The project to play several Ottawa Senators games in Quebec has been on ice since the death of Eugene Melnyk, Pierre Karl Péladeau said Tuesday at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
There was a project to be able to offer parts to Senators in Quebec, at the Videotron Center. But due to the untimely death of Eugene Melnyk (owner of Senators), the project can no longer evolve.
These are the daughters of Melnyk who inherited the club after the death of their father at the end of March. Anna and Olivia led the Senators, which is now worth $ 525M, according to Forbes.
Melnyk bought the Senators in 2003 for $ 92 million USD when the team was in dire financial straits and its future in the nation’s capital was in jeopardy.
However, the commissioner of NHL, Gary Bettmansaid a few days after Melnyk’s death, that the team was not sold at the time.
Péladeau was also asked about the return of a team from NHL -full-time-in Quebec.
We’re still talking to the league, Péladeau said. I have great respect for the commissioner (Bettman) and Deputy Commissioner (Bill Daly). We maintain a commercial relationship as a broadcaster.
So was our point from the very beginning: that Quebec is a growing city, a city where the economic situation is improving, where there is a ready communicator and an international quality amphitheater. That is not to mention the fan base. There is nothing missing in the equation for a group of NHL lived in Quebec.
Péladeau ended his scrum by saying that the people of Quebec can expect a return NHL in their city. To find out if he was optimistic in the short term, the businessman contentedly replied: I will not decidelaughing.
Source: Radio-Canada
