<P> In May 2011, Labeaume stated that Pierre Karl Péladeau, then - president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., was in talks with the NHL regarding a franchise in Quebec City . He later became a politician for the Parti Québécois, a sovereignist political party in the province . In September 2012, then - Quebec premier Jean Charest (a member of the rival Liberal Party and whose government had invested in the new arena) claimed that the political aspect might hinder Quebec City's chances of getting the Nordiques back, saying that Bettman might be less likely to allow a team to move if sovereignists were in power . According to Sports Illustrated, the league is wary of the Quebec sovereignty movement because of concerns that it could destabilize the Canadian dollar . However, Mayor Labeaume insists that Péladeau's involvement in politics will hinder neither the management of the new arena nor the negotiations over the return of the Nordiques . </P> <P> Prior to the 2011--12 NHL season, an exhibition game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning was played at the Colisée Pepsi, the former home of the Nordiques . The Canadiens were well received despite being from rival Montreal, and the designated away team of the game . Montreal was also scheduled to host the Carolina Hurricanes at the Colisée Pepsi in 2012; however, that game was canceled due to the lockout . In September 2012, construction started on an 18,000 - seat arena in Quebec City that would eventually become known as Centre Vidéotron, the cost of which (C $400 million) was split equally between the provincial and municipal governments . The arena opened on September 12, 2015 . </P> <P> In July 2013, ex-Nordiques coach Michel Bergeron accused Bettman of arranging a Glendale City Council vote concerning the relocation of the team then known as the Phoenix Coyotes, although the team would have more likely moved to Seattle . Bergeron called it "an obvious lack of respect and I find it disgusting," and claimed that Bettman is averse to moving teams out of the United States . In March 2014, news broke that former Canadian prime minister and vice-chairman of Quebecor Brian Mulroney was also involved with negotiations . Labeaume pointed out that Mulroney and Bettman had been negotiating directly for some time, and that "Mr. Bettman is a businessman . The Quebec sovereignty project will not bother him ." </P> <P> On June 24, 2015, Quebecor announced that it planned to apply for an NHL expansion franchise, with the aim of bringing the Nordiques back to Quebec City . Nearly a month later, on July 20, 2015, Quebecor formally announced it had submitted an application to the NHL for an expansion franchise . On July 21, 2015, the NHL confirmed it had received an application from Quebecor . On August 5, 2015, it was announced that Quebec had moved on to Phase II of the expansion process . The bid subsequently advanced to Phase III, which ended on September 4 . </P>

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