The Los Angeles Kings are less than two months into the 2023-24 season and we already have two games of the 2024-25 exhibition schedule announced, both happening in Quebec City.They will face the Boston Bruins in an exhibition game at the Videotron Centre on October 3, 2024. The game will further put pressure on the NHL to expand to the province of Quebec.
Kings’ Quebec City Tour Includes Two Games
Aside from the Bruins game on October 3, 2024, Los Angeles will also be taking on the Florida Panthers at the same venue two days later on October 5, 2024. The Videotron Centre is fairly new, being completed in 2015 and holds over 18,000 fans. The arena is home to the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
The announcement of the Quebec City exhibition games comes at a time when the Kings will not be able to play at the crypto.com arena due to renovations. This would only take place during the exhibition schedule as the arena is due to be fully renovated fro the 2024-25 regular season opener. The renovations include new jumbo screens, updated concession stands, and a better sound system to enhance the fan experience and improve the overall quality 
Los Angeles previously played 23 games in Quebec at the Quebec Coliseum, boasting an all-time record of 9-10-4. They were outscored 94-91, with an average of 3.96 goals scored per game. Former Kings star Wayne Gretzky had the m ost points against Quebec, accounting for 120 points.
while this is huge for Quebec City, the NHL must take notice of how this does both financially and attendance wise. This tour of Quebec City would give the league a good indication if the city would be able to support an expansion team. Quebec City has been rumored for years to be interested in bringing a team to Quebec City.
The rest of the 2024-25 NHL exhibition schedule for Los Angeles has not yet been revealed. This will be interesting to see if the NHL has games in the future at the Videotron Centre, either an expansion team or exhibition games. This is a huge test for the province as they are on a big stage, whether they know it or not. The last time an NHL team was in Quebec was in the league from 1973-1979 and then returned in 1980-1995 when they would become the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 until present time.
(photo: sportsbusinessjournal; Don Muret) (photo: lakingsinsider.com; Zach Dooley)
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