Quebecor.

Today the company released its financial results for 2011, revealing annual revenue of $4.21 billion and net income attributable to shareholders of $201.0 million.

CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau also touched on Quebecor’s NHL ambitions, which involve purchasing a franchise to play in a new $400 million arena that the company will also manage.

“We now have all of the tools required to focus on developing strong relationships and partnerships with international entertainment performers and the National Hockey League,” Peladeau told analysts, as per the Canadian Press.

“Our agreement with Quebec City for the management of a new facility that will be built by September 2015 also contributes to our objective of diversifying and complementing our content offerings.”

Some solid corporate speak there.

In addition to ticket and sponsorship revenue, owning a hockey team would also provide content to broadcast on the company’s new all-sports specialty channel. (They call that “synergy,” or in certain cases “leveraging existing assets.”)

Add it up and Quebecor seems like a dream owner for the NHL, one with deep pockets and the ability to distribute content on multiple platforms.

“Multiple platforms” is a good buzz phrase, too.

Related: Coyotes’ ownership situation still “a work in progress”