And it bothered none of them, Labeaume said, that the money to build the place would come from their pockets.

WSJ: Quebec: The Only Thing Missing Is a Team

In the summer of 2010, Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume asked for the public's support to build an arena that could support an NHL team even though there was no promise of landing one.

WSJ: Quebec: The Only Thing Missing Is a Team

During a visit to the construction site for the new arena, Labeaume, the Quebec mayor, waded through cold, gray mud, stopping at a spot where one of the rink's faceoff circles will likely be, and pointed to a Nordiques flag flying from an industrial crane.

WSJ: Quebec: The Only Thing Missing Is a Team