Metallica closes Quebec City's Colisee Pepsi and opens Videotron Centre two days later.
Booking and programming for the new Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, is well underway and has been for some time.
Michel Granger, Quebecor vice president of creative content, Dominique Goulet, AEG director of booking and events, and Eric Bresler, AEG vice president of event booking and development, are all working together to bring the best programming possible to the arena.
“We have three heads right now because we are opening a new building,” Granger said. “We are all overseeing the creative content right now.”
When programming began, one of the most significant things the booking trio had on their plates was to figure out how to close the older Colisee Pepsi and, at the same time, open the new venue, all with a wow factor.
What they came up with they consider as a huge feat for them. Metallica, a very popular group in that region, will close the older building with a concert on Sept. 14. Two days later, Metallica will open the new Videotron Centre with that venue’s first concert.
Of course, the very first event is a hockey game between the Remparts de Quebec and L’oceanic de Rimouski, both of the QMJHL. That game, set for Sept. 12, sold out the 18,000-plus capacity in three hours.
But, as the three began looking at other bookings, Goulet said they also were kept busy conducting surveys of the residents of Quebec City to find out what they have been waiting to see.
“We found they would welcome bigger and more international major tours,” Goulet said. “They would like to see different acts ... us getting U2 would be next to getting Jesus himself.
“Quebec is much of a rock city,” she said. “Pearl Jam, Muse, Michael Moore, Ryan Lewis are just to name a few that were mentioned on the surveys.”
Granger said they also are working to bring family events such as those produced by Feld Entertainment, including Motocross.
“And, an up-and-coming genre is country and pop country,” Goulet said. “Boxing is really important here. And, we would like to hold exhibition basketball and volleyball games.
Conversions for events are being handled by Martin Pouliot, vice president of operations.
“Videotron Centre is one of the most advanced venues in North America today, because of its spectacular technological component,” Pouliot said. “The building’s set of components and systems are all controlled and monitored by a computer. We monitor more than 18,000 parameters using the Metasys system, Johnson Controls.”
Pouliot’s team of 20 full-time employees and as many as 50 part timers are also responsible for setting up for meeting and corporate events, an area the booking team feels will be just another step toward giving residents of Quebec City ownership of the new building.
Events scheduled for September also include: the Remparts de Quebec versus Saguenees de Chicoutimi, 13; Rock Et Belles Oreilles, 19; Madonna Rebel Heart Tour, 21; Remparts games both 24 and 27; and the NHL Montreal Canadiens versus NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, 28.
In October, the schedule includes: the Bud Light Sensation, 2; Remparts hockey, 8; Shania Twain, Rock this Country Tour, 9; several Remparts games, and Motley Crue, 20.