Colisée de Québec

Architectural origins and early years

The Colisée de Québec was constructed in 1949, replacing a previous arena on the same site that had been destroyed by fire the year before. Architects Rinfret and Bouchard, with designs from Robert Blatter and F. Caron, created a structure featuring an International Style exterior and an Art Deco interior. With an initial seating capacity of 10,034, the arena quickly became a focal point for the city's hockey passion. It earned the nickname "The House that Béliveau Built" due to the sellout crowds that came to watch future Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau play for the Quebec Aces. The building's early success established it as a premier venue long before the arrival of major professional hockey.

The Nordiques era and major renovations

The arena's destiny was forever changed with the arrival of the Quebec Nordiques in the World Hockey Association in 1972. This project significantly altered the building's appearance and capacity. The old entrance was replaced with a large glass facade, and the interior was expanded to seat 15,750 spectators, meeting the NHL standards of the time. These changes transformed the venue into a modern big-league arena, hosting Nordiques games until the franchise's controversial move to Colorado in 1995. The final seating capacity for hockey was later adjusted to 15,176.

A hub for international and junior hockey

Beyond the Nordiques, the Colisée was a central venue for hockey at all levels. It was the long-time home of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Quebec Remparts from 1999 until the arena's closure. The building hosted the Memorial Cup championship tournament in 1991, 2003, and 2015. On the international stage, the Colisée was the site of the first game of the 1974 Summit Series featuring WHA all-stars against the Soviet Union. It also hosted games during the 1976 and 1991 Canada Cup tournaments, co-hosted the 1978 World Junior Championships, and was a venue for the 2008 IIHF World Championships. The 1987 Rendez-vous series between NHL All-Stars and the Soviet national team was another landmark event held there.

The Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament and other events

For over five decades, the Colisée was synonymous with the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, which it hosted from 1960 until 2015. The annual February event drew almost 2,300 young players from 16 countries, becoming a beloved tradition and a platform for future hockey stars. The arena's use extended far beyond hockey. It hosted a wide array of concerts by major international artists, with Metallica performing the final public event there in September 2015. The venue also staged professional wrestling events promoted by various organizations, including the WWF and WWE. In a unique circumstance, the Philadelphia Flyers played five "home" games at the Colisée in 1968 after the roof of their Spectrum arena was damaged.

Naming rights and the push for a new arena

On November 18, 1999, PepsiCo purchased the naming rights to the arena, which was subsequently known as the Colisée Pepsi until 2015. Most proposals envisioned using the old arena as a temporary home for a new franchise while a modern facility was constructed. As part of the agreement to build what would become Centre Vidéotron, an additional seven million dollars was earmarked to renovate the Colisée should an NHL team arrive before the new building's completion. Former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut had initially argued for preserving the Colisée, citing a potential future Winter Olympics bid, but these plans did not materialize.

Closure and the long path to demolition

The opening of Centre Vidéotron in September 2015 rendered the Colisée obsolete. Its final event was a Metallica concert on September 14, 2015, after which it was closed to the public. The building entered a period of minimal maintenance and uncertain future. In 2019, the well-known neon sign was removed, and thousands of seats were sold or donated. Demolition was initially planned to start in the summer of 2020 but was postponed when the structure was leased for storage space until September 2023. By 2024, Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand expressed support for demolition. In February 2025, it was officially announced that the Colisée would be demolished over a two-year period, with the work scheduled to begin in 2027 at the earliest.

Proposed redevelopment and final fate

Even as demolition plans solidified, alternative visions for the site emerged. The municipal party Transition Québec revived a former proposal to transform the Colisée into a multifunctional centre for emerging sports like BMX and skateboarding. Despite these ideas, the prevailing official plan is for the arena's demolition to make way for a new mixed-use real estate project on the valuable ExpoCité lands. The scheduled demolition in 2027 will conclude the physical presence of a venue that witnessed generations of hockey history, from Jean Béliveau and Guy Lafleur to the Nordiques' fierce battles and the dreams of thousands of peewee players. Its legacy, however, remains firmly embedded in the cultural memory of Quebec City and Canadian sport.

Questions about Colisée de Québec

When is the Colisée de Québec scheduled to be demolished?

The demolition of the Colisée de Québec is scheduled to take place over a two-year period, beginning in 2027 at the earliest. This plan was confirmed in an announcement made in February 2025. The process has been delayed several times, with earlier plans for a 2020 start cancelled when the building was leased for storage. The current timeline sets the physical removal of the arena for the latter part of this decade.

What was the final seating capacity of the Colisée?

The final official seating capacity for hockey at the Colisée de Québec was 15,176. This was the configuration from 2009 until the arena's closure in 2015. The capacity changed numerous times over the decades, starting at 10,034 when it opened in 1949. Its largest capacity was 15,750 following the major 1980 renovation designed to meet NHL standards for the Quebec Nordiques.

What was the original seating capacity of the Colisée de Québec when it opened?

The Colisée de Québec originally opened in 1949 with a seating capacity of 10,034. It was built to replace a previous building on the same site that had burned down a year earlier. The arena featured an International Style exterior and an Art Deco interior. It was famously known as 'The House that Béliveau Built' in its early years.

Which major hockey team was the primary tenant of the Colisée de Québec?

The Quebec Nordiques were the primary tenant of the Colisée de Québec from 1972 to 1995. They played there during their time in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. The arena was their home before the franchise relocated and became the Colorado Avalanche. The Nordiques' tenure included the major 1980 renovation to meet NHL standards.

What was a major international hockey event hosted at the Colisée de Québec?

The Colisée de Québec hosted the first game of the 1974 Summit Series between Canadian WHA all stars and the Soviet national team. It also hosted games for the 1976 and 1991 Canada Cups. Furthermore, the arena co hosted the 1978 World Junior Championships with Montreal. Another notable event was Rendez vous '87, a two game series between NHL All Stars and the Soviet team.

What was the final public event held at the Colisée de Québec before it closed?

The final public event at the Colisée de Québec was a Metallica concert on September 14, 2015, as part of the Lords of Summer Tour. This occurred just after the new Videotron Centre opened on September 8, 2015. Interestingly, Metallica also played the first concert at the new Videotron Centre two days later. The Colisée was then closed to the public with only minimal maintenance.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.