The Los Angeles Kings will play two preseason games in Quebec City in 2024 as part of their training camp for the 2024-25 campaign the Quebec government announced.
The project, which will cost between $5M-7M of taxpayer money, will see the Kings play two preseason contests at the 18,000 seat Videotron Centre in the provincial capital. While some initially questioned the cost, finance minister Eric Girard pointed out that the Presidents Cup, slated to be held in Montreal in 2024 as well, will cost roughly the same and is in line with past large-scale sporting events.
Quebec City will see LA train in town from October 2-6th before facing off against the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. As part of the deal, they will also hold open practices and meet and greet sessions for local fans.
The $370M Videotron centre was built back in 2015 with the hope that Quebec City would one day see an NHL franchise return. The city has been without an NHL club since the Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995, eventually becoming the Colorado Avalanche.
LA features two native Quebecers on their roster in Philip Danault and Pierre-Luc Dubois who are likely to be fan favourites when they return to La Belle Province next fall. The project, which is being jointly funded by Quebec City and the Province of Quebec hopes to prove that Quebec City is a viable NHL destination and worthy of receiving another franchise whether through relocation or league expansion.
The Videotron Centre is currently home to the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts.
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