NHL hockey returns to Quebec City with a visit from L.A. Kings. For some, the payoff is debatable

Bernard Dion is hoping for a "fantastic show" after he scored last-minute tickets to catch the first of two Los Angeles Kings exhibition games being held in Quebec City on Thursday.

As the games draw criticism from organizations and politicians across Quebec for being funded by a government subsidy, Dion saidthe investment is worthwhile.

"If you consider people are going to come today, some [are] going to take a hotel, they eat at restaurants.I don't think they're losing money," said Dion.

He saidthe province needs to invest in cultural events like hockey. Buying the tickets Wednesday night and travelling up from Montreal, he saidthe game gives him a chance to watch the team close to home with his 21-year-old son, who's a long-time fan.

"I think it's in our blood. Hockey is the most important thing," said Dion.

"What is important is passion and for people here, they want to have that passion back,"

Money invested in game 'outrageous'

In 2023, Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard announced Quebec would agree to spend between $5 millionand $7 million for the games arguing the government often backs comparable events such as the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal or Mosacultures, a horticulture exhibit that has cropped up in different cities.

Girard defended the subsidy saying the goal is to highlight a venue designed to host NHL games in the hopes of getting back a team.

But on Thursday, hundreds of people took to the streets to march to the stadium to protest the use of public funds.

"It is outrageous that the government is spending this money," said Flix Marois with a tenants' rights group in Quebec City.

He saideven if the millions of dollars is a relatively small amount for the provincial government, it's a lot for smaller non-profits, like his own.

"You could change the lives of many thousands of people with $7 million in subsidies, if invested properly. No one's life is going to be improved by the hockey game. Like best case scenario, you'll have one good afternoon."

Some arrived by bus from Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivires and Saguenay for the demonstration, including Rosalie Dupont, from the Eastern Townships.

"There's no money for health and education system, and well, our government goes ahead and spends $7 million for a hockey game," said Dupont.

Etienne Grandmont, Qubec Solidaire MNA for Taschereau, saidcities across North America host similar events without public investments and Quebec City should have done the same.

"It's obvious for us that the government [of] Legault doesn't take the right decisions in terms of public finances," said Grandmont.

"Public money shouldn't go to hockey players that earn big salaries The NHL is [a] very lucrative company. Several billions of dollars in profit every year. They don't need public money."

Kings to visit hospitals, host hockey clinics

Kings president Luc Robitaille declined to say how much money the team is getting, but told a news conferencethat being paid for trips is part of the team's business model and helps cover travel, hotels and player salaries.

He saidthe team will also give back while it's in Quebec City by visiting a hospital, hosting hockey clinics with children and donating 400 sets of hockey equipment to local organizations.

When Girard first announced the project, he said the hockey event will cost up to $10 million total, but it will not have to cover the cost of meals and alcohol for Los Angeles Kings players.

Gestev, the organizer of the event and the recipient of the subsidy, is a property of Qubecor. Martin Tremblay, head of Gestev and chief operating officer of Qubecor's sports and entertainment division, said it was the Quebec government that launched the initiative.

To ensure that Qubecor does not incur any losses, the government has undertaken to pay the company up to an additional $2 million after the event, in the event of a loss.

Kings coast to 4-1 victory

Staying in Old Quebec from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6, the Kings face off against the Boston Bruins on Thursday and the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Saturday.

Bright blue Nordiques jerseys could be seen scattered throughout the Centre Videotron as the Kings took the ice for the first of those games.The retired numbers of Nordiques greats Michel Goulet, Marc Tardif, Jean-Claude Tremblay and Peter Stastny hung from the rafters as the Kings coasted to a 4-1 victory on the strength of a Quinton Byfield hat trick.

As of Thursday, over 4,600 tickets were still up for sale.

'Kings are capable of paying,' says fan

Carlo Estevo has been a fan of the Boston Bruins for the past 25 years. He drove down from Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., with his girlfriend Lucy Constantin.

"It's important for me. I take the day off today," said Estevo with a chuckle.

He said he wanted to show up to Thursday's game against the Bruins to show support to Patrice Bergeron, the long-time Bruins player who retired in 2023.

Ahead of Thursday's match, Bergeron received a standing ovation as the stadium honoured the Quebecer, close to where he was born.

Michel Turcotte of Levis, Que., made sure to wear his Bergeron jersey for the occasion. He bought his tickets months ago, but saidhe understands the controversy surrounding the price tag of the event.

"They shouldn't have put money in that. The kings are capable of paying for this," said Turotte.

Marie Gingras, saidit's about seizing the opportunity and hopefully working toward gaining a Quebec team.

"I know the taxpayers are upset but you know the government spends the way they want to spend," said Gingras.

"I am allowed to buy myself tickets to come see a game I think it's a great thing. Quebec also wants some exposure."