Videotron Centre opens its doors in Quebec City

Quebec City's new $400-millionarena opened its doors to the public for the first time this morning.

People lined up, some hours in advance, to get their hands on free tickets the city gave out for the two-hour tours of the Videotron Centre.

More than 180,000 people are expected to take a tour of the arena during the sneak peek of the building, which runs until Sunday.

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The City of Quebec made the first official announcement ofthe construction of the arena in 2011.

Quebecor took over the management of the project that same year. The building's name was announced last April.

The seven-storey-high, 18,000-seat arena will be home to Quebec City's junior hockey team. Les Rempartswill hit the ice on Sept. 12.

It's the only hockey the arena will see for the moment, although most fans are holding out hope that the city will once again be home to a pro teamnow that the arena is ready to go.

"There will be an NHL team on the ice in two or three years for sure," said Gaetan Roy, who showed up for thetour of the new arena in a Quebec Nordiques t-shirt.

Quebecor put in its official bid for an NHL expansion team in July. In August, the company confirmed theNordiques had advanced to thethirdand what's expected to be finalstage in their bid to return to Quebec City.

The team relocated to Coloradoin 1995.

Metallica will be the first band to play in the multifunctional arenaonSept. 16. It will also be the last to play at the old arena, the Colise Pepsi next door.

The city is holding a public consultation to ask people what they would like to see set up at the entrance of the Videotron Centre.

The public space will be called "Place Jean Bliveau", in honour of the Montreal Canadiens' greatwho made his debutat the Colise Pepsiwhen he was playing with the As de Quebec.